PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen made history in his latest game, which saw him meet a special fan.
McCutchen hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the Pirates up 4-0 in the eventual 5-2 win at PNC Park on June 12. This home run served as his sixth of the season and No. 241 as a Pirate, which put him No. 3 on the franchise all-time list, moving past Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente.
McCutchen hit that home run into the left field bleachers, which sent fans scurrying and looking for the ball.
Jim Kolesar from the South Side area of the City of Pittsburgh was the one that found it, as the ball got stuck under a bleacher, which led to confusion from the other people around the area.
"Right in the North Side notch," Kolsear said. "It went under, off the concrete, stuck underneath the bleacher and everybody was looking for it and I looked underneath the seat, it was stuck there."
It was not a tough decision for @Pirates fan Jim Kolesar to return the home run ball to Cutch
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) June 11, 2025
"It meant more to him than me... Now I want to hit the 50/50." ️
What a legend @mearshannah_ pic.twitter.com/45oKwjGjbP
This was the first home run that Kolesar ever got, even after years of attending Pirates games, and didn't even know the history behind the home run until it went up on the jumbotron.
"I knew they were tied, but I didn't realize that was the one. I don't know why but, and then they took me back to the office and they told me and I was like, 'Oh yeah!'"
Kolesar was proud that he was a part of Pirates lore and didn't want much in return for the ball, as he just wanted McCutchen to have the ball back.
"No because it meant more to him than me, but I think I sold myself a bit short."
McCutchen would eventually meet Kolesar following the game, with the two sharing a wonderful moment with each other over the love of baseball.
"It was stuck under the bleachers. Everybody was going crazy for it."
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 11, 2025
The fan who caught Cutch's 241st home run ball was happy to return it home pic.twitter.com/eAuFWnvjJa
“He’s a guy, they got to find him, they got to find him, McCutchen said on Kolesar. "He seems like a national treasure. It was great to have an interaction with a true Pittsburgher. It was great and for him to explain how he got the ball, that’s why it has that little cut on it there because it got lodged under the bench. I at least have that to remember and to know that this is that ball. So if I, for some reason can’t find it. I know what it looks like, but it was an overall good experience. It seemed like a true gift for sure.”
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