Pittsburgh baseball fans turn out for PiratesFest

Triblive
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 4:40 p.m. | Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 4:40 p.m.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Former Pirates pitcher Steve Blass (center) signs autographs for fans Dan Srednicki of Allison Park and his son, Gunner, 12 (left) on Saturday at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes talks with fans Saturday while he signs autographs during PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Gracie Stubenbort, 5, of Monroeville checks her Pirates logo face paint in the mirror Saturday while with her dad, Chad Stubenbort, at PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates reliever David Bednar smiles Saturday in a selfie with Connor Maloney, 13, and his dad, Jason Maloney, from Castle Shannon at PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen returns a signed baseball to a fan during Saturday’s official autograph signings at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates’ Endy Rodríguez signs the jersey of young fan Drexton Garmon, 10, of Toronto, Ohio, on Saturday at PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates outfielder Joshua Palacios signs autographs Saturday at PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Mike Dennison, a brand ambassador from Louisville, Ky., who works at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, uses a turning lathe Saturday to show Pirates fans the traditional way wooden baseball bats were created during PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Isabelle Moore, 15, of Highland Park gets a tour Saturday of a traditional wooden Louisville Slugger from Brian West, an historical interpreter from the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Louisville, Ky. at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Rance Everly of New Cumberland plays with his daughter, Sutton Everly, 7, on Saturday at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates former catcher Michael McKenry (left) talks with young fans Jackson Hart, 7 (background), and his brother Nolan Hart, 5, on Saturday at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Dan Srednicki of Allison Park organizes his recently autographed baseball cards Saturday with his son Gunner Srednicki, 12, while wearing their Pirates Parrot outfits at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Evan Peel of North Strabane, with his father, John Peel (right), gets excited Saturday as his fist bumps Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates reliever David Bednar signs an autograph Saturday for fan Nick Carr of Erie during PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen signs a jersey for fans Saturday during PiratesFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Ryan Wilson, 11, of Toronto, Ohio (right background), and his friend Michael Kline, 11, react as Pirates catcher Endy Rodríguez trades his baseball hat for Wilson’s on Saturday at PiratesFest.

Shane Dunlap | TribLive

Former Pirates catcher Michael McKenry signs a Louisville Slugger for young fans on Saturday during PiratesFest.

As winter raged outside, warmer thoughts of spring were on the minds of baseball fans Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center during the latest edition of PiratesFest.

Autograph seekers were able to meet some of their favorite current — and past — Pittsburgh Pirates players, including Andrew McCutchen, Paul Skenes, David Bednar, Endy Rodriguez, Bubba Chandler, Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo. Past Pirates players including John Wehner, Michael McKenry, John Candelaria and Steve Blass were also on hand.

In addition to the meet-and-greets, fans were able to take in other baseball-themed booths with family-centric offerings like face painting, a bounce house and exclusive merchandise.

The event will continue Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. General admission tickets are free.

McCutchen is set to return Sunday for more meet-and-greet sessions, along with fellow Pirates Jared Jones, Joey Bart, Jack Suwinski and Termarr Johnson. Candelaria will return Sunday, along with former Pirate Neil Walker.

For more details, click on the PiratesFest website.