PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was a year of massive change at the most important position in sports. It was a year of a hope and promise over a Pirates rookie. A pair of captains sign contract extensions. It’s the Top 14 Pittsburgh sports stories of the 2024, starting with numbers 8-14.
14. Pens trade Jake Guentzel
It was the first major admission that a rebuild is happening. The Pens the most productive player on the Sidney Crosby line, Jake Guentzel, traded to conference foe Carolina. As a 22-year-old, Guentzel had 16 goals in his 40 games as a rookie, but it was his run in the playoffs in 2016 that dazzled. He would score 13 goals in 25 playoff games, 11 of them even strength and FIVE were game-winners. The last time the Pens won a series in the postseason, Guentzel had 10 goals and 11 assists in 12 games. He would leave with the eighth most goals in Penguins history (219).
13. Neal Shipley plays final round of Masters with Tiger Woods
Mt. Lebanon native Neal Shipley qualified for the Masters after finishing runner up in the 2023 US Amateur. He would make the cut of the first PGA major of the season and be paired with Tiger Woods in the final round and shot an even-par 72. The 23-year-old said Woods talked to him about Pittsburgh and playing against Oakmont’s Sean Knapp.
Shipley would also make the cut at the US Open finishing tied for 26th and finished sixth at the PGA Tour’s ISCO Championship in July at 20-under.
12. Dave Parker, Hall of Fame
Dave Parker had to wait while those with similar and lessor careers got into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. On December 8, Parker was named by the veteran’s committee and admitted he cried and said he doesn’t cry. At 6’5”, 230 pounds he stole 154 bases in his career with back-to-back 20-steal seasons in 1978 and 1979. He twice led the majors in batting average, hitting over .300 for five straight seasons. Parker led the majors in doubles twice and hit over 20 home runs in a season nine times. He won the Home Run Derby in 1985.
Nine times Parker was top 20 in voting for the MVP, five times in the top five and he won the award with the Pirates in 1978 batting .334 with 32 doubles, 12 triples, 30 home runs, 117 RBI, 20 stolen bases, .394 on-base, led the majors with a .585 slugging percentage and .979 OPS.
11. Pitt volleyball wins ACC, Coach and Player of the Year with record crowds
Pitt volleyball made it to a fourth consecutive Final Four, won its sixth ACC championship while being ranked number one much of the season, along with Dan Fisher winning national Coach of the Year and sophomore Olivia Babcock national Player of the Year. Pitt would also have its two largest crowds in school history, twice topping 11,000 at the Pete.
10-Cam Heyward extension, wins Walter Payton award
Six times a finalist, Cam Heyward named the Walter Payton Man of the Year during a ceremony in February. Heyward said since he came to the Steelers that God and his father had a plan for him and he’s living it right now. The award ‘acknowledges NFL players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game.’
Later in 2024, the 35-year-old got a new three-year, $45 million contract in what he said would allow him to finish his career with the Steelers.
9-Pitt football rollercoaster
With an entirely new offensive coaching staff, the Panthers started 7-0, got back in the Top 25 in part because of historic comebacks in a win at Cincinnati and at home in the Backyard Brawl, avenging a loss to West Virginia. They had a trio of Pick Sixes against Syracuse in what would end up being the last win of the season. Pitt would lose its last six games in combination of being outplayed, injuries and mistakes ending in a six-overtime loss to Toledo in the GameAboveSports Bowl in Detroit. Pitt did find out about freshman quarterback Julian Dugger, as presumptive starting QB Eli Holstein announced his return as did All-Americans Desmond Reid and Kyle Louis.
8-Skenes named National League Rookie of the Year
The record-setting rookie capped off his first year in the majors winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award, joining Jason Bay as the only Pirates to do so. Paul Skenes finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 133 innings with 170 strikeouts, a 0.95 WHIP and .198 batting average against (lowest by a Pirates starter all-time with at least 16 starts). Skenes would tell reporters after winning the award he was ‘going to sleep early and getting back to work tomorrow.’
There is more Paul Skenes as the top seven sports stories are revealed at 93.7TheFan.com