SPORTS WIZ TRIVIA
MARCH '08
By Harry Patterson

It was all supposed to get better when PNC Park opened. Now the Pirates are on the cusp of yet another however-many-year-plan for a return to glory. Whatever. How did we get to this point? Let's look back on the lows (and a few highs) of the PNC Park era.

1. Of the seven Home Openers played at PNC Park how many did the Bucs win?

2. When the Pirates took the field for the very first game at PNC Park who trotted out to right field and took his position in front of the 21 foot high Clemente wall.

3. Who is the only Pirate left on the team from that first Opening Day lineup at PNC Park?

4. In May '04 Rob Mackowiak hit a grand slam to win the first game of a doubleheader against the Cubs and another ninth inning homer to tie the second, which the Bucs also won. What other big event happened to him that same day?

5. Which Pirate started the 2006 All-Star Game at PNC Park?

6. In '02 the Buccos signed two stellar free agents and started the season 7-0. The team ended up 72-89 and dumped them both at a trading deadline fire sale. Name the two.

7. Who sits atop the list of home run leaders at PNC Park?

8. John Russell will be the fourth manager of the PNC Park era. Name the first three.

9. The Pirates got three players from the Cubs in the Aramis Ramirez trade in 2002. Can you name at least one?

10. Possibly the most electric moment so far at PNC Park was Brian Giles' July '01 walk off grand slam giving the Pirates a 9-8 win over the Astros in game one of a doubleheader. What was unique to Pittsburgh about that doubleheader?

Click here to see the answers.