Pittsburgh Pirates



Celebrating 100 years of baseball in Bradenton

The city of Bradenton is celebrating 100 years of Baseball this year at LECOM park. Tracing its history from 1923 to 2023, LECOM stands as the third oldest remaining park in the United States. From the concessions to the fans, this special report takes readers through the entire Bradenton experience.




Aspiring pitcher faces uphill climb to Pirates’ mound

BRADENTON, Fla. — Baseball, some say, is a young man’s sport. St. Petersburg, Fla., native Matt Benedict grew up with the sport, following in the footsteps of his father, who played ball in college. Despite the early introduction, he didn’t become a pro ball player until 22, four years after a lot of others do, he said. Today, the 25-year-old pitcher is working in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league organization, looking to make the big club.