The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Yinzerpalooza weekend is in full swing, as the team takes on the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series while also honoring Pittsburgh’s greatest icons. On Saturday the Pirates and PNC Park will be paying tribute to the late Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller and his undying contributions to the city as an innovator and artist.
Malcolm James McCormick was born on Jan. 19, 1992 and from an early age showed he was creative and passionate about music. McCormick would go on to graduate
from Taylor Allderdice High School, before being discovered by Rostrum Records President Benjy Grinberg at a studio session in Pittsburgh’s ID Labs shared by fellow Pittsburgh artist Wiz Khalifa. From there the name Mac Miller would become synonymous with the city of Pittsburgh.
This is for you, Malcolm. ️ pic.twitter.com/I9N8vcQTkK
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 15, 2025
Miller’s early mixtapes paid homage to the city streets and communities that he called home, with K.I.D.S and Best Day Ever becoming landmark pieces of work in his growing catalog. His debut studio album Blue Slide Park would become the launchpad that would really make him a Pittsburgh icon. Songs like “Frick Park Market”, “Party on Fifth Ave.”, and “PA Nights” all became part of the fabric that would make up a Pittsburgh summer playlist.
Mac would go onto release his second album under the Rostrum banner in 2013, with Watching Movies with the Sound Off being praised for the new direction and sounds present on the album. Miller would go on to release three more studio albums with Warner Bros. Records with several mixtapes also being released during this time. Miller’s album Swimming which was released in 2018 would be the last project to come out during his lifetime. He would die of an accidental overdose on September 2018 in Los Angeles California. Miller was just 26 years-old.
— E. Dan (@IdlabsMusic) July 16, 2022
Though his life was tragically cut short, his legacy lives on as one of the ultimate ambassadors for Pittsburgh. Through his music, he became a global superstar, and through his connection to the community he became a hometown icon. The Pirates’ iconic “P” logo was tattooed on Miller’s hand, and would throw out the first pitch at PNC Park on September 16, 2015.
During a 2023 interview with content creators “Bat Boys”, Andrew McCutchen was able to provide some insight into the kind of person Mac was and the relationship he had with the Pirates and Pittsburgh as a whole.
“Yeah, I mean, you know this guy was a die-hard sports fan when it came to Pittsburgh so anything in Pittsburgh he was repping,” McCutchen said. “He was a big fan man, big fan of the Pirates, big fan of Pittsburgh for sure.”
Whether it be Pirates, Steelers, or Penguins Mac was representing. ‘Cutch went on to say in that interview that any time the Pirates would travel out to Los Angeles that Mac would hit him up and be at the games still cheering on the Buccos away from home.
Part of this weekend in honoring Mac Miller are the bobbleheads that depict Mac donning his Pittsburgh gear, with a button at the bottom that plays his iconic “Knock Knock”. In addition to that, there will also be a limited amount of t-shirts commemorating his memory for sale at PNC Park, with the iconic Pittsburgh logo sat beside Miller’s yin-yang logo with the lyrics on the back of the shirt from his song “Smile Back” reading “Let me show the world just where my city at,” all in black and yellow.
A portion of the proceeds raised from the shirt sales will go to the Mac Miller Fund, a charity that supports artistic and musical aspirations for those from underserved neighborhoods. The proceeds will also go on to help musicians 27 and under who are struggling with substance abuse.
Let me show the world just where my city at
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 18, 2025
This limited edition Mac Miller x Pirates shirt will be available exclusively at the Pirates Clubhouse Store on Saturday, July 19, during Yinzerpalooza Weekend.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Mac Miller Fund. pic.twitter.com/XXrichniYZ
Fans are also encouraged to leave messages in memory and celebration of Mac on the HighMark Riverwalk, and should check out the AHN Picnic Park that will have special chalk art on display honoring the late artist.
People everywhere know the kind of impact that Mac Miller has had on music and culture, but certainly his hometown of Pittsburgh knows that better than anyone. Far more than just an artist, Mac was an icon, and his music and legacy live on strong and proud on a baseball night in Pittsburgh and around the world.
More from bucsdugout.com:
- Gregory Polanco lifts Pirates with bat, arm to 4-2 win over Brewers
- Polanco finds 'conviction zone', Kuhl crashes into Vogt
- Cannonballs coming: Mason Martin has a big day
- MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates’ Tony Watson, Josh Harrison
- In Case You Missed It: How will the Brewers series affect the Pirates’ trading strategy?
- Series Preview: Brewers at Pirates
- Game Thread: Pirates send out Chad Kuhl to open big Brewers series
