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Tag: Pirates

  • Scott Sauerbeck, former pitcher for Pirates, dead at 53

    Scott Sauerbeck, former pitcher for Pirates, dead at 53

    Scott Sauerbeck, a former MLB pitcher who played for four big league teams, died on Wednesday in Florida. He was 53.

    Pittsburgh Baseball Now reported that Sauerbeck suffered a heart attack. He made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1999. The franchise confirmed the pitcher’s death on Thursday.

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    Scott Sauerbeck of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait during the spring training photo day on February 22, 2008 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

    “The Pirates family mourns the passing of Scott Sauerbeck,” the team wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Scott played for the Bucs from 1999-2003 and shares the club record for most games pitched by a LHP in one season.

    “Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this time.”

    The 2002 season was perhaps Sauerbeck’s most memorable, as his 78 appearances set the Pirates franchise record for most games pitched in a single season. He remains the record-holder.

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    Sauerbeck landed with the Boston Red Sox via a trade during the 2003 season, later signing with Cleveland. He did not appear in any games in 2004 due to an injury.

    Scott Sauerbeck

    Scott Sauerbeck of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on August 18, 2002 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images)

    A stint with the Athletics in 2006 marked his final run in the majors. Sauerbeck did land a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2008.

    Scott Sauerbeck

    Scott Sauerbeck of the Cleveland Indians poses for a portrait during photo day at Chain of Lakes Park on March 1, 2005 in Winter Haven, Florida. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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    Sauerbeck has a 3.82 career ERA and finished with a 20-17 record.

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    Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

  • Pirates ‘bummed’ after young collector, who scored one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes card, declines team’s offer

    Pirates ‘bummed’ after young collector, who scored one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes card, declines team’s offer

    Earlier this week, a young collector pulled the coveted autographed MLB debut patch card of Paul Skenes from the market. 

    An 11-year-old collector from Southern California, who nabbed a one-of-kind baseball card featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher, decided to turn down a trade offer from the MLB franchise.

    The card was featured in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set. On Friday, the trading card and collectible manufacturer confirmed the collector had “chosen to send the card to auction with @FanaticsCollect instead,” Topps wrote in an Instagram post.

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    Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field May 17, 2024, in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

    The Pirates offered a package of perks in exchange for the card. A pair of premium Pirates season tickets for three decades, an opportunity to play a softball game on the field, a meet and greet with Skenes and autographed jerseys were among offerings from the team.

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    LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, who is dating Skenes, also offered an incentive to the owner of the card.

    Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne

    Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne on the set of ESPN “College GameDay” at the LSU Quad Nov. 9, 2024, in Baton Rouge.  (LSU Athletics/University Images via Getty Images)

    “Let’s raise the stakes…the person who finds this card can sit with me at a Pirates game in my suite,” Dunne wrote in a post to her Instagram story.

    While the collector wrote in a journal entry shared by Topps that nabbing the card was a “dream come true,” apparently that dream did not include spending time over the next 30 years attending games at PNC Park.

    The Pirates admitted they were “bummed” after learning of the collector’s decision but offered to have the fan at a game sometime during the 2025 season.

    A general view of PNC Park

    A view of PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Philadelphia Phillies June 21, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

    “Well…we’re bummed that we won’t be seeing you behind home plate for 30 seasons. But we’d still love to bring you to Pittsburgh for a special day at PNC Park this season,” the team posted on X.

    Fanatics Collect, which will handle the auctioning of the card in March, said it will donate its proceeds from the sale to fire relief funds in the Los Angeles area.

    Skenes delivered a season to remember in 2024, finishing 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Before winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award, he was named to the MLB All-Star team. Skenes was the top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his big league debut in May 2024. 

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    Rookies have worn MLB debut patches on their jerseys since 2023. Topps acquired the patches and created the unique cards. The card could hold pretty high value considering the potentially bright future ahead for the 22-year-old, who finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting.

    Skenes said over the weekend he hasn’t thought about the potential of signing a long-term contract to remain with the Pirates, saying instead his focus is on helping the Pirates take a step toward contending in 2025. He is eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.