'I'll always be a Pirate': Celebration of Josh Harrison set for Aug. 7-8

When Josh Harrison returned to PNC Park last month — his first time back since 2023 — the Pirates fan favorite tried to stay low-key.

It didn’t work.

Harrison bounced from conversation to conversation, only catching glimpses of the game, but there was one interaction that stood out more than the others: seeing Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting in the service tunnel.

“Bob said the Pirates wanted to bring me and my family back and have me retire as a Pirate,” Harrison said. “I was excited. I thought it was pretty cool.

“I don’t know how those things work, but when Bob mentioned it, I thought, ‘Oh, yeah. We can definitely make something happen.’”

That will occur Friday, Aug. 7, when Harrison will officially retire as a member of the Pirates. There will be a press conference that day, and Harrison will watch batting practice.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Pirates will honor Harrison with a commemorative T-shirt giveaway for the first 20,000 fans. There will also be an on-field ceremony, and Harrison will throw out the first pitch.

“Throughout his career, Josh Harrison embodied what it means to be a Pittsburgh Pirate: a gritty, hardworking player, a great teammate and a kind person who was always gracious with his time. He was and remains a cherished member of our organization,” Nutting said. “Josh is incredibly deserving of this celebration, and we look forward to honoring him alongside his family and friends in front of our fans at PNC Park.”

Harrison played eight seasons (2011-18) with the Pirates, reaching the MLB All-Star Game in 2014 and 2017. He was named the team’s Heart and Hustle Award winner in the first of those two All-Star years and won gold with Team USA in the second at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

The best statistical season of Harrison’s career was 2014, when he was worth 5.9 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference. He hit .315 to finish second in the National League batting race while also posting an .837 OPS in 143 games.

The following year, Harrison signed a four-year, $27.3 million contract extension with the Pirates, further linking a player and city that turned out to be a perfect match.

“The city means a lot to us,” Harrison said. “It’s our home away from home. I had some of my better years in Pittsburgh and grew a lot. That’s where me and my family started. For it to come full circle is really special.”

All of this has been a bit unexpected for Harrison, who said he never really thought much about retiring as a member of one organization and enjoying something like this.

“As a player, you don’t sit there and think about your numbers or what you meant to a city,” Harrison said. “I just kind of lived in the moment.

“But it’s cool to be acknowledged that way. I was just in the right place at the right time with those guys. Pittsburgh gave me an opportunity. I’ll always be a Pirate.”

While Harrison certainly cherished the Pirates’ playoff teams from 2013-15, he also appreciated how fans treated his family. They were respectful and welcoming toward his wife, Brittney, and their daughters, Mia and Kinsli.

“My parents, too,” Harrison said of his mom and dad, Bonita and Vincent. “Fans treated my family with the same sort of love that I felt on the field. I’m thankful for that.

“That’s why Pittsburgh will always hold a unique place in our hearts — it’s more than just playing a game. When you can make an impression on families and loved ones, those are the places that will always be special.”

Especially during the next homestand, when Harrison will likely struggle once again to commit 100% of his attention to watching a baseball game at PNC Park.

He’s eager to show their daughters spots around town, to gaze toward the skyline, to hop on the TV and radio broadcasts Friday and catch up with old friends.

“I’m not gonna be nervous, but I also don’t have to face any 100-mph cutters,” Harrison said. “I’m sure I’ll be excited.

“My girls are older, so they’ll be able to see some things they did when they were younger. There will be a lot of memories. We can reminisce on some of those days and times that we had in Pittsburgh.”

If it’s a busy weekend, well, Harrison has gotten used to those.

He’s coaching his daughters’ basketball and volleyball teams. Josh and Brittney have taken some solo vacations and others with the family. There are practices and club sports and running around like crazy while enjoying #Dadlife.

Harrison also hosts a podcast with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Noah Hiles and Mark Pokrandt — better known on X as “Platinum Key” — called “Bucco Territory.”

“I jokingly tell people all the time, but it’s not really a joke,” Harrison said. “I think I’m busier now than when I was playing. I love it, though.”

It’s the way Harrison played: always moving, wreaking havoc on the bases or playing several positions, dancing in the dugout and offering the Pirates an infectious source of energy.

Harrison was an integral part of those playoff teams. Aug. 7-8 will offer the opportunity for fans to celebrate J-Hey once more.

“It’s not anything I thought much about,” Harrison said. “It’s easy when someone plays for one team their whole career. I played for six. But I know when people talk about my body of work, mostly the Pirates come to mind.

“I was never gonna say, ‘Let me retire a Pirate.’ But it’s always cool when it happens naturally and organically. That’s how I wanted it to be.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.