The relaxed atmosphere during the early days of Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training and accessibility of Pirate City are an autograph hound’s dream come true
It’s a curious thing newcomers to Pirate City, the Pittsburgh Pirates Bradenton, Florida-based training complex, notice immediately: there are a lot of people carrying bags and backpacks who are constantly holding photo-albums, bats, gloves, balls and more. These folks tend to congregate in a a few specific areas: by the batting cages at the bottom of Field 4 and near the Bullpen between Fields 1 and 2.
When not there, they are often seen darting off in the direction of players who step off the fields to get a drink from one of the many Gatorade coolers stationed throughout the complex or who are moving from one field to the next. The unique design of Pirate City makes this infinitely easier. The four main fields are built with the “tops” of the diamonds facing inwards, creating a perfect square. This often comically sends autograph-seeking fans literally running in circles to chase down their favorite players.
But they don’t care. They are on a mission: collect as many autographs from as many Pittsburgh Pirates players as possible during this magical time of access and ease.
“It’s Fun to See Them Here”
Julie Wachohoski moved to Florida from Pittsburgh three years ago. She doesn’t call herself a die-hard Pirates fan, but spends a few days every Spring Training collecting autographs at Pirate City for her grandchildren.
“It’s neat to come out here and see the players in this environment. They’re walking right past you and have the time to come over and say hello,” she said after an encounter with catcher Chris Stewart. “Its fun to see them here.”
She typically brings baseballs she buys locally or Pirates paraphernalia she picks up “here and there” to get signed. Admonished by her son for once getting baseballs autographed with a sharpie instead of a blue ballpoint pen – she now carries a variety of writing instruments to ensure she has the right tool for the job.
“My grandkids look forward to getting a package from me in the mail every year about this time,” she said. “The Pittsburgh Pirates being down here make me the most popular grandma in the world!”
Lifestyle Turned Career
For 22 year-old Javier Madrigal, his visits to Pirate City turned into a job opportunity.
He happened upon the mid-February goings-on at the complex by accident five years ago.
“I just passed by one day and noticed this and checked it out,” he said. “I started coming out here every chance I could.”
Madrigal had a backpack filled with a collection of Pirates pictures and baseball cards, protected in clear plastic sheets inside a black binder. A Pirates fan gave him last year’s calendar, so he was working to get signatures on it while also hustling to get Gregory Polanco to sign a bat. The left-fielder gave it to Madrigal last season.
He didn’t start out a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but became one through his time meeting players at Pirate City. He eventually turned his newfound baseball fandom into a paying gig: working for the past two years as a Bat Boy for the Bradenton Marauders, the Pirates’ High-A team. Careful to separate work from pleasure, Madrigal only collects autographs when he’s at Pirate City – which he visits as often as he can given his work schedule (he also works at the distribution center for Bradenton-based Bealls Department stores). When he’s onsite, he arrives as soon as the fields open to fans and stays for two to three hours.
“It’s fun to get their autographs and look back at what I’ve collected since I started,” he said.
On this particular Saturday, he nabbed an autograph from Josh Harrison while the second baseman was between workouts.
Harrison’s agency, MSM Sports, acknowledged on Twitter that JHay enjoys the opportunity. “JHAY really, truly LOVES meeting the fans!” they tweeted in response to a photo I posted of Harrison signing for Javier.
Meeting Legends
Other fans, like John Scolaro, come to Pirate City just to see their favorite team in action.
Scolaro lives in Apollo Beach, Florida, now and works at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, but originally hails from Pittsburgh.
“I was planning on going to a hockey event, but then I decided to come here,” he said. While this was his first time at Pirate City, it wasn’t his first catching Spring Training baseball. He took a week off last year to travel to several of the Grapefruit League parks for games and is planning on taking in several games at LECOM Park in 2017.
The Pirates have always been his team, he said.
“Growing up in Pittsburgh, it was all about being a Roberto Clemente fan. You idolized that man,” he added.
And while he didn’t get a chance to see his childhood idol while at Pirate City, he had several opportunities to meet some of Clemente’s teammates and shake their hands. It is not uncommon for former players, especially those still involved with the team like Steve Blass and Manny Sanguillen, to wander off of the fields and say hello to fans watching the workouts at Pirate City.
For many fans, it’s a treat that leaves a lasting impression.
“This really is a special place,” Wachohoski said as she took her leave, autographed baseballs carefully deposited in her purse. “It’s worth waiting a few hours for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
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