Forbes Field

In 1903, Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss began looking for ground to build a larger capacity replacement for the team's current home, Exposition Park, which was prone to flooding from the nearby Allegheny River. Dreyfuss purchased seven acres of land near the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, adjacent to Schenley Park, with assistance from his friend, industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Designed by architect Charles Leavitt Jr. and built by the Nicola Building Company, Forbes Field was constructed from March to June 1909 at a cost of approximately $1 million, making it the first concrete and steel stadium in the National League and the third in Major League Baseball after Shibe Park in Philadelphia and Redland Field, later Crosley Field, in Cincinnati. The stadium opened on June 30, 1909, with the Pirates defeating the Chicago Cubs 8-1. The stadium was named for Forbes Avenue, which was named for British General John Forbes, who fought in the French and Indian War and named the city in 1758. Forbes Field was considered state-of-the-art for its time, with a large playing surface, a hand-operated scoreboard, and modern amenities. The batting cage was placed in the deepest part of center field during games, and at times fans were permitted to sit on the grass in the outfield during overflow crowds. The Pirates won three World Series while at Forbes Field, in 1909, 1925, and 1960. The most famous moment in the stadium's history came on October 13, 1960, when Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 to defeat the New York Yankees 10-9, winning the World Series. It remains the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history. The stadium also served as the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who played there from 1933 to 1963, and hosted the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1909 to 1924, during which time the Panthers had five undefeated seasons. The Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues also called Forbes Field home from 1922 to 1939, and the stadium hosted the Negro World Series in 1924 and 1944. The stadium's center field was one of the deepest in baseball, at 457 feet, and was known for its challenging dimensions for hitters. The right field wall, at 375 feet, was known for its distinctive ivy covering. By the late 1960s, the aging stadium was showing its age, and the Pirates began seeking a new home. The final game at Forbes Field was played on June 28, 1970, with the Pirates defeating the Cubs 4-3, and the Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium. The stadium was demolished in 1971, but a portion of the outfield wall, including the spot where Mazeroski's home run landed, still stands on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Fans gather at the site annually on the anniversary of Mazeroski's home run, in what author Jim O'Brien called 'one of the most unique expressions of a love of the game to be found in a major league city.' The site is now part of the University of Pittsburgh campus, with the Mazeroski Wall serving as a lasting memorial to one of baseball's most iconic moments.

Forbes Field was known by several nicknames, including 'The House of Thrills,' 'The Old Lady of Schenley Park,' and 'The Oakland Orchard.' Built at a cost of $1 million in 1909, it was the first concrete and steel stadium in the National League and the third in Major League Baseball. The stadium was the site of one of the most famous moments in baseball history, when Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series to defeat the New York Yankees 10-9, the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history. The Pirates won three World Series at Forbes Field, in 1909, 1925, and 1960. The stadium's center field was one of the deepest in baseball history at 457 feet, and the batting cage was placed in the deepest part of center field during games. At times, fans were permitted to sit on the grass in the outfield during overflow crowds, a practice that would be unimaginable today. The stadium was the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who played there from 1933 to 1963, and hosted the University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1909 to 1924, during which the Panthers had five undefeated seasons. The Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues called Forbes Field home from 1922 to 1939, and the stadium hosted the Negro World Series in 1924 and 1944. The right field wall was known for its distinctive ivy covering. The stadium was demolished in 1971, but a portion of the outfield wall, including the spot where Mazeroski's home run landed, still stands on the University of Pittsburgh campus as a lasting memorial. Fans gather at the site annually on the anniversary of Mazeroski's home run, in what author Jim O'Brien called 'one of the most unique expressions of a love of the game to be found in a major league city.' The final game at Forbes Field on June 28, 1970, saw the Pirates defeat the Cubs 4-3, and the Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium the following season.