Pittsburgh ballpark ushered in modern era

STEEL CITY GEM: The former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Forbes Field, shown here in 1959, opened 100 years ago Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Forbes Field closed in 1970 when the Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium. The team now plays in PNC Park, which opened in 2001.

PITTSBURGH - Roberto Clemente’s first hit and Babe Ruth’s parting shot occurred within the confines of the most spacious ballpark any major league baseball team called home.

So did Bill Mazeroski’s 1960 World Series Game 7 homer, one so improbable, so magical that it seems certain to live in baseball’s memory bank as long as the sport exists.

The first fireworks night and last tripleheader? Chuck Noll’s first home game as the Steelers’ coach? The first live broadcasts of major league baseball and college football? Forbes Field was home to all of that and much more durin...

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July, 2009