The Pittsburgh Pirates just sent out a press release with all of Monday’s Opening Day festivities. The biggest highlight was that Barry Bonds and Jim Leyland will be on hand to present awards to Andrew McCutchen and Clint Hurdle.
Bonds (1990 and 1992 NL MVP with the Pirates) will join Dick Groat (1960 NL MVP) to present McCutchen with his 2013 NL MVP award. McCutchen’s mother, Petrina McCutchen, will be signing the National Anthem. She last sang the National Anthem before the Wild Card game against the Reds.
Leyland (1990 and 1992 NL Manager of the Year with the Pirates) will present Hurdle with his 2013 NL Manager of the Year award.
The Pirates will also have Jack Wilson on hand to present the 2013 NL Silver Slugger awards to McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez. Wilson won a Silver Slugger in 2004 with the Pirates.
Francisco Liriano will also be recognized as the NL Comeback Player of the Year.
The Pirates will also have a moment of silence for members of the organization who have passed away in recent months. That includes Pirates alumni Ralph Kiner, Johnny Logan, Eddie O’Brien and Preston Ward along with Pirates minor leaguer Evan Chambers and long-time Pirates beat writer Charlie Feeney. Ralph Kiner’s son, Scott, will throw out the first pitch.
