John Wehner can talk Pittsburgh Pirates with the best of them.
Over the past twenty MLB seasons, particularly in Western Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio and West Virginia, Pirates’ fans have learned to trust Wehner’s assessments of what’s taking place on the field.
Fans listen to his voice on the radio along the Pirates’ 27 stations that comprise the club’s network and see him on games carried on SportsNet Pittsburgh. There’s a level of comfort and trust in Werner’s work as a color analyst that keeps Pirates’ fans allowing him to be their eyes and ears to the club.
When being in the former Pirates player’s presence, what you see and hear at game time is easily matched. Prior to a spring training game in Bradenton, Florida, this past March, Wehner’s ability to be a good listener and an even better ambassador for Pittsburgh baseball shone instantly.
Teaming with his play-by-play partner Joe Block on this weekday telecast, Wehner, with his game notes well placed in front of him and his headset lying on top of them, easily counted his blessings for the job he cherishes.
“I’m blessed. There’s been a lot of people who have helped me along the way,” said Wehner, who at 24 made his Pirates debut in July 1991. “When I started as an analyst, I did a lot of learning on the job. People were listening to my work and were teaching me.”
Greg Brown, who is in his 31st season calling Pirates’ games, and Block, now sharing duties with Brown, is in his ninth season behind Pittsburgh microphones, receive immediate credit from Wehner for the progress he continues to enjoy during the broadcasts.
It’s the thinking behind what’s going on during Pirates’ games that makes Wehner a valuable piece to Pittsburgh’s broadcast roster. He played the game at the highest level for parts of 11 seasons (9 with the Pirates and two with the Florida Marlins). Wehner has been in the position on the field that the players find themselves in today.
It is interesting how Wehner, whose playing career concluded after the 2001 season, landed a spot on the Pirates’ broadcast crew prior to the 2005 season.
“I had a passion for coaching and did that for a couple of seasons at Altoona (Pirates’ Double-A Altoona Curve affiliate). But I didn’t want to travel much. I had read in the newspaper that Steve Blass (Pirates’ Hall of Famer who for 34 seasons was a member of the organization’s broadcast team) was cutting back on his traveling with road games.”
“ Bob (Bob Walk – former Pirates’ teammate and a current color analyst for 31 seasons) told Bob Nutting (Pirates’ chairman of the board) about my interest in giving broadcasting a try. I was brought in for an interview, and here I am.”
Wehner knew that there would be much to learn from a broadcast perspective, but the Pirates' importance to the Greater Pittsburgh community is a responsibility for which no coaching would be needed.
Wehner understands how very fortunate he is to have played and then transitioned to an analyst for the club that he grew up cheering for. Being from Pittsburgh, the club’s history and the stars that brought championships to the stadiums was a big plus for Wehner when first coming aboard.
Being with the Pirates’ organization for 34 years in various roles is what makes Wehner an authority on the club for its fans. He holds the distinction of slugging the final home run at Three Rivers Stadium on October 1, 2000.
When wearing the black and gold uniform, Wehner called Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke, and fellow Pirates’ color analyst Kevin Young teammates. Throughout his MLB playing days, both with the Pirates and Marlins, Wehner had Jim Leyland as his manager for eight seasons.
Leyland, who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, in July, brought Wehner with him to Florida, where he left the Pirates after the 1996 season.
It was in the 1997 season that the Marlins captured the World Series championship. Along with earning a ring, Wehner remains the biggest fan of his former skipper.
“(Leyland) extended my career. I was his utility guy. He trusted me enough to move me around. Playing for him also has helped me with my broadcast work.”
Wehner recalls asking Leyland, on more than one occasion while playing for him, why he made moves during games in certain situations. The learning process Wehner, a graduate of Pittsburgh’s Carrick High School, began with Leyland decades back and continues to pay dividends today while calling Pirates’ action.
When Leyland was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum last December, few were more thrilled about the honor than Wehner.
“I wasn’t surprised,” explains Wehner of Leyland’s call to Cooperstown. “I was part of Face Time with Jim. The way he performed under pressure, no one was better. Jim had a way of always getting the best from his players.”
Few in any profession get to enjoy a lengthy career at a position they truly appreciate. Wehner, over the years, not only contributed to the Pirates’ history on the field but relayed some of the organization’s biggest highlights to fans from a fabulous seat in the press box. For Wehner, being with the Pirates remains a wonderful life with hopefully many chapters to write.
