Kevin Gorman: Home opener not the same without Pirates official scorer Tony Krizmanich
While the focus was on whether the fans would show up for the Pirates' home opener, what was truly missing at PNC Park was a man whose presence in the press box can't be underscored.
Tony Krizmanich spent 37 seasons as the official scorer for the Pirates, a vocation that mirrored his love for baseball. Krizmanich died at age 79 on Thursday, the official opening day for MLB games. He was scheduled to keep the official scorebook for Monday's home opener.
"He would always take pride in being here on opening day," Pirates director of baseball communications Jim Trdinich said.
"It was pretty much his province," added Evan Pattak, 67, in his 39th season as one of several official scorers for the Pirates. "I find it difficult to concentrate on opening day because the atmosphere here was circus-like."
Krizmanich was the voice of the press box, and writers would often mimic him bellowing, "Good afternoon" as he announced the time of the first pitch and the game-time temperature each home game.
The Pirates included Krizmanich in the moment of silence before the first pitch. Pattak, who will serve as official scorer in Krizmanich's stead, said his fellow scorer would be on his mind.
"It cast a pall over the season for us," Pattak said. "We worked together for 37 years. I'll be thinking about him. He was an old-fashioned throwback, such a gentleman. We don't see too many of that type."
Such a strong and caring Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, Friend, and Grandpa. He was a fighter until the very end and I am so happy to have been by your side the entire time. I love you SO much Grandpa, Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/4qVaV4hR7o
— Mike Krizmanich (@Mike_Kriz6) March 29, 2018
Trdinich recalls Krizmanich carrying two 50-cent pieces in his pocket, giving them to children in the parking lot on his way to PNC Park. He even gave them to Trdinich's son, Zach, in the press box.
Very saddened to hear of the passing of longtime Pirates official scorer Tony Krizmanich. One of my favorite people at PNC Park. Not a stretch to say that his 'BASE HIT' call is one of the warmest, most familiar sounds of my recent summers.RIP, prayers to his family
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 29, 2018
Tony Krizmanich was a very fair and conscientious official scorer. He also was a better man. Loved baseball so mich. He will be missed. https://t.co/1Yr9SyDelY
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) March 29, 2018
Krizmanich loved baseball but enjoyed the relative anonymity of his position within the game. It was about knowing the rules and scoring the game correctly, even if he had a few run-ins over the years.
"Ninety-nine percent of the time, nobody knows the official scorer's name," Krizmanich told the Tribune-Review in 2016. "That's what you want. You do your job, and there's no controversy. Usually, the games start and they end with nothing in between."
Trdinich recalled the time Krizmanich stood his ground after he failed to award New York Mets third baseman Howard Johnson a stolen base that would have given him his third season of 30 home runs and 30 steals in October 1991. Krizmanich cited rule 10.08-g, which denies a stolen base when the runner advances through catcher indifference.
Johnson advanced to third, but when Pirates catcher Mike LaValliere did not make the throw and third baseman Steve Buechele didn't cover the base, Krizmanich called it uncontested. Mets announcer Rusty Staub came down from the television booth to contest the call.
"You have to have pretty thick skin in our business because you know you'll be criticized," Pattak said. "We have to have an understanding of and apply the rules. Temperament is important. Once you're a scorer, you can't not see the game as a scorer."
As fate would have it, Staub died on March 29, the same day as Krizmanich. Where they were forever connected, so will Krizmanich and Andrew McCutchen after another controversial call .
When the centerfielder dropped a fly ball by Anthony Rizzo that would have been the final out of the third inning against the Chicago Cubs in May 2016, Krizmanich scored it an error. Ben Zobrist hit a three-run home run on the next pitch, and the Cubs won, 6-2, on the way to a series sweep. McCutchen was furious about the call.
"Whoever scored that an error should be fired," McCutchen said. "That's unbelievable. I'd like him to try to catch that one."
Krizmanich said he was "surprised" by that reaction but McCutchen later apologized by text message.
#pirates Andrew McCutchen has apologized to Tony Krizmanich for 'fire the scorer' comment after game yesterday.
— Rob Biertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) May 5, 2016
"He took that very seriously," said George Von Benko, who hosts a weekly sports talk show on WMBS (590-AM) in Uniontown and has covered the Pirates since 1971. "He was very concerned that he did the right job."
For those keeping score, the Pirates will miss Krizmanich.
"We lost a piece of the press box, part of the inner workings," Trdinich said. "It won't be opening day without him."
Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.
