The first step to enjoying Pittsburgh sports: dress the part. That means it's time to dig around in your closet for your black and gold. These two colors band Pittsburgh's flag, and though a few resisted initially, most of the city's pro teams use the color pairing now. Colleges are the major exception. For example, the Pittsburgh Panthers use a blue-and-gold theme, so grab some blue from the bureau while you're in there. Not your usual colors? Yinzers in the Burgh sportswear store can deck you out in gear for all the hometown teams. And its offerings include an impressive selection of socks for those individuals who opt for a more subtle show of support. Now, let's meet some of Pittsburgh's teams.

Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the oldest teams in pro baseball, winning five World Series titles and nine National League pennants during their 130-year history. The team started as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys but decided on its new name in 1891 after they were accused of "pirating" a player from a rival team. Locals call them the Bucs. You've undoubtedly heard of a few Pirates: Fred Clarke, Willie Stargell, Barry Bonds, Ralph Kiner, Dave Parker, Bob Friend, Bill Mazeroski. Honus Wagner — shortstop from 1900 to 1917 and one of the first National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees — is a famous early-years player, and right-fielder Roberto Clemente played for the team his entire 18-season career (starting in 1955) and is considered one of the best players of all time. The Bucs' biggest rival at any given point is usually one of the other four NL Central Division teams (Reds, Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers), but the Philadelphia Phillies are always good for some healthy home-state haranguing, even though the teams hardly ever face each other anymore. The team mascot is a green parrot, the Pirate Parrot, and PiratesFest is an annual festival geared toward families, with player autograph and photo sessions, games and competitions. On to the ballpark.

One of the neatest things about the Pirates is that the team doesn't need to have a standout season for fans to enjoy a game. PNC Park, a relatively new but classic-style ballpark, sits at the intersection of Pittsburgh's three rivers (the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio) and is dramatically backdropped by downtown Pittsburgh and the Roberto Clemente Bridge. The stadium is consistently ranked the top ballpark in baseball by national sports publications and it's a fantastic spot to truly feel like you're part of the city. Game-day tip: Parking downtown is often easier and cheaper. Plus, you get to walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge, designated pedestrian-only on game days and filled with musicians and Bucs fans.

Fun fact: If you accidentally refer to Pittsburgh's hockey or football team as the Pirates, don't feel bad. Both teams borrowed the baseball team's name at some point in their histories. The Pittsburgh hockey team played in the NHL as the Pirates for five seasons in the 1920s. The football team joined the NFL in the 1930s as the Pirates, changing their name to the Steelers for the 1940 season.