PITTSBURGH — Butler and the Bucs. Jonibeth Loverick has found a way to connect the two by literally the shirt on your back.

The Butler Township resident bought a black Pirates shirt over the winter. She had the word “Butler” printed on the back with the No. 14 to symbolize this year.

But in her mind, the shirt is not hers. It belongs to Butler.

“I'm such a big fan, and I've been going to games for years,” Loverick said. “I always run into other people from Butler at the Pirates games.

“I decided to buy a traveling shirt and sign it out to Pirates fans in Butler during the season as a way of bringing us all together.”

Whoever signs the shirt out wears it to a game, gets a couple of photographs taken while wearing the shirt and writes a short item about his experience at that particular game.

When the 2014 season is over, Loverick plans on having a book done involving everyone who used the shirt.

She wore it Monday on opening day, when the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 in 10 innings. A close friend, Grace Bickert of Muddy Creek Township, wore it in Bradenton, Fla., during spring training for the Pirates.

“I was honored to be the first person to take the shirt,” Bickert said. “I know plenty more are going to follow.”

Through social media, the shirt already has been signed out by 17 people for different games this season. And it's not just for home games. The shirt already has stops booked in Detroit, Cincinnati and New York City.

More than 100 people have registered as part of the group hoping for a chance to take the shirt.

Loverick said she set the idea of a traveling shirt in motion with two young boys in mind — 9-year-old Brayden Povlick and 8-year-old Robert Friel.

“They are sons of close friends of mine, and I'm hoping that, 20 years from now, they can share a similar experience with their kids, maybe even show them the book from 2014,” Loverick said.

“These boys know more about baseball than I do.”

Povlick's favorite Pirate is closer Jason Grilli “because he throws the ball really fast.” Friel is partial to second baseman Neil Walker “because he's a switch-hitter, and I like his position.”

Dottie Kirk of Butler has been a Pirates fan for 43 years and plans to wear the shirt.

“My dad introduced me to baseball when I was 4,” she said. “I don't follow any other sport. Baseball is about a warm summer day to me.

“And it reminds me of my dad.”

Beth Painter of Butler Township is coordinating the shirt's scheduling. She said she went to a Pirates game before she was even born.

“My mother was pregnant with me when my parents had season tickets to Forbes Field,” Painter said. “I grew up being a baseball fan.”

Dalton Koebler of Butler Township has had season tickets in the left field bleachers “and we sit there for batting practice every game. I've probably gotten a dozen baseballs or so.

“It's a cool idea, this shirt. The publicity it's gaining has been impressive.”

Bickert hosted two former Slippery Rock Slider players five years ago when her nephew, then 15-year-old Christopher, was living in her household.

“Those boys were such a positive influence on him. They were incredible role models,” she said.

“I'll support anything relating to baseball. When I took the shirt to Bradenton, I had my picture taken with it next to a giant scorecard with the starting lineups for that day's game against the Phillies.

“If there are any open dates left for the shirt this season, I'd love to wear it again. But I want to make sure everyone else has a chance first.

“That line is going to be pretty long,” she said.