With a reported attendance of 38,041 at PNC Park for Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, the Pittsburgh Pirates had their largest home crowd so far this season. The first 20,000 fans to enter the stadium received a bobblehead of rapper Mac Miller, a Pittsburgh native who died in 2018 at the age of 26.
Given that not everyone in attendance was set to receive the giveaway, which was designed in collaboration with Miller’s family and plays his song “Knock Knock,” fans reportedly started lining up at 8 a.m. for a game that began at 6:40 p.m. By around 4 p.m., the line snaked all the way across the nearby Roberto Clemente Bridge.
Miller’s mother, Karen Meyers, threw out the ceremonial first pitch (pictured above) and a fan messages wall was set up on the Highmark Riverwalk for the game, where attendees could “leave messages in memory and celebration of Mac Miller.”
The Pirates also sold a limited-edition Miller collaboration T-shirt in the team store on Saturday, with a portion of proceeds going to the Mac Miller Fund. The shirt sold out in record time, according to the team, prompting them to announce a restock later in the week. The shirt is now selling for $175 on eBay and the bobbleheads are selling for around $200.
Traveling 2,500 miles to Pittsburgh.
Waiting 4 hours in line.
Securing a Mac Miller Bobblehead.
Priceless. 💛 pic.twitter.com/GiEfDySElY— Alyce (@Ninergirl99) July 19, 2025
“(Miller) was a diehard sports fan when it came to Pittsburgh,” said the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen in 2023. “He was a big fan of the Pirates, a big fan of Pittsburgh for sure.”
The Pirates’ three highest attendances so far in 2025 have been their home opener against the New York Yankees on April 4 (36,893), Paul Skenes bobblehead night against the Cleveland Guardians on April 19 (37,713), and Saturday night’s 10-4 loss to the White Sox. Like the Miller bobbleheads, only 20,000 of the Skenes one were originally made available, but the team later announced that any game ticket scanned after supplies ran out would be entitled to a bobblehead at a later date.
Through 49 home games, the Pirates rank 26th in MLB in home attendance with an average of 19,090 as they sit in last place in the NL Central standings.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
(Top photo: Justin Berl/Getty Images)