June 26th, 2001, 24 years ago today, one of the most iconic PNC Park moments took place.
That’s right, it’s been exactly 24 years since former Pirates’ manager Lloyd McClendon stole first base following an argument with an umpire.
In his first season as Pirates’ manager, McClendon and the struggling Pirates were taking on the Milwaukee Brewers.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the game tied at four runs a piece, catcher Jason Kendell hits a ground ball up the center that looks to be a base hit.
Brewers shortstop Jose Hernandez makes a great play up the middle to field the ball in the infield and attempt to make a play at first.
It was a bang-bang play where firstbase umpire, Rick Reed, called Kendell out.
After a look at the replay you can see that Kendell beat the ball to the base and Reed made the wrong call.
McClendon came storming out of the Pirates’ dugout to argue the call.
Reed then tosses McClendon from the game who them sets off on one of the best manager tirades ever seen in MLB history.
The blow up had everything, a hat toss, dirt kicks, probably a lot of profanity, and an interaction with the base in question.
Baseball has seen managers take a base and throw it before, but never what McClendon did.
McClendon picked up the first base bag and took it all the way to the dugout with him as he exited the game.
To think it only took three months of PNC Park’s opening season to see a moment that may never be topped.
The Pirates would ultimately go on to win the game 7-6 in 12 innings.