Pittsburgh Paradise: Inside Pirate City

When in Florida, ballplayers under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates have it made. Until spring training with big leaguers begins, one phone call with Jeff Podobnik is more than a satisfying substitute. Every exciting nugget of history and real-time amenities that is Pirate City, year-around Florida home for the Pirates, creates more excitement for the game and organization.

As vice-president of Florida and Dominican Republic operations, knowing every nook and cranny of not only Pirate City, but LECOM Park where the Pirates play their home exhibition spring games, is Podobnik's responsibility.

The history Podobnik dishes, amazingly one after another, and without taking a breath, makes you want to run outside, grab a ball, put on your glove, and find a partner to have a catch over at 27th Street East.

So until the players and MLB management shake on a new labor agreement, getting a taste of what they will come back to is a fine substitute.

"The dorm was rebuilt in 2008," said Podobnik during a phone conversation earlier this week. " The rebuild started during my first stint (in Bradenton) back in the 1990s. Then, the clubhouse, dining hall, and groundskeepers area were worked on."

When the old dormitory was torn down in 2008, the 1970s style rooms included one that the late Pirates' Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente occupied for a number of years, until his untimely death on December 31, 1972.

"When the Pirates moved their spring training facility from Fort Myers to Bradenton in 1969, they were the first team to build a dorm environment," Podobnik explains.

From looking on the outside, Pirate City appears as a 4-star, up-scale resort. Inside, Podobnik describes the facility as more of a hotel atmosphere. Rooms, designed for two occupants in each of the 83 residences and three suites, are equipped with flat-screen TVs, showers, and wi-fi.

The rebuilt facility, now with 14 years of history, is fully equipped for players to pass time away from the field by relaxing playing pool, ping pong, Xbox, and PlayStation.

"(Pirate City) has all the amenities needed for our players year-round."

Although Bradenton is mainly associated as the spring training home for Pittsburgh, Podobnik is quick to remind that Pirate City is functioning long after the big club breaks for the regular season.

"This is where it all begins," tells Podobnik of the future Pirates.

There are four full-size fields, half fields, a fitness training area of 12,000-plus feet offering state-of-the-art weight training and cardio workout capabilities, all to ensure Pirates, from the minor league level on up, is becoming bigger and stronger athletes.

For the most part, it's the Pirates' minor leaguers who take up housing in the dormitory.

"It has been probably since the late '70s when the big leaguers were last on campus," Podobnik informs. "They (big leaguers) get a housing allowance and meal money."

When April comes around, and the Bradenton Mauraders Class-A affiliate for Pittsburgh begins their season in a 15-team league, these players live off-campus.

For Podobnik, he keeps busy shuffling his day in the spring between Pirate City and LECOM Park, "an easy 10-minute ride." He has a constant finger on the pulse of all things Pirates. When discussing the Mauraders, you can feel the passion in Podobnik's voice for the product that is placed on the diamond and for the fans in the seats.

Being closest to the players, Podobnik says builds a bond between athlete and customer. He is a fan of pure baseball and the pageantry that comes along with kids wanting to impress scouts and management, in hopes of moving up the organizational ladder. Having opportunities to get an autograph, come across a game-used ball, or just receiving a direct smile or wink from a youngster in uniform is long-lasting for the fan base.

Players, who are also manned with an executive chef and a sports nutritionist during spring training at Pirate City, are able to fuel their bodies, which is expected to develop their skills exponentially.

While giving a rundown of the superior treatment the Pirates offer their players in Bradenton, Podobnik offers a quiz.

"Do you know (LECOM Park) is the third oldest ballpark still used by a major league team in the country?"

LECOM Park, built in 1923, trails only Fenway Park (1912) and Wrigley Field (1914), when it comes to continuous use.

Yes, spring training is a right of passage for countless baseball fans; a way to adjust their life's calendars. Escaping life's reality through childhood memories and refusing to leave, traditionally on a six-week schedule beginning in late February, the Pirates and their contribution to Bradenton and surrounding areas is immeasurable.

Just grab a minute of Jeff Podobnik's time, and you'll be reminded why you and millions of other baseball fans throughout time began a love affair with the greatest game on dirt.