12 Remarkable Moments in Forbes Field History

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Charlotte Hopkins

2.    Construction of Forbes Field began on March 1, 1909. It was one of the first stadiums to have luxury suites that were located in the third tier of the grandstand. The ballpark also had ramps to guide people to their seats and elevators to the third level. There was additional bleacher seating extended to both the left and right field foul poles. Lights were added in 1940 for night games. 



3.    Forbes Field opened its gates on June 30, 1909. A crowd of 30,338 were in attendance. The Pirates suffered a close 3-2 defeat to the Cubs. The stadium cost $1 million and was named Forbes Field, after General John Forbes, a French and Indian War hero.

4.    The first World Series at Forbes Field was played in 1909 against the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates defeated the Tigers (4-3).

5.    The sign at Forbes Field from 1910 boasts ticket prices at $3 and $4.

6.    During the 1925 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Senators, the grounds crew needed to quickly dry the infield before game 7 as it had rained heavily that morning. They “dried” the infield by burning it.

7.    The crowd gathered outside Forbes Field before the final game of the 1925 World Series. The World Series was played at Forbes Field four times (1909, 1925, 1927, and 1960). Two All-Star games were also played at Forbes Field. (1944 and 1959). In addition to being the home of the Pirates, Forbes Field was also home to the Pitt Panthers from 1909 to 1924, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1933 to 1957.

8.    A press box, nicknamed the Crows Nest, was constructed in 1938 above the grandstand roof behind the home plate.

9.    Ralph Kiner and Hank Greenberg pose together when they both played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Pirates acquired slugger Hank Greenberg in 1947, they moved the left field wall in by thirty feet, creating space for the bullpens between the wall and the scoreboard. This area became known as Greenberg Gardens. Later, when Ralph Kiner joined the team, the area was renamed Kiner's Korner. In 1954, the bullpens were moved back to their original locations along the first and third base lines, and the scoreboard once again served as the left field wall.

10. A large crowd gathered on July 18, 1951, to see the Walcott-Charles heavyweight title fight. Forbes Field hosted several championship boxing matches in the 1950s. From 1958 until 1963 the Steelers played home games at both Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium. The Homestead Grays called Forbes Field home from 1922 through 1939.

11. On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente became the only MLB player to hit a walk-off inside-the-park grand slam at Forbes Field. This was during a 9–8 Pittsburgh Pirates victory over the Chicago Cubs. In his second year with the Pirates, Clemente stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, no outs, and his team trailing the Cubs 8-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning. He faced pitcher Jim Brosnan in this remarkable moment.

12. On October 13, 1960, Jim Klingensmith, a longtime photographer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, captured the moment Bill Mazeroski hit the “homer heard around the world.” The Pirates and Yankees were tied at 9-9 in the seventh and final game of the World Series. This photo is now on the wall of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

13. The Pirates played their final game at Forbes Field on June 28, 1970. It was just two days shy of 61 years since its opening, and the game was against the same team, from their first day in the park - the Chicago Cubs. Harry Cochanauer took this photo of the game.

14. The site that was once Forbes Field is now the home to the University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library and campus dormitories. A section of the Forbes Field outfield wall has been preserved there and still stands today.