The Pirates announced Wednesday that former CEO and managing general partner Kevin McClatchy sold his remaining shares in the team and stepped down from the team's board of directors.
"I care deeply about this organization, the City of Pittsburgh and the people of this region. While i will no longer play a role with the club, I will always passionately support the team in any way that I can. I have a great amount of faith in Bob (Nutting) and his new leadership team. They are committed to restoring the organization to its rightful place among the elite franchises in Major League Baseball."
McClatchy certainly had his critics and I was one of them. From not putting any money into the team to raising ticket prices after a 100-loss season, McClatchy made his share of gaffes during his tenure.
I thought his biggest one was his continuing reluctance to stand up to the larger franchises in the hopes of bringing a more even economic playing field. But McClatchy followed the herd and, therefore, the Pirates still languish today.
But make no mistake, there likely wouldn't be a Major League Baseball team in Pittsburgh without McClatchy. He was THE main reason the team was able to stay in Pittsburgh in 1996 and continues here today.
He also helped getting PNC Park built. Again, though the team that resides in it stinks, it remains one of the top stadiums in the country.
It will be interesting to see who gets his seat on the five-person board, as that will have a big impact as to what direction the Pirates take toward the future.
Say what you will about McClatchy and how he ran the Pirates during his tenure. But if it weren't for him, there wouldn't be a team here to run. And for that he deserves thanks for keeping baseball in Pittsburgh.
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