Pirates name first historian
Club fixture Trdinich will curate, promote team’s new Hall of Fame
Longtime Pirates public relations official Jim Trdinich — known by most everyone simply as “Jimmy T” — announced this past week that he’s shifting into a new role, going from director of baseball communications to becoming the team’s first historian.
Trdinich has been with the Pirates full time for the past 33 years, his career with the organization technically starting with an internship in 1985. (The gap in those dates includes game-day work in 1986 and a stint at the National League office with Major League Baseball in 1987-88.)
In his new role, Trdinich will be responsible for curating and promoting the new Pirates Hall of Fame and its introductory class in August. He also will lead their player relations efforts, serving as the liaison between the front office and current playersand staff.
“As a team with 135 years of history, we have a critical need to prioritize the way in which we curate and celebrate that history,” Trdinich wrote to members of the media. “We are currently working through improvement plans at PNC Park that will include showcasing our history in more meaningful ways, including the introduction of the Pirates Hall of Fame and its inaugural class inAugust.
“So, with that being said, it is with very mixed emotions that after more than 30 years as the Pirates ‘PR Guy,’ I have agreed to take on this new challenge. Needless to say, I am excited to remain a key member of the department and to be selected [for thenew role].”
Senior vice president of communications and broadcasting Brian Warecki will lead a search (with input from Trdinich) to find a successor, while Dan Hart, Trdinich’s longtime lieutenant, remainsin his role.
Being around the team every day, there are few people more well-liked or respected than Trdinich, who was hugely helpful in securing interviews for media and ensuring postgame needs were met, that process shifting to Zoom during COVID. Trdinich and Hart also produce daily game notes, which with baseball’s 162-game season is nosmall task.
Trdinich was honored by his alma mater in 2019, receiving a Lifetime
Achievement Award from Slippery Rock and in 2011 picked up baseball’s Fishel Awardfor PR excellence.
Leaving behind the day-today will probably be tough for Trdinich, who took the majority of travel, but he’ll also slide into a key role as the Pirates look to better honortheir storied past.
It’s an appropriate challenge for someone with as much institutional knowledge — and golf courses played — as Trdinich, who may or may not have known HonusWagner.
“When you think of how rich of a history we have as an organization, how we curate, celebrate and share that with our fans needs to be a critical part of the overall fan experience,” Warecki said. “With Jim’s unmatched Pirates experience, historical knowledge and passion, there really isn’t anyone else who would bebetterpositionedtosucceed inthis new role.”