Forbes Field

[alpineinc]

Strange how here, like Yankee Stadium, the stands were "V" shapped around the ball diamond, making it an akward fit, and forcing the plate farther out from the stands. Would seem to have had terrible sightlines because of that.

Definitely an odd layout. It seems like it was almost the opposite of a place like Shea, where you're pretty much facing the outfield in the field seats, where in this shot the field seats near first and third base really have a good vantage point towards home plate, but then it bows out so far behind the plate that it must've seemed so far away - you could have a pickup game in that expanse behind home plate!

[LetsGoMets687]

WTF? That's like the most random post ever.

[alpineinc]

WTF? That's like the most random post ever.

One guy, in the crowd down there, has a baseball hat on.

[cgcoyne2]

PROGRAMMING ALERT!!!

This Saturday, May 31st @ 6pm Turner Classic Movies is showing "Angels in the Outfield" with Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh. It contains some amazing (B&W) footage of Forbes Field, including the dugout, playing field, concourse and locker room, circa 1951.

This is a must-see for all classic ballpark afficianados.

I got your alert too late. So I ordered the DVD from blockbuster.com

To all out there, the 1951 version of "Angels in the Outfield" was super as far as seeing a lot of Forbes Field. Definitely worth the 99 minutes it runs. Movie wasn't bad either.

[Milwaukee T]

Whoa, amazing! In the top-center of this shot you can see the following:

"During World War II, from June 26, 1943, through the end of the season, a huge U.S. Marine made of wood stood against the left-field wall, just to the right of the scoreboard. Standing at parade rest, the Marine Sergeant was 32 feet high, 15 feet wide across his feet, and in play."

I always wondered whether or not there were pictures of this, and apparently this photographer randomly captured one in just that brief 3 month span. Awesome.

It would be my guess that it really was stroke of pure luck as I don't think it is even a photo from a Pirates' game. I may be incorrect, but I think that is one of the high school games that were played there that summer.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

It would be my guess that it really was stroke of pure luck as I don't think it is even a photo from a Pirates' game. I may be incorrect, but I think that is one of the high school games that were played there that summer.

Upon close inspection, you're probably right. It looks like the team in the field are wearing dark dungarees, not uniforms. Also the scoreboard isn't being used, and the players don't look very big.

[Gooseamania]

imagine being able to storm the field after the last game at a ballpark to grab whatever pieces you could get your hands on! I'm sure A LOT of those people where able to grab some pretty neat memorabilia.

[Pelt]

Found this interesting tidbit:



"The first national mine-safety demonstration was held at Forbes field, in Pittsburgh, on October 30, 1911. The demonstration was planned and managed by engineers of the Bureau, with the aid of miners and coal operators of the Pittsburgh district. It embraced exhibits that demonstrated the character of nearly every branch of the Bureau’s investigative work in relation to mine accidents, including first-aid and mine-rescue work, coal-dust explosions, and also special coal-dust explosions at the Bureau’s experimental mine at Bruceton, Pa. Approximately 15,000 persons attended the demonstration. The principal field exhibits were witnessed by President William H. Taft and many officials of both the National and State governments. Teams of miners trained in first-aid and rescue work from every coal-mining State took part in this stimulating demonstration."

[Pelt]

[alpineinc]

Wow, quite a find! Good stuff.

[Pelt]

Yeah, I was surprised that I hadn't seen that one yet.

Does anybody have a larger hi-res version of the November 27th, 1926 Carnegie Tech upset of Notre Dame panoramic of Forbes? I can't find anything larger than this:

[Pelt]

[Sean O]

God I love Carnegie Mellon. It's so strange to see how much has changed there since the photo was taken: no student center and companion building in the lower right, and no hulking brutalist computer science building.

If Forbes Field had stayed there, CMU students could've been at both professional baseball and Kennywood within 15 minutes. As if anyone else needed more incentive to go to such a school.

[six4three]

The New York Times this morning is running a story about the 1961 Series (the Yankees are making their first trip to Pittsburgh since then):

In 1960, a Series to Remember (or Forget)

The article includes a couple of brilliant photos, including one of the stunning view of Forbes Field from the Cathedral of Learning, and the old home plate, now located within Posner Hall:

[sflnyc]

The New York Times this morning is running a story about the 1961 Series (the Yankees are making their first trip to Pittsburgh since then):

In 1960, a Series to Remember (or Forget)

The article includes a couple of brilliant photos, including one of the stunning view of Forbes Field from the Cathedral of Learning, and the old home plate, now located within Posner Hall:

That shot from the Cathedral of Learning is a classic! As far away from the action as they were, you just know that someone had a transistor radio on and they fans up there were listening to confirm what they "think they saw" 100's of feet below them. Classic charming old time fans.

EDIT - Upon looking at the photo again, the fan in the foreground is holding a transistor radio in his left hand...

[sflnyc]

From hunter..'s Flickr site...

1951



Late '60's





The outfield wall and flagpole today, from rj-photo:



Home plate today, from DC Products:



Great old newspaper pic from Nonesuch:

Interesting. I never knew any part of the old park still existed. If I was a Pitt student, I know what part of campus I would go to do my studies, right next to the home run wall between the 436-foot and 457-foot signs. The other students could have the meadows, lawns, etc. that most college campuses have.

[parlo]

I posted this on the history page, but I will post it here also because there are some photos of the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/sp...tml?ref=sports

[icee82]

I am not a Pirates' fan but I have visited the wall in Pittsburgh several years ago when my beloved Reds were in town. I traveled from NC to the Burgh. You can just feel the history at that location. Everyone should take the opportunity to visit that location.

[six4three]

I posted this on the history page, but I will post it here also because there are some photos of the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/sp...tml?ref=sports

Beat ya.

[Pelt]

A couple of Getty shots, including a Bears/Steelers game from 1963.



I've always loved the detail on the right field wall.

[six4three]

I've always loved the detail on the right field wall.

Wow - that's gorgeous. Outstanding.

I don't think I've seen that detailing before - it's not visible in other pictures. Did it go all the way around? And when was the wall changed into the blank brick wall that stands today?

[stlfan]

Wow - that's gorgeous. Outstanding.

I don't think I've seen that detailing before - it's not visible in other pictures. Did it go all the way around? And when was the wall changed into the blank brick wall that stands today?

I believe that only the right field wall that was in front of the double decked stands in right was detailed like that. The rest was the brick wall that stands today.

[Pelt]

Yep, that's pretty much it.

I bet there were some rather interesting ricochets off of that wall.

[cgcoyne2]

Wow - that's gorgeous. Outstanding.

I don't think I've seen that detailing before - it's not visible in other pictures. Did it go all the way around? And when was the wall changed into the blank brick wall that stands today?

If you watch the 1951 movie, "Angels in the Outfield" as described earlier ther is a scene where the rightfielder (I believe) makes a ruuning catch along the wall. It's very cool to see. I believe its towards the end of the movie. I'll look for it.

[cgcoyne2]

Here are a bunch of pictures from "The Angels in the Outfield", the 1951 version with Forbes field.

Here's the Cathedral of learning.
Cathedral of Learning.JPG

Here's the Rightfield wall.
Rightfield Wall.JPG


Here's three in a row in left center near a fenced off light tower.
Left center light tower-1.JPG

Left center light tower-2.JPG

Left center light tower-3.JPG