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| Photo creds to Si.Com |
In case you've been living under a rock over the past week, the greatest Pirate of the decade is no longer amongst the Black and Gold. Rather than go on another rant, I think it's better to reflect on the things that Andrew Stefan McCutchen accomplished as Pittsburgh Pirate. To honor number 22, here are 22 of Cutch's greatest accomplishments in the Steel City.
#22: All-Star Bomb
July 14, 2015
Although it didn't help the Pirates in any way, McCutchen's blast in the 2015 All-Star game in Cincinnati was still neat and thus, a solid way to lead into some much more impactful moments on this list.
#21: You had to be there
Sept. 18, 2013
It's hard to describe this for those who didn't witness.
McCutchen's two-run jack off Tyson Ross to give the Bucs a 2-1 lead over the Padres didn't get the Pirates to the playoffs and didn't even win them that game. But the feeling of a September crowd in Pittsburgh going bonkers at a place that wasn't Heinz Field was something I'll never forget. And Cutch getting pumped up as a curtain call? Well, that was just awesome.
#20: First Grand Slam
Sept. 26, 2017
The reason this is so low is because of how depressing last season was. Nonetheless, McCutchen hitting his only career granny in what ended up being his second to last home game as a Pirate was epic.
#19: Three home run game vs. Padres
July 31, 2017
Here's another moment that happened towards the end of Cutch's run in Pittsburgh. Arguably the climax of his last season in the Steel City, Cutch stole the show at Petco Park and made Pirates fans believe that just maybe a playoff run was in the cards. Things didn't turn out that way, but July 31, 2017, was one of the best performances of McCutchen's career.
#18: Two-week terror
Aug. 5-17, 2016
2016 was the worst season of McCutchen's MLB career to this point. But all of a sudden, for two weeks in August, something clicked.
As the Pirates fought for a wildcard spot, he was the McCutchen of old, both with his glove and bat, after getting benched for a full series in Atlanta to start the month. It's easy to forget because it never led to anything, but for a brief time, Cutch and the Pirates were on a roll.
#17: Easter Sunday walk off
April 8, 2012
From a statistical standpoint, 2012 was McCutchen's best year as a Pirate. This walk-off double against the defending NL East champs on Easter Sunday in just the third game of that season launched it, and I would argue that it was the starting point of McCutchen's transition from good player to superstar.
Sept. 29, 2012
The second half of the 2012 season didn't go nearly as well for McCutchen or the Pirates as the first half, but this walk-off bomb in one of the last home games of the year was an appropriate closing act for Cutch in the year he became a superstar. It was also a sign of things to come for the next three years.
#15: Stealing the show in D.C.
May 17, 2012
I'm quite fond of the 2012 season. This was one of many games throughout Cutch's time with the Pirates where he was far and away the best player on the field. On this night, McCutchen hit two bombs and made one of the best defensive plays of his life to lead the Pirates to a 5-3 win. It might be harder to remember than a lot of other Cutch heroics, but anybody who watched this game knew that they saw greatness
#14: Ending the first half with a bang
July 8, 2012
Heading into the only homerun derby appearance of his career, McCutchen nailed the dress rehearsal in the last game before the All-Star break, smacking two jacks. The win put the Pirates at 48-37, by far their best mark going into an All-Star break since 1992. The first half of the 2012 season made people believe these Bucs could be for real, and pounding the eventual World Champions was a pretty sweet way to top things off.
#13: 5-5 (with a walk)
May 14, 2010
One of the highlights of the infamous 57-105 Bucs took place at Wrigley Field May 14. On this day, McCutchen and Gerrit Jones became the first pair of Pirates since Willie Stargell and Bob Robertson to have five hits each in a game, going a combined 10-11 to lead an offensive onslaught. It wasn't a turning point in McCutchen's career, but it was one of his best performances in the Black and Gold.
#12: Bigger than baseball
May 30, 2015
If my list was about Andrew McCutchen the person more than the player, this moment might be number one. The look on the faces of these kids shows what impact athletes can have away from their craft, and Cutch understood that he was capable of making people smile in ways that didn't involve making a diving catch or hitting a home run.
#11: Number 100
Sept. 4, 2013
McCutchen's 100th career bomb is on this list not so much for the significance of the milestone, but more for the timing. It came the night after the Pirates won their 81st game, breaking the dreaded 20-year losing season streak. Since McCutchen's 100 homers were a big part of the turnaround, I feel that this individual accomplishment belongs on my list.
#10: Lighting up Lidge
Aug. 25, 2009
Towards the end of Cutch's rookie season, the woeful Pirates took on the eventual NL champions Phillies. After making an error that led to the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth, Cutch redeemed himself in a big way with his first walk-off homer in the bottom half. It was a remarkable win for the young Bucs, and a sign that the end was near for Phillies closer Brad Lidge
#9: First home run
June 17, 2009
And he had 202 to follow.
#8: "It's a three-homer night for the rookie"
Aug. 1, 2009
Of all the Cutch highlights that made the 2009 season bearable, this was my favorite. I was in PNC Park when McCutchen took Craig Stammen, Tyler Clippard and Logan Kensing deep and it was probably the loudest that place ever was before 2009. Just too sweet.
#7: First walk off
June 25, 2009
Yes, it was just a single. Yes, it was in a situation where Cutch could have won the game with a fly ball. Nonetheless, McCutchen's first walk-off, just three weeks after his debut, was something to remember at a time when Pirate baseball was about as forgettable as it has ever been.
#6: Rookie of the Year (Sort of)
October 2009
Chris Coghlan was the "official" ROY in 2009. But the Baseball America Rookie of the Year was Andrew McCutchen, so that counts for something, and we all know who ended up having the better career.
#5: The *productive* debut.
June 4, 2009
Exit Nate McLouth, enter the face of the franchise.
#4: Carrying the team
July 12, 2014
After coughing up a 4-0 lead to the Reds, it looked like the Pirates would suffer a bitter defeat in the last series before the 2014 All-Star break. But Cutch was having none of it.
Instead, leading off the top of the ninth, he blasted a homer off of legendary Pirates whipping boy Jonathan Broxton to tie the game. Two innings later, he hit one over the left field wall to give the Bucs the lead, which they would keep. This is another example of how Cutch knew how to put the boys on his shoulders when they needed it.
#3: We're back
Oct. 1, 2013
Although McCutchen didn't have a signature moment in the most memorable night in PNC Park history, he played a role, going 2-3 with a run scored. This night would not have been possible without number 22, so even though it wasn't necessarily one of Cutch's best individual performances, it was one of the most important nights of his life.
#2: MVP
Oct. 2013
No explanation needed.
#1: "Oh My God"
July 11, 2015
Cutch never had a signature postseason moment in a Pirate uniform, but this is the closest he ever got. As far as moments go, there were none better than this. Watch, relieve, and enjoy.
Thank you, Cutch.
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