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Forbes Field

Forbes Field was a pioneering stadium in , , that served as the home of the from its opening on June 30, 1909, until June 28, 1970 (midway through the 1970 season). Located in the Oakland neighborhood on a seven-acre site formerly part of the Mary Schenley estate, it was constructed in just 122 days at a cost of approximately $1 million by owner , marking the first three-tiered concrete-and-steel ballpark in the . Designed by architect Charles Wellford Leavitt Jr., the stadium featured innovative amenities for the era, including ramps, elevators, electric lights, and luxury box seats, with an initial of around 25,000 that was later expanded to over 35,000. The ballpark's expansive —originally measuring 360 feet to left, 462 feet to , and 376 feet to right—earned it a reputation for favoring pitchers and defense, though dimensions were adjusted over time, such as the post-World War II addition of "Greenberg Gardens" that shortened left field by 30 feet to boost home runs. Beyond the Pirates, Forbes Field hosted the Panthers football team from 1909 to 1924, the from 1933 to 1963, and Negro league's during parts of their tenure, while also serving as a venue for matches, political rallies, and other events. Forbes Field is renowned for its role in baseball history, hosting four World Series (in 1909, 1925, 1927, and 1960, with Pirates victories in three) and two Games (1944 and 1959), as well as iconic moments like Babe Ruth's final three home runs on May 25, 1935, and Bill Mazeroski's in Game 7 of the . The Pirates played 4,700 games there without a single , and the stadium remained in use until the team relocated to the multi-purpose midway through the 1970 season, after which Forbes Field was demolished following fires; its site now forms part of the campus, with a plaque marking the original home plate location.

History

Planning and Construction

In late 1908, Pittsburgh Pirates owner initiated plans for a new ballpark to replace the flood-prone Exposition Park, selecting a seven-acre site in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, part of the Schenley district adjacent to . The location was chosen for its elevated position to avoid flooding, excellent accessibility via 15 streetcar lines providing a 15-minute ride to the nearest railroad station, and proximity to the and Carnegie Technical Schools, positioning it as a hub in the emerging cultural and educational center of the city. Financing for the $1 million project—equivalent to approximately $35 million in 2023 dollars—was entirely provided by Dreyfuss, with assistance from industrialist in acquiring the Schenley estate land on October 18, 1908. The architectural design was led by New York-based civil engineer and architect Charles Wellford Leavitt Jr., in collaboration with C.E. Marshall, emphasizing innovative steel-and-concrete construction to create a fireproof, permanent structure as one of the first modern major league ballparks. Key features included a natural grass , open-air design without a roof for optimal and , and initial dimensions of 360 feet to left , 462 feet to , and 376 feet to right . Construction began with site preparation on December 23, 1908, followed by on March 1, 1909, under the Nicola Building Company as , and was completed in just 122 days by June 30, 1909. The build incorporated over 6,000 tons of across more than 130 freight cars of structural materials, along with substantial , , and shipments, enabling an initial of 25,000 spectators in a pioneering layout with luxury suites, elevators, ramps, public telephones, and modern restrooms.

Opening and Inaugural Use

Forbes Field officially opened on June 30, 1909, with the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the Chicago Cubs in their inaugural Major League Baseball game at the new venue. The contest, which served as both the stadium's dedication and the Pirates' first regular-season matchup at the park, ended in a narrow 3-2 victory for the Cubs before a record-breaking crowd of 30,330 spectators. This attendance far exceeded the stadium's initial capacity of approximately 25,000 seats, leading to thousands of fans standing behind rope barriers in the outfield and spilling onto surrounding streets. Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss had arranged for elaborate pre-game ceremonies, including a parade, band performances, and a flag-raising, to mark the occasion as a milestone in baseball history. Hall of Fame shortstop contributed to the Pirates' efforts in the game, leading off the sixth inning with a single and later scoring on a to account for Pittsburgh's first run at the new ballpark. Despite the loss, the event highlighted the stadium's modern design, with its steel-and-concrete construction providing superior comfort and unobstructed sightlines compared to the Pirates' previous wooden home at Exposition Park. Initial ticketing proved challenging, as advance sales for reserved and box seats began via mail on , while general admission and bleacher tickets were available only on game day, resulting in chaotic lines and the need for temporary overflow accommodations. Media accounts praised the facility's spaciousness and safety, noting it as a "gem" that elevated the fan experience without the hazards of earlier ballparks. The stadium quickly became a shared venue for local sports, with the Panthers football team beginning regular use in the fall of 1909 under a agreement with the Pirates. Pitt's first game at Forbes Field occurred on October 16, 1909, a 18-6 victory over , drawing strong crowds and establishing the park as a key site for college athletics in the region. Early operations revealed logistical strains from the high demand, including added temporary seating for overflow and adjustments to access points, but the overall reception underscored Forbes Field's immediate role in boosting Pittsburgh's sports culture.

Field Dimensions and Layout Changes

Forbes Field opened in 1909 with expansive outfield dimensions designed to emphasize pitching and , measuring 360 feet to left field, approximately 380 feet to left-center, 457 feet to center field, 370 feet to right-center, and 376 feet to right field. These distances, among the deepest in at the time, contributed to a park factor that favored pitchers by limiting home runs and extra-base hits, particularly in the expansive center field area. Further layout changes occurred in 1925 when permanent double-decked bleachers were added in right field to increase seating, reducing the right-field line to 300 feet and altering sightlines across the outfield. These bleachers, combined with temporary expansions in left field for the World Series that year, shifted the effective left-field distance slightly to 301 feet, making the park more hitter-friendly in the corners while preserving its deep alleys. The ivy-covered brick walls in right-center field, introduced around this period, added aesthetic appeal but did not significantly impact play distances. In 1947, a 30-foot-high screen was added in left field, shortening the distance to 335 feet and creating "Greenberg Gardens" to encourage home runs. During the 1940s and 1950s, the field accommodated football games for the Panthers and by incorporating temporary adjustments, including movable goalposts placed at the ends of the outfield and chalked markings overlaid on the diamond to outline a regulation . These changes allowed for dual-sport use without permanent alterations to the configuration, though the grass surface and outfield monuments required careful navigation during setups. By its final season in 1970, partial reversals and maintenance had adjusted the dimensions to 365 feet down the left-field line, 406 feet to left-center, 457 feet to the deepest left-center point, 436 feet to right-center, and 300 feet to right field, with the ivy on the right-field walls remaining a distinctive feature. Over its lifespan, these evolutions transformed Forbes Field from an early pitcher-dominant venue—where home runs were rare due to the vast outfield—to a more balanced park later on, with shorter corners enabling 1,122 total home runs across its 61 seasons, including notable power displays in the 1950s and 1960s.

Seating and Capacity Developments

Forbes Field opened on June 30, 1909, with an initial of 25,000, consisting primarily of wooden benches in a double-decked along the first and third base lines, complemented by box seats priced at $1.25—the highest in the park. The lower deck featured mostly reserved seating, with the final rows offering general admission, while the upper balcony provided additional reserved options; overflow crowds often utilized temporary or outfield grass seating. This setup accommodated the ' strong inaugural season, drawing a total attendance of 534,950 fans across their games, reflecting the stadium's appeal as the largest in at the time. Throughout the and , rising attendance prompted significant expansions, including the addition of steel-and-concrete and extensions to the right-field , which increased capacity by approximately 12,000 seats to 41,000 by 1925—particularly beneficial for football games hosted by the . Ticketing evolved from a mix of general admission and seats to emphasize options in the , though standing room policies allowed fans to purchase inexpensive tickets for areas during high-demand games; became a noted issue, with resellers charging nearly double face value for tickets in 1925. These changes supported growing crowds, including wartime spikes in the 1940s that saw annual attendance exceed 1 million in peak years like 1948, driven by fuel limiting travel and boosting local turnout. In the 1930s and 1940s, further modifications introduced roofed sections over expanded areas for better protection and the nation's first luxury boxes—rooftop suites accessed by elevator, costing $1.25 per seat and offering private viewing. Capacity peaked at around 41,000 during this era before slight reductions for safety, though the stadium routinely handled overflow with standing room. By the , maintenance challenges from exposure—such as rain-soaked wooden elements and open-air vulnerabilities—led to renovations, including the of wall crash pads for player safety and updates to seating for improved comfort, helping sustain capacities near 35,000 into the 1960s. These adjustments occasionally impacted views due to concurrent field dimension changes, but prioritized spectator logistics amid evolving attendance patterns.

Closure and Demolition

The played their final game at Forbes Field on June 28, 1970, a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs that the Pirates won 3-2 and 4-1 before a crowd of 40,918 spectators. hit the last to clear the stadium's right-field roof during the contest, marking his seventh such feat at the ballpark. The Pirates' attendance had declined in recent years, drawing 769,369 fans in 1969, a drop from over 1.7 million in 1960 amid the team's middling performance and the aging facility's limitations. Following the Pirates' departure, the University of Pittsburgh continued using Forbes Field for select events, including games and commencements, until structural issues accelerated its obsolescence. The stadium's closure stemmed from the Pirates' relocation to the newly constructed in July 1970 and Pitt's shift to modern facilities like , compounded by the broader initiatives in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood that prioritized campus expansion and infrastructure upgrades. These factors, including escalating upkeep for the 61-year-old concrete-and-steel structure, rendered continued operation uneconomical as the city pursued redevelopment to support educational and civic growth. Two fires severely damaged Forbes Field in December 1970 and July 1971, hastening the decision to raze the site for purposes. Demolition commenced on July 28, 1971, and was largely completed by the end of the year, clearing the seven-acre site for the University of Pittsburgh's expansion. Efforts to preserve elements of the historic ballpark largely failed, though portions like the outfield wall were salvaged and relocated to . Post-demolition, remnants such as home plate were incorporated into campus memorials to commemorate the site's legacy.

Notable Events and Uses

Baseball Highlights

Forbes Field hosted the ' triumphant victory over the Detroit Tigers, a seven-game affair that the Pirates won 4 games to 3, marking the stadium's inaugural postseason showcase and the team's in the . The series opener on October 8 drew 29,264 fans, with the Pirates securing a 4-1 win behind Babe Adams' strong pitching, setting the tone for their success at the new . This triumph, led by stars like , underscored Forbes Field's early role in Pirates glory, as the team finished the regular season with a league-best 110-42 record. The returned the Pirates to championship form, defeating the 4-3 in a dramatic matchup highlighted by Game 7 at Forbes Field on October 15. Trailing 7-6 in the eighth inning amid muddy conditions from prior rain, the Pirates rallied for three runs, capped by Smith's single to win 9-7 against , one of baseball's greatest pitchers. Over 42,856 spectators witnessed the comeback, which clinched Pittsburgh's second title at the venue. In contrast, the 1927 brought disappointment, as the New York Yankees swept the Pirates 4-0, including a 4-3 victory in Game 4 at Forbes Field on October 8, where a wild pitch by Pirates pitcher Tom Sheehan allowed the winning run. Despite the loss, the Pirates had earned the pennant with a 94-60 regular-season mark. The stands as Forbes Field's most iconic moment, with defeating the favored Yankees 4-3, culminating in Game 7 on October 13 before 36,683 fans. Tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth, launched a off into the left-field screen, securing a 10-9 victory and ' first title since 1925. This dramatic finish, replayed annually at the site's remnants, highlighted the stadium's role in underdog triumphs. During their 62-year tenure at Forbes Field from 1909 to 1970, captured pennants in 1909, 1925, 1927, and 1960, compiling a home record of 2,599 wins against 2,125 losses in 4,724 regular-season games. Notably, no no-hitters were ever pitched in the park's approximately 4,700 games, a quirk attributed to its spacious dimensions that favored defense over dominance. Other milestones included Babe Ruth's final career —his 714th—hit at Forbes Field on May 25, 1935, while playing for the , a 540-foot shot off pitcher Guy Bush that cleared the right-field roof.

Football and College Sports

Forbes Field served as the primary home venue for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers team from 1909 to 1924, hosting a range of college games during an era of growing popularity for the sport. The stadium's spacious allowed for the installation of a standard 100-yard aligned along the first base line, complete with 10-yard end zones extending into the outfield grass; goalposts were initially positioned in fair territory behind the end lines until modifications in the 1920s relocated them to foul territory along the right-field line to better accommodate configurations. This adaptation enabled large crowds, with the Panthers drawing over 30,000 spectators for key matchups by the early 1920s, supported by expanded seating that reached capacities of around 46,000. The Panthers enjoyed notable success at Forbes Field, including an undefeated 8-0 record in under coach , a season in which the team did not surrender a single point and for which the claims a share of the . Rivalry games against Penn State were frequent features, with Pitt hosting several early contests that intensified the intrastate competition; for instance, the Panthers secured victories in multiple meetings during the and early , contributing to a period of dominance in the series before the rivalry shifted to in 1925. Other universities also utilized Forbes Field for football, including Carnegie Tech (now ), which played select home games there amid its own program growth. A landmark event occurred on November 27, 1926, when Carnegie Tech stunned undefeated 19-0 in one of college football's greatest upsets, drawing 45,000 fans to the stadium and highlighting its role in hosting high-profile intercollegiate matchups. These games often resembled early bowl events in atmosphere, emphasizing regional rivalries and drawing crowds that tested the venue's expanded facilities. The Pittsburgh Pirates—renamed the Steelers in 1940—established Forbes Field as their home for National Football League games from 1933 to 1963, marking the stadium's transition into professional football. The franchise's inaugural NFL contest took place on September 20, 1933, against the New York Giants, resulting in a 23-2 defeat before an attendance of 25,000 that reflected initial enthusiasm for the team. World War II brought significant disruptions, including player enlistments that led to a 1943 merger with the Philadelphia Eagles forming the "Steagles," with home games split between Forbes Field and other sites; wartime conditions contributed to subdued crowds, such as the 9,600 attendees for a 1942 matchup against the Giants. Attendance remained low throughout much of the 1940s, dipping below 10,000 for several contests amid postwar economic challenges and the team's struggles, exemplified by a 9,556 turnout for a 1940 loss to the Eagles. Despite these hurdles, Forbes Field hosted consistent Steelers play through 1963, fostering the franchise's early identity in Pittsburgh.

Boxing Matches and Non-Sporting Events

Forbes Field served as a prominent venue for matches from the through the , hosting numerous and bouts that drew significant crowds in 's vibrant combat sports scene. Local legend , a world known as the "Pittsburgh Windmill," frequently competed there, including a 10-round victory over in 1920 that avenged prior losses and attracted one of the largest outdoor crowds in the region at the time. Greb also faced in a 10-round loss in 1918 and endured a controversial during his 1921 bout against Kid Norfolk, where an alleged thumb gouge detached his retina, yet he continued fighting effectively in subsequent appearances. In the 1940s, the stadium hosted key light heavyweight title defenses by Pittsburgh native Billy Conn, who retained his NBA and NYSAC crown with a unanimous 15-round decision over Melio Bettina on September 25, 1939, before a packed house that underscored the venue's appeal for championship boxing. Conn made additional defenses there, solidifying Forbes Field's role in elevating local fighters to national prominence amid boxing's golden era. Beyond , the accommodated wrestling cards in and under promoters like , who organized events at Forbes Field as part of Pittsburgh's robust professional circuit, blending athletic competition with theatrical spectacle to attract diverse audiences. These combat sports gatherings often tested the venue's layout, with temporary seating expansions straining capacity limits during peak draws, though official figures rarely exceeded 46,000. Forbes Field also hosted significant non-sporting events that highlighted its adaptability for civic and religious assemblies. On October 1, 1936, President delivered a major campaign address there, emphasizing economic recovery to an enthusiastic crowd during his reelection bid, marking a pivotal moment in American political oratory. In the postwar era, evangelist conducted a highly attended crusade in 1952, shifting from the Hunt Armory to Forbes Field due to overwhelming demand, where his sermons drew thousands and inspired widespread conversions in the area. Such events demonstrated the stadium's versatility, transforming its baseball diamond into a platform for mass public discourse and spiritual revival.

Legacy and Remnants

Site Redevelopment

Following the demolition of Forbes Field in 1971, the seven-acre site was cleared and repurposed for academic expansion by the , which had acquired the property in 1958 to support campus growth while leasing the stadium to the . The cleared land became integral to the university's development plans, transforming the former stadium footprint into a hub for educational facilities within Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. Key developments on the site included the construction of Wesley W. Posvar Hall in 1978, a five-story structure housing interdisciplinary programs in international affairs, , , and . This building occupies much of the former infield and stands as the largest academic-use-only facility on the Pitt campus, exemplifying the shift from sports venue to scholarly center. The original home plate is preserved under a glass floor in the lobby of Posvar Hall, with a outline marking the former field boundaries. Adjacent to Posvar Hall, the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, housed in Mervis Hall since 1983, was also built directly on the site's former playing field, further embedding into the redeveloped area. Although the primary redevelopment focused on the University of Pittsburgh, the site's transformation contributed to the broader growth of Oakland's medical and academic corridor, which spans adjacent campuses including . This integration enhanced pedestrian pathways and collaborative spaces, replacing the isolated stadium with interconnected academic infrastructure that supports research and education across institutions. As of 2025, the Forbes Field site is fully redeveloped with no visible structural remnants of the original stadium beyond preserved historical markers, fully incorporated into the University of Pittsburgh's upper campus layout. The area now features modern academic buildings, open plazas, and green spaces that facilitate student movement and community events, reflecting the neighborhood's evolution into a vibrant educational .

Memorials and Commemorations

Several physical memorials preserve the memory of Forbes Field. A section of the original left field wall, which stood during the Pittsburgh Pirates' 1909 World Series victory at the newly opened ballpark, was salvaged during demolition and relocated to PNC Park in 2009, where it serves as a tribute to the park's early history. A plaque embedded in the sidewalk along Boulevard of the Allies marks the exact landing spot of Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, installed shortly after the park's closure in 1970 to commemorate one of baseball's most iconic moments. The University of Pittsburgh, which acquired the site in 1958 and now occupies much of the former grounds, erected a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker in 2006 near the remnant outfield wall, detailing Forbes Field's role as home to Pitt Panthers football from 1909 to 1924 and highlighting the shared athletic history. Cultural tributes extend to and . David Finoli's 2007 book Forbes Field: Essays and Memories of the ' Historic , 1909-1971 provides a comprehensive collection of essays and personal accounts on the stadium's construction, events, and cultural impact, drawing from archival photos and eyewitness recollections. MLB productions, including retrospectives like the official highlight films, frequently feature Forbes Field footage to illustrate the dramatic walk-off homer that clinched the ' championship against the Yankees. Annual events keep the ballpark's legacy alive. The organize alumni gatherings and historical tours at that reference Forbes Field's dimensions and moments, often involving former players sharing stories from the venue. Fans hold an annual commemoration at the Boulevard of the Allies marker, known as Forbes Field Day, where gatherings relive Mazeroski's 1960 triumph through speeches, photos, and reenactments organized by groups like the Game 7 Gang since 1985. The 100th anniversary of the park's 1909 opening was marked in 2009 with exhibits at the , including artifacts like stadium seats and scoreboards to showcase its role in sports. Forbes Field's architectural innovations influenced subsequent ballparks. As one of the first venues built entirely of and , its three-tiered and spacious layout inspired the era's "jewel box" parks, including , which shared the same engineering firm, , and adopted similar durable construction for longevity and fan capacity. Though demolished in 1971, the site's remnants, including the outfield wall, received local historic designation as a Historic Landmark in 1977, recognizing its pioneering role in American .

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