Big Lead Sports Bar

5/12/2008

AND THE WORLD'S BIGGEST PIRATE FAN IS....

Well, the votes have been tallied and the results are in. Nearly 1,800 votes were made, and the World's Biggest Pirate Fan (as chosen by you) is...86-year-old Grace Zimmerman of Pittsburgh!

Here's her original submission:

She will be 87 in June and has been a Pirate fan since her family got their first radio around 1935. She used to listen with her dad, who was also a big fan of the team. Grace started by listening to Rosie Rosewell and has followed the team through eight decades, and there is a brick with her name on it next to the Honus Wagner statue outside PNC Park. Even when the Pirates are having a down year she still listens/watches through game #162, and, of course, roots for the National League team in the World Series each fall.

The final results were as follows:

1. Grace Zimmerman, Pittsburgh, 24.4%

2. Zach Posun, Austin, TX 21.4%

3. Joe Dopirak, Pittsburgh, 13.2%

3. Brandon Riley, Pittsburgh, 13.2%

5. Stephanie Karr, Greensburg, PA, 11.6%

6. Sean Ryan, Greensboro, NC, 6.5%

7. Irv Firman, Pittsburgh, 5.3%

8. Greg Marks, Pittsburgh, 2.1%

9. Mike Mey, Bethel Park, PA, 1.6%

10. Thomas Giampolo - Des Moines, IA, 0.8%

When contacted for a comment today, Grace released this statement:

"I am overwhelmed and humbled by the support of my children, grandchildren and friends for voting for me. A big thank you to my grandson Sean for the nomination that let a lot of people know about my long love affair with the Pirates."

For her efforts, Grace will receive a signed/framed Willie Stargell lithograph and a pair of Freddy Sanchez's game-used batting gloves, courtesy of www.steelcityauctions.com.

Thanks to everyone for their participation and be sure to watch for our next major contest. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

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