BRADENTON, Fla. – Bradenton’s Lecom Park is the spring coaching residence of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and consider it or not, the baseball stadium is the third-oldest stadium actively utilized by a Main League staff.
Off of ninth Avenue West in Bradenton, Lecom Park sits full of recollections.
“Baseball is about creating lifetime recollections, and we wish to ensure that all the subsequent technology of youngsters are coming with their dad and mom and their grandparents and have those self same recollections,” mentioned Travis Williams, the president of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The backstory:
Williams says the staff carries on the custom of getting Bradenton function its spring coaching headquarters.
Pirates and Bradenton officers at a ribbon reducing for Lecom Park’s enhancements on Tuesday.
“It’s 55 years within the making. We’ve been right here for 55 years. That’s a very long time to have a relationship with one metropolis, and it’s actually a love affair between the town and the staff. I can really feel it and sense it as I come right here,” Williams mentioned.
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Dig deeper:
The Metropolis of Bradenton and the Pittsburg Pirates unveiled park enhancements earlier than the beginning of spring coaching. They embrace expanded locker room area, a state-of-the-art commissary, a brand new lighting system, a exercise space for gamers and devoted amenities for girls.
“Baseball has modified so much. Much more girls are concerned within the entrance workplace and in addition the teaching ranks, so we want to ensure we’ve got lodging for girls each when it comes to umpire and training,” mentioned Williams.
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These enhancements might be utilized year-round by Bradenton’s minor league staff, The Marauders, and extra.
What they’re saying:
“Not solely is it for spring coaching and the Marauders seasons, however as we construct our metropolis park, we will use this facility as year-round baseball, event baseball,” mentioned Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown.
Brown remembers rising up with the staff in his hometown.
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“They received a World Collection in ‘71 and ’79. I don’t actually bear in mind ‘71, however ’79, I bear in mind how enjoyable it was to be part of the city the staff was from,” Brown mentioned.
That may be a legacy Brown is aware of will proceed for future generations.
“It’s positively a house run as a result of a relationship with the Pirates and the neighborhood, it retains going, and I’d even say it’s a grand slam,” mentioned Brown.
The Supply: FOX 13’s Kimberly Kuizon collected the data on this story.
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