New Forbes Field Book

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Well everyone there is a new book coming out this year on the historic home of the pittsburgh pirates.(FORBES FIELD essays and memories of the pirates historic ballpark 1909-1971)its being put out by McFARLANE BOOKS
here is the ISBN NUMBER 0-7864-2754-X price $35.00
PHONE for ordering book 1-800-253-2187.
the book will have 288 pages with photos the author is DAVID CICOTELLO and ANGELO J LOUISA
website www.mcfarlandpub.com

[Seattle1]

Thanks POLO GROUNDS 1957, I will make sure to order a copy!

:D

[BaseballHistoryNut]

Few ball clubs have made a bigger mistake than the Pirates did when they tore down this sacred baseball cathedral and moved into that horrible concrete doughnut. And it sure didn't take them long to find that out.

[BeatEmBucs]

Awesome! It'll likely be available at bookstores here in Pittsburgh, I'll be sure to pick one up, probably also get one for my dad since he saw so many games there.

[BeatEmBucs]

Few ball clubs have made a bigger mistake than the Pirates did when they tore down this sacred baseball cathedral and moved into that horrible concrete doughnut. And it sure didn't take them long to find that out.

Would you say the same about the Reds and Crosley? Or the Phillies at Shibe? (or Mack if you prefer) Fact is, as wrong as it looks now (given 35 years of hindsight) the multi-purpose stadium was all the rage in the late 60's. The biggest problem with the multi-purpose facilty (other than the obvious blandness in architectual design) was how the $$ would be divided. IIRC the money the skyboxes and concessions generated went to the local stadium authority who usually split it 50-50 between the baseball and football teams, and in some cases the split was more favorable toward the football team (which makes sense in Pittsburgh given the Steelers sold out all but 3 or 4 games they played at 3 Rivers) And while Forbes was nice, like any other "neighborhood" ballpark, parking was anything but nice. And in the late 60's cities were phasing out the streetcars and trolley's making a trip to the ballpark more difficult for those living in the growing North and South Hills of Pittsburgh. And also take into account the expansion of the University of Pittsburgh during the time.Pitt actually purchased Forbes Field in the 60's because they had a plan for the land once the Bucs went downtown. I don't blame the cities for doing what they did in the late 60's/early 70's, but only Kansas City "Got it right the first time".

[BaseballHistoryNut]

It didn't take "35 years of hindsight." They knew, in less than 10 years' worth of hindsight, what a huge mistake they'd made. Too late.

[efin98]

It didn't take "35 years of hindsight." They knew, in less than 10 years' worth of hindsight, what a huge mistake they'd made. Too late.

Yeah, those good teams playing the large ballpark packing in 47,000 sure made moving into Three Rivers regret getting rid of the old park :rolleyes:

I'm sure the pitchers hated moving from the large park to the smaller park as well :rolleyes:

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

Yeah, those good teams playing the large ballpark packing in 47,000 sure made moving into Three Rivers regret getting rid of the old park :rolleyes:

I'm sure the pitchers hated moving from the large park to the smaller park as well :rolleyes:
Well i see its Mr know it all again.i see your a expert of forbes field and three rivers stadium.:confused:

[BaseballHistoryNut]

And probably all sorts of other subjects, too, whereon he can recite all sorts of imperscriptible facts.

[Elvis]

Three Rivers Stadium is the only ballpark I've been to that I really didn't like at all. Very cold, sterile and impersonal - almost eerie to watch a ballgame in that place. And the seats along the bases were WAY too far from the action - a nasty trait of most multi-use facilities.

[BaseballHistoryNut]

I've not seen enough televised games in the new park to get a real sense of it. Have you been to games there? If so, what do you think of it?

BHN

[BeatEmBucs]

Three Rivers Stadium is the only ballpark I've been to that I really didn't like at all. Very cold, sterile and impersonal - almost eerie to watch a ballgame in that place. And the seats along the bases were WAY too far from the action - a nasty trait of most multi-use facilities.

I never got the "cold and sterile" vibe from 3 Rivers that you did, but that may be since I went to many more games there. When did you go? There were years there where things weren't so good (84-86...93-96,98-2000) but it was still home. Of course I've been to a few Steeler games there too, and 3 Rivers was a much better football stadium than a baseball one.

[BeatEmBucs]

I've not seen enough televised games in the new park to get a real sense of it. Have you been to games there? If so, what do you think of it?

BHN

Love it! Of course I never disliked 3 Rivers, but many did because of the usual stuff about all "cookie cutters" that were the rage in the late 60's/early 70's. But a game at PNC Park is a night and day difference compared to 3 Rivers. There are no bad seats in the ballpark, the view from behind the plate in the 300 level is "postcard perfect" for a shot of the city (That's the vantage-point used in this years All Star logo) and there's so much at the ballpark, like the "riverwalk" where Manny Sanguillen's BBQ stand is, as well as a kettle cooked popcorn stand (your choice of regular,caramel, or cheese popcorn) There's also "SmorgasBurgh" down the Right Field line, home of Primanti Brothers and Quaker Steak and Lube wings. Then there's the recently opened Negro Leagues tribute at the Left Field gate, and statues of Clemente,Stargell and Honus Wagner outside the ballpark. As for the field itself, the PNC Park grounds crew has done a great job with the park. I hear they're cutting out "star" designs for the Outfield for this week's festivities. The RF line is only 320 feet from the plate, but not many hitters have taken advantage of that since it opened, it could also be because of the 21 foot high wall. The most inviting target for speedsters is the "North Shore Notch" in Left Center, the deepest part of the ballpark at 410 feet, the place to hit the ball for Triples. In my view PNC Park is hitter friendly. And a pretty good place to watch a ballgame IMO. I just wish the home team won more often.

[catcher24]

Have to agree on both 3Rivers and PNC. I never got a "sterile" feeling when attending games at 3 Rivers. I actually liked the Allegheny Club - thought it was a bit different. Too bad I couldn't afford to go there!:ughh And of course, you could always gain mountain climbing experience by sitting in the orange seats!;)

PNC is an awesome park. The first of the "retro" parks I went to was the Jake in Cleveland. Loved it, and didn't think I'd attend a better park. But when I went to PNC, the feeling was incredible. The statues on the outside; walking across the Roberto Clemente Bridge and looking in from center field; the way the pennants and posters integrate the history of the Pirates into the walkways; the use of the pink granite that adds a touch of class to the area behind home plate; and of course the great views of downtown and the river. This stadium has it all, and has it right. I have seen several travellers and/or writers ratings of ballparks, and at least three of them had PNC as number one. Another two had PNC as number two, with Wrigley number one (can't comment, haven't made it there yet, but they'll have to show me more than the ivy and the neighborhood to surpass PNC in my rankings). If you have a chance to go, by all means do.