Forbes Field: Essays and Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971 [Paperback]

David Cicotello (Editor), Angelo J. Louisa (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2007

From its 1909 construction through the final game on June 28, 1970, this volume presents a detailed look at Forbes Field, home to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 62 seasons. Part I includes essays on important events at the stadium (not just in major league baseball but in boxing, football, and black baseball--Forbes Field also housed the Homestead Grays) as well as a transcript of the last game's play-by-play. Historians consider the stadium's legacy and discuss the dimensions and configurations of the field. In Part II, more than 55 former players, managers, and club officials of the Pittsburgh Pirates, over 100 fans, and several sportswriters reminisce.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Forbes Field probably tops the list of best-remembered local [Pittsburgh] landmarks that are long gone. Someone oughta write a book about it. Well, someone did. Two Western Pennsylvania natives now living in Omaha, Neb., produced [the book]. . .David Cicotello and Angelo J. Louisa . . .gathered more than 200 accounts from fans like them through contacts. . .and a Web site. About 100 made it into the book, along with memories from nearly 60 former players, coaches and team officials. Chapters discuss ballpark builder Barney Dreyfuss, whose innovations made it "the first truly modern ballpark of the 20th century"; the Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Pitt Panthers, Steelers and boxers who also competed there; and the field's changing dimensions and statistics showing that it wasn't really a "pitcher's park" after all. Though it had the fewest homers of any National League park, it had the most triples. The heart of the book, however, is the Forbes' remembrances -- of ushering there for more than 40 years, of selling newspapers in the stands in 1958, of starting in 1995 an annual Oct. 13 celebration at what's left of the outfield wall in Oakland. Copyright © Kevin Kirkland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 2007

Richly footnoted and illustrated. -- The Courier (SABR Negro Leagues Committee newsletter)

When Forbes Field was built, nearly 100 years ago, it was deemed "the grandest and most costly ball park in existence" by Sporting Life. More than just a ballpark, it was also the site of boxing matches and football games. The essays collected in this volume meticulously detail the park's history, including the play-by-play account of the last baseball game played there and diagrams of the field's layout. A special section in the second half of the book collects memories from players, news media, managers, and fans. One University of Pittsburgh alum remembers the park as "the greatest obstacle to formal learning that stood between us and our room on Atwood Street and the Cathedral of Learning." © Pittsburgh Magazine -- Pittsburgh Magazine, November 2007

[Forbes Field: Essays And Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971]. . .is a book that is -- like the old ballpark itself -- something to be savored. [It]. . .has everything you would want in a book about an old favorite ballpark. Essays on how it was built, the great teams and individuals who played there. And not just the Pirates, but the Pittsburgh Negro Leaguers and footballers, too. One of the most enjoyable sections of the book was a transcript of the radio broadcast of the final game at Forbes. The words are not to be read, but to be listened to, and you can actually hear Bob Prince and Nellie King coming out of the radio tuned to KDKA. The book also contains a ton of memories -- from players and fans, ushers and vendors. . . . And then there are the photographs, all through the book. They are worthy of a family album. Obviously, this book will appeal strongly to those who have their own memories of Forbes, the Old Lady of Schenley Park. And to Pirate fans. . .But I recommend it to younger fans, too, just as I recommend that they listen to the stories told by grandparents. The stories of Forbes are rich and worth re-telling. Copyright © Gene "Two Finger" Carney, author of Burying the Black Sox: How Baseball's Cover-up of the 1919 World Series Fix Almost Succeeded and the online Notes from the Shadows of Cooperstown @ baseball1.com/notes. -- Notes from the Shadows of Cooperstown, October 1, 2007

[Forbes Field: Essays And Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971]. . .is certainly worth the effort [the editors]. . .put into it, well conceived and very well implemented, with detailed references for all of the information. The first half of it deals with the background and history of Forbes Field. . . .Of particular interest to me is a chapter titled "Black Baseball at Forbes Field." Another fine chapter is entitled "Forbes (More Than Just a Baseball) Field." It documents a long list of other sporting events held there. Pitt played its home games at Forbes Field until 1925, when Pitt Stadium was built. Forbes Field was also a popular venue for prize fighting. Local pugilists fought there in front of enthusiastic crowds -- middleweight Harry Greb, welterweight Fritzie Zivic, and light heavyweight Billy Conn. . . .Forbes Field was home field for the Steelers from their inception in 1933. . .Bill Dudley, Johnny "Blood" McNally, and Whizzer White were Steeler heroes at Forbes Field in the early days, followed by Bobby Layne, Elbie Nickel, and Ernie Stautner in later years. The second half of the book is titled "Memories of Forbes Field." Rich Sestili has written a chapter about his experience selling newspapers at the park. Bob Smith was interviewed about his experience as an usher there. Jim O'Brien contributed an article about the annual vigil at the site of Bill Mazeroski's World Series-winning home run in 1960. . . .The rest of this section is 68 pages of personal memories of players, fans and the media. I was pleased that my modest contribution was included in the "Media" section, along with Roy McHugh, Phil Musick and Myron Cope. I am not in the business of giving endorsements--nonetheless, there are three sports fans on my Christmas list whose gifts have already been ordered. Copyright © John Oyler, Bridgeville Area News -- Bridgeville Area News, August 29, 2007

About the Author

David Cicotello is the director of new student enrollment services at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Angelo J. Louisa is an independent scholar. They both live in Omaha.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company, Publishers (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078642754X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786427543
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,066,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Home Run, August 6, 2007

By 

Chet Walker (Akron, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbes Field: Essays and Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971 (Paperback)

I had looked forward to this book since it was first shown on Amazon and it was worth the wait.

Forbes Field was the second of the all steel and concrete ballparks opening in 1909 and closing on June 28, 1970. Until now, no book has covered the history of Forbes Field like it should.

The factual information in this book is amazing. There are diagrams of the field dimensions through the years, comparisons of statistics in Forbes versus other parks, important dates in its history, and a list and descriptions of 62 memorable games. Events other than baseball held at Forbes like football and boxing are also covered.

Also included are memories from players and fans of their time spent there and a complete transcript of an interview with Roberto Clemente before the last game ever played there as well as the transcript of the radio broadcast of that last game.

This isn't a photo history, no color photos are included, but a lot of the photos included are rare ones I had never seen before in other books and even online.

Whether you're a Pittsburgh fan, a ballpark historian, or a baseball fan in general you will not be disappointed with this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, December 3, 2007

By 

Noneya (Bury st. Edmunds, uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbes Field: Essays and Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971 (Paperback)

The stories re: Forbes Field are fascinating. The stories are told in such as way that you can almost hear that person talking. I enjoyed this book very much.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Memory Of A Wonderful Ball Park, October 28, 2007

By 

Joseph R. Guzzardi (Lodi,, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Forbes Field: Essays and Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971 (Paperback)

As I watched this year's mind numbingly dull World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies, I thought back to the to the 1960s when baseball was different--and better.

Because I had just finished reading Forbes Field: Memories and Essays of the Pirates Historical Ball Park, 1909-1971 by David Cicotello and Angelo Louisa, uppermost in my mind was the great 1960 World Series when the once-lowly Pittsburgh Pirates upset the mighty New York Yankees.

Until I enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in 1961, my relationship with the Pirates was distant. I had grown up in Los Angeles where the Pacific Coast League Hollywood Stars, the minor league affiliate of the Pirates, were my team. By rooting for the Stars, fans automatically pulled for the Pirates.

In the late 1950s, my family moved to Puerto Rico where Pirate great Roberto Clemente played winter baseball. I followed Clemente's team, the Santurce Cangrejeros. (Read Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero, by David Maraniss)

But avid baseball fan though I was, by the time I reached Pittsburgh, I had only seen one major league game. The Dodgers didn't get to Los Angeles until after I left.

I was starved for baseball and, even though the 1961 Pirates were out of the running for most of the year, as soon as I got to college I headed for Forbes Field and what would be a lifetime's worth of happy memories.

Authors Cicotello and Louisa have brought those recollections back home. Their book chronicles Forbes Field from its first days of construction in 1909 through the final game on June 28, 1970. The book includes a transcription of the last home game broadcast on KDKA by the immortal Bob Prince and his sidekick, Nellie King.

The second part of Forbes Field includes reminiscences from former players, managers, club officials and employees as well as several sports writers.

I wasn't able to submit my own personal Forbes Field experiences in time to meet the publishing deadline. But I'll recount them to you now.

Every September when classes started and each April and May as the school year wound down, my friends and I wandered over to Forbes Field, an easy walk from the university campus, and entered the left field bleachers during the sixth or seventh inning. By then, the ticket taker had gone home so we just waltzed in to catch the last of the game.

One might think that in September with classes beginning and football underway or in April with final exams and papers closing in that students would have other things to do (like study!) than watch an average baseball team play out the season's string.

But Forbes Field and all the wonderful players on its field was irresistible.

No matter which team was in town, a Hall of Famer was on its roster.
When I think of the players I watched!

Among them, to name only a few, were the Cardinal's Stan Musial, the New York Giants' Willie Mays, the Phillies' Robin Roberts, the Braves' Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn, the Cubs' Ernie Banks and the Dodgers' Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

Forbes Field is long gone, torn down 35 years ago. It was a wonderful old park filled with die-hard fans during baseball's glory years.

But Forbes Field lives on.

Mention it in Pittsburgh and everyone lights up. Each year fans young and old gather at the site (a small portion of the brick wall left standing) where the Pirates' Bill Mazeroski's 1960 bottom of the ninth homer won the seventh game of the World Series, 10-9 for Pittsburgh's beloved Buccos.