Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training in Bradenton, Florida

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Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training 2010: Pirates Pitchers/Catchers report on February 17, 2010, Position players on February 22, 2010, first full workout: February 23, 2010 at Pirates City, Bradenton.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Headquarters in Bradenton, Florida is known as "Pirate City." And there's no better place to spend a sunny Florida day in February or March!

Pirate City entrance in Bradenton, Florida

Baseball Spring Training Florida Style

Pirate City is a great place to watch baseball spring training, Florida style: That means outdoors in the late winter and early spring sunshine amid warming temperatures.

The Pittsburgh Pirate practice sessions are free and open to the public at Pirate City.

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training at Pirate City

Pirate City is a unique place because of the close proximity between the work-out fields and the fans. It’s also a place in which you can “feel” baseball history while you watch the beginnings of another new year of baseball.

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training workouts at Pirate City

While “Pirate City” is the site of the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training workouts, McKechnie Field is the site of the games during spring training season.

Pittsburgh Pirates City in Bradenton Florida

McKechnie Field and Pirate City have been the spring training home to the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969. The field was built in 1923 and holds more than 6,500 fans; the grandstand of today was built as part of a renovation in 1993.

Pittsburgh Pirate Spring Training at Pirate City

Up until renovations in 2008 night games had never been played at McKechnie Field during its more than 80 year history.

The Pirates signed a new 30 year lease in 2008 which should keep Bradenton and McKechnie Field the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training home through 2037.

Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Pitching Mound at Pirates City

Great Pirate names of the past that have played at McKechnie Field and practiced at “Pirate City” include “Hall of Famers:” Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski.

With the Pittsburgh Pirates in his rookie year, 1986, home run king Barry Bonds also trained at Pirates City.

And coincidentally, the player to hold the title of home run king just prior to Barry Bonds, the great Hank Aaron, arrived in Bradenton for spring training with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956.

How's all that for Florida spring training history!

Pirates City Bradenton Florida

Baseball spring training workouts take place at Pirate City and start around 9 a.m. and are free and open to the public.

The date of the first scheduled full squad work out for the Pittsburgh Pirates is February 23, 2010 according to the Pirates.

Dates and times are deemed to be correct, however they were provided by the Pirate's office and are subject to change without notice, according to the Pirates.

Click here for the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Game Schedule.

Directions: To get to Pirate City From South (Sarasota): Travel North on US 301. Cross S.R. 70 and make a right onto 38th Ave. East. Make first left onto 27th St. E. and Pirate City is a mile up the road. From Interstate 75: Exit I-75 at S.R. 64 West (exit 220 if traveling south, exit 220B if traveling north). Proceed west towards Bradenton and make a left on 27th Street East. Pirate City is approx. a mile on the left.

Pirate City - 1701 27th St E - Bradenton, FL 34208. Parking has been free.

To get to McKechnie Field From South (Sarasota): Take Route 41 North to Cortez Road, go straight onto Business 41 and turn right onto 17th Ave. West. Ballpark is located at intersection of 17th Avenue West and 9th Street West. From Interstate 75: Exit I-75 at S.R. 64 West (exit 220 if traveling south, exit 220B if traveling north). Go west on Route 64 to 9th Street West and turn left to the ballpark.

McKechnie Field is located at: 1611 9th Street W., Bradenton, Florida. Located 1/2 mile West of Highway 41 on 9th Street West at 17th Ave. West.

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