The Pennsylvania Turnpike runs 304 miles through the heart of Pennsylvania, but in reality it stretches from one world to another. At opposite ends of the turnpike lie Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, two cities which share almost no common traits other than their home state. It's fair to say that there is no shortage of dislike between the two cities; Philadelphians, whose city was founded in the 1600s and blossomed into a trading metropolis, are often looked at in other parts of the state as citizens of another world. Many Pittsburghers, on the other hand, are hard-working laborers in the industrial capitol of the East. Obviously, the two different lifestyles and environments have created a competition over everything from who has the biggest concerts to who has the best zoo. But in this modern era where professional sports generate more revenue than ever could have been imagined 50 years ago, these sports now play a much bigger role than anything else in defining the interstate rivalry. But the ever-important question remains, what exactly is that role?
Like nearly all epic tales, the story of baseball in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia begins in media res. When Brad Lidge retired the final Tampa Bay batter to clinch the 2008 World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies, an image still fresh in the minds of baseball fans everywhere, the events of the last 16 years came to a dramatic climax. But as fans of the newly-crowned World Champions partied in the streets of Philly, to baseball fans in Pittsburgh it was a cruel reminder of the on goings of the last decade and a half.
You see, the last time the Pittsburgh Pirates had a winning season under their belt, I was two years old. The above Youtube video, entitled “Requiem for a Team,” documents various world and domestic events which have occurred in that timeframe. The 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates, behind Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, and a plethora of dominant starting pitchers, rolled through the National League with 96 wins and 66 losses. In the 16 years since then, though, Pittsburgh’s beloved Buccos have failed to even come close to a winning season. The 16-season losing streak, which came to a dreadful climax during the 2008 season, tied the professional sports record for consecutive losing seasons; one record that will never be envied by another franchise. Such is life for fans of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club, affectionately known in Pittsburgh as “the PBC.”
But PBC fans are a special breed. Take Jim Brown of Tyler, Texas for example. Despite being 1,200 miles from Pittsburgh, Jim revs up his computer every night during baseball season so that he, his wife and his son can gather around and watch the meager (but don't call them hapless) Pirates take on another superior ballclub. And believe it or not, there are thousands of other Jim Browns out there watching and waiting for the Pirates' return to glory, whether it is in 2009 or 2029.
For the cross-state Phillies, the opposite is true. Just like the Pirates, the Phillies had a great deal of success in the early 90s, but tailed off shortly thereafter. However, the Phillies' return to glory was completed just a few short days ago, when five straight winning seasons culminated in a World Series Championship. For the Pride of Philly, the bandwagon has never been more packed.
In the midst of all this competition and bitterness, though, there is a sense that it is not simply a matter of healthy or unhealthy rivalries, but rather a rivalry which is needed by both side. Healthy or not, this historic Pittsburgh-Philadelphia rivalry is what defines the great state of Pennsylvania.
Works Cited
Abraham, Bill. Letter to the author. 24 October, 2008.
Luchok, Joseph. Letter to the author. 25 October, 2008.
Anonymous. Letter to the author. 25 October, 2008.
Rich, Andrea. Letter to the author. 25 October, 2008.
Mitchel, Stan. Letter to the author. 27 October, 2008.
