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More Allegheny Yinzers merchandise is now in The Stockyard Team Store for you to discover! Whether you're searching for a New Era cap, authentic T-shirts or a new jacket, then look no further for your black and yellow garb. Visit the team store at PNG Field or shop The Stockyard Team Store online at AltoonaCurve.com 24/7/365.
The Altoona Curve adopted a new name for several games in 2019 and became known as the Allegheny Yinzers. The club swapped out the brick and bronze colors of the Curve and adopted the black and yellow commonly worn by the teams of Western Pennsylvania. The Yinzers moniker came from the common second-person pronoun "yinz" that is used by the blue-collar people of Western and Central Pennsylvania.
Many Minor League Baseball teams were doing similar partial rebrands to reflect various food items of their region or to play out several "What Could Have Been" scenarios in their Name The Team contests. However, the Curve decided to adopt a new moniker that was inspired by a simple word.
With a new name, new logos and uniforms were forged. First, Allegheny replaced Altoona to identify a larger area that was being represented with the new Yinzers name. The black and gold colors were chosen to fit the schemes adopted by all three of Pittsburgh's major sports teams, creating a unified palette for fans of every sport. The primary logo is highlighted by steel lettering that is riveted together to commemorate the region's historic industry. Behind the lettering of the primary logo is a silhouette of the Clemente Bridge that spans Allegheny River next to PNC Park in downtown Pittsburgh. The hat logo is an alternate view of the bridge on Sixth Street upon a steel beam to reinforce how the Steel City was built, literally and economically.
Seven dates were chosen for the Yinzers to hit the field. Complete with new uniforms, videoboard animations and Pittsburgh-themed concessions items, the Yinzers would bring some additional flair to PNG Field. Many games were accompanied by FIREWORK shows that were set to the tunes of popular Pittsburgh sports anthems, Pittsburgh musical artists and the rock band Styx. But there was much more.
One of the seasons most heroising moments tied to the Pittsburgh theme came on June 8 when Pittsburgh Police officer Dan Mead visited PNG Field as a guest of Curve owner Bob Lozinak. Mead was one of the first responders to the Tree Of Life Synagogue tragedy in Pittsburgh in October 2018. Mead was injured in the crossfire but recovered from his wounds and was honored as the Martin's Hero of the Game that night and came back in August.
The Pittsburgh theme of the season kicked off on Opening Night, April 11, when Pirates broadcaster and World Series champion pitcher Steve Blass visited Altoona. The first Yinzers game took place two days later with some more visitors from Pittsburgh: The Pirates Pierogies. The first Yinzers game was played as the second game of a doubleheader on April 13 against Akron, but the Yinzers were defeated, 10-7. They suffered another loss in the second game as the Yinzers on May 31, a 5-4 decision against New Hampshire.
The June 13 date may have been one of the biggest dates on the promotional calendar all season when "Pittsburgh Dad" made an appearance at the third Yinzers game. Curt Wooten, the actor behind the online sitcom character, tossed out a first pitch and met with fans as the Yinzers earned their first victory, 5-2, versus Portland. Yinzers fans received a unique license plate giveaway on June 29 and the team won, 4-3, on a walk-off single by Chris Sharpe against Binghamton. Following two wins in the series, the Yinzers were defeated in their next two games on July 23, 3-1 against Erie, and July 26, 5-3 to Richmond.
The final Yinzers contest was on August 8 and presented the only opportunity that fans had to get their hands on one of the coveted Yinzers uniforms. Proceeds of the jersey auction that night were gifted to the Roberto Clemente Foundation while the team also collected youth baseball equipment for Roberto's Kids. The Yinzers went out winners that night, defeating Richmond 2-0.
Fans can still get their hands on those Yinzers memories beyond 2019 at The Stockyard Team Store. On-field New Era caps, T-shirts and more are all available at the ballpark and online 24/7/365 at AltoonaCurve.com.