Forbes Field: Essays and Memories of the Pirates' Historic Ballpark, 1909-1971
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, 2007Richly 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" bySporting 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 ofBurying the Black Sox: How Baseball's Cover-up of the 1919 World Series Fix Almost Succeededand 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