Pennsylvania Highways Blog

The final day of the meet featured differing modes of transportation. We started out by taking PA 60 into the city for a cruise on the Gateway Clipper to see some of the numerous bridges as well as some of the sights along the Allegheny River. We had lunch at the Red Star Tavern in Station Square, where I had announced a mere 364 days earlier of my intention to hold a National meet.

Back on land we turned back to the west to take in PA Turnpike 576 at the US 30 interchange. Once on the expressway ROW itself, I heard what sounded like a car traveling at a quick pace. Turning around as we headed northbound, I didn't see anything until I looked over the median mound that is common place on PTC extensions only to see the "Christmas Tree" lightbar of a State Police cruiser. He caught up to us and only said to turn around; however, I was only yards away from getting Adam Prince the first PA Turnpike 576 northern end picture. Considering the alternative, we were very fortunate. Even on foot, I get pulled over by the Pennsylvania State Police!

The final event of the three day meet was to take in a ball game at the site of the 77th All Star Game at PNC Park. Surprisingly the Pirates managed to win 3-2 over the Saint Louis Cardinals, while the Steelers playing the NFL's version of the Cardinals on the same day lost.

After the game, we returned to the Comfort Inn on Steubenville Pike where I thanked all for attending and being part of the first National meet. Then we called it a night and went on our respective ways.

States represented/number attended:
California - 1
Georgia - 1
Kentucky - 1
Maryland - 1
Michigan - 2
New York - 2
Pennsylvania - 2
Tennessee - 2
Virginia - 1
West Virginia - 1

We don't have much to celebrate in terms of the American pastime in the Steel City; however, we did tonight. The eyes of the baseball world turned to Pittsburgh for the 77th annual "Mid-summer Classic" and fifth to be played in the city.

The American League has won every All-Star Game since 1996, and the last that was played in Pittsburgh in 1994 was won by the National League. Don't fret NL fans; at least your team-by-association has only been in a win-less slump for a decade and not your favorite and/or hometown team. The Pirates have not produced a winning team in 14 years and counting. At least this edition of the All-Star Game featured two of the hometown team's players: Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez. Jason Bay managed to get a starting gig with a campaign blitz spearheaded by the club to get him in the line-up.

The National League was winning going into the last inning, and it looked like the streak of them winning All-Star Games in Pittsburgh would continue. That was until the final inning when Pirate fans know all to well what happens: the lead was erased. The NL would fall to the AL, for the 11th consecutive year by a score of three to two. A one run loss, which is all too familiar for the regular home team.

Aside from baseball, it was a time for the "City of Champions" to shine in the spotlight. The All-Star Game was the most watched program that week with 14.5 million tuning into view the yearly AL/NL battle. People from all over the country and world came to not only see the game but partake in the activities before.

What I do not understand is people still have the idea that Pittsburgh is the "Smoky City" as seen in film reels from the 1940s. Even Jason Bay, who was the first Pirate to start an All-Star Game since Andy Van Slyke (who once bashed Pittsburgh for not having a beltway; wonder what he thinks of PA Turnpike 576?), mentioned people coming up to him saying they were expecting a smoky, gloomy city.

I'm sorry, but I can not understand in this day and age why people would still think that! All it takes going to Google Image Search, and typing in "Pittsburgh," or even going to the picture pages of I-279, I-376, I-579, etc. to see what it looks like nowadays. I guess they aren't football fans or don't own a TV, since the most successful team in Pittsburgh is usually featured at home at least once a season on Monday Night Football.

Pittsburgh Gives Red-Carpet Welcome - WPXI-TV Pittsburgh