Editing Forbes Field (section)

==History==

===Planning and design===
In 1903, [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]' owner [[Barney Dreyfuss]] began to look for ground to build a larger capacity replacement for the team's then-current home, [[Exposition Park (Pittsburgh)|Exposition Park]].<ref>{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=15|Ref=none}}</ref> Dreyfuss purchased seven [[acre]]s of land near the [[Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]], adjacent to [[Schenley Park]], with assistance from his friend, [[industrialist]] [[Andrew Carnegie]].<ref name=Dia89>{{harvnb|Gershman|1993|p=89|Ref=none}}</ref> The low-priced land was selected so Dreyfuss could spend more on the stadium itself.<ref name=Dia89/> Dreyfuss signed a contract to "make the ballpark ... of a design that would harmonize with the other structures in the Schenley Park district."<ref name=FF16>{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=16|Ref=none}}</ref> The site was initially labeled "Dreyfuss's Folly" due to its long distance—a 10-minute [[Tram|trolley]] ride—from [[Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|downtown Pittsburgh]], but the land around the park developed and criticisms were dropped.<ref name=Dia89/><ref name=Ball52>{{harvnb|Leventhal|2000|p=52|Ref=none}}</ref> Official Pirates' records show that Forbes Field cost US$1&nbsp;million for site acquisition and construction. However, some estimates place the cost at twice that amount.<ref name=Ball52/><ref name=GBU99>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=99|Ref=none}}</ref>
[[File:Left field bleachers at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.jpg|alt=Left field bleachers at Forbes Field|left|thumb|Left field bleachers at Forbes Field<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coololdphotos.com/sitting-in-the-bleachers-at-pittsburghs-forbes-field-in-1910/|title=Sitting in the Bleachers at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field in 1910|last=Tom|date=2015-06-19|website=Cool Old Photos|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-24}}</ref>]]
Dreyfuss announced that unlike established wooden ballparks such as the [[Polo Grounds]], he would build a three-tiered stadium out of steel and concrete to increase longevity—the first of its kind in the nation.<ref name=Buc63>{{harvnb|McCollister|1998|p=63|Ref=none}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pirates' Timeline|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/history/timeline2.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509195440/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/history/timeline2.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2007|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|access-date=August 31, 2008}}</ref> [[Charles Wellford Leavitt|Charles Wellford Leavitt Jr.]] was contracted to design the stadium's grandstand. A [[Civil engineering|civil engineer]], Leavitt had founded an engineering and landscape architecture firm in 1897.<ref name=FF16/> He had gained experience in steel and concrete constructs while designing the [[Belmont Park|Belmont]] and [[Saratoga Race Course|Saratoga]] racetracks. Based on Dreyfuss' architectural requirements, Leavitt presented a plan for Forbes Field—the only ballpark he designed.<ref name=FF16/> Pirates' manager [[Fred Clarke]] also had input into the stadium's design, giving groundskeepers advice on the field, in addition to designing and [[patent]]ing a device to spread and remove a canvas tarpaulin over the infield in case of rain.<ref name=FF17>{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=17|Ref=none}}</ref>

Initial work on the land began on January 1, 1909,<ref name=FF16/> but ground was not officially broken until March 1.<ref name=Dia89/> Nicola Building Company built the stadium in 122&nbsp;days and play began less than four months after ground was broken, on June 30.<ref name=Dia89/><ref name="FF226"/> Though the scoreboard was operated by hand,<ref name=Bucs175/> the ballpark featured multiple innovations such as ramps and elevators to assist fan movement throughout the park, a room for the umpires, and a visiting team clubhouse similar to the Pirates'.<ref name=Dia89/> The facade of the stadium featured "buff-colored terra cotta" spelling out "PAC" for the Pittsburgh Athletic Company.<ref name=Dia89/> The light green steelwork contrasted with the red slate of the roof.<ref name=Dia89/> Some members of the press urged Dreyfuss to name the stadium after himself. Instead, he decided to honor General [[John Forbes (British Army officer)|John Forbes]], who [[Battle of Fort Duquesne|captured Fort Duquesne]] from the French in 1758 and rebuilt a new "[[Fort Pitt (Pennsylvania)|Fort Pitt]]" at the site.<ref name=Dia89/><ref name=Buc64>{{harvnb|McCollister|1998|p=64|Ref=none}}</ref>

After Dreyfuss died in 1935, there was renewed media interest in renaming the stadium "Dreyfuss Field". His widow, Florence, resisted. However, a monument to Dreyfuss was placed in center field just in front of the wall.<ref name="FF23">{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=23|Ref=none}}</ref>

===Opening===
{{Quote box
 | quote  ="Pittsburg can now boast of the world's finest baseball park. It is a marvel of which people in other cities can have no adequate conception until they come here and see it."
 | source = —[[Fred Clarke]], 1909<ref name=CLP/>
 | width  =25%
 | align  =right
 | style = padding: 8px;
}}
[[File:Forbes Field and street.jpg|thumb|Forbes Field and [[Schenley Plaza|Bellefield Bridge]], 1909]]
The first game was played at Forbes Field on June 30, 1909, one day after the Pittsburgh Pirates had defeated the [[Chicago Cubs]], 8–1, at Exposition Park. Fans began to arrive at the stadium six and one-half hours early for the 3:30&nbsp;p.m. game.<ref name=FF17/> Weather conditions were reported as clear skies with a temperature around 80 degrees.<ref name="BonkDan">Bonk, Dan. "Forbes Field: Build it Yourself."  Point Four Ltd., 1995.</ref> Flags flew at half staff to honor the recently deceased presidents of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Doves.<ref name="BonkDan" /> Various [[National League (baseball)|National League]] officials and owners attended the pre-game ceremonies, including league president [[Harry Pulliam]], [[American Civil War|Civil War]] veteran and manager of Pittsburgh's first professional baseball team [[Al Pratt (baseball)|Al Pratt]], and [[American League]] president [[Ban Johnson]].<ref name="FF17" /> Pittsburgh Mayor [[William A. Magee]] threw out the stadium's ceremonial first pitch,<ref name="CLP" /> tossing it from the second tier to John M. Morin, Director of Public Safety, on the field below. Morin then went to the mound and threw the first pitch to the Pirate catcher.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oakland: Organizations: Forbes Field |url=http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/oakland/oak_n718.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071933/http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/oakland/oak_n718.html |archive-date=2008-05-17 |access-date=2008-09-01}}</ref>

The ''[[Pittsburgh Press]]'' wrote, "the ceremonies were witnessed by the largest throng that ever attended an event of this kind in this or any other city in the country...Forbes Field is so immense—so far beyond anything else in America in the way of a baseball park—that old experts, accustomed to judging crowds at a glance, were at a loss for reasonable figures."<ref name="CLP">{{cite web|title=35,000 Fans Help to Dedicate Ball Park |url=http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/oakland/oak_n718.html |publisher=[[Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh]] |date=June 30, 1909 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071933/http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/oakland/oak_n718.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008 }}</ref> Records, however, show that the first game was attended by a [[standing-room only]] crowd of 30,338.<ref name="Ball52" />

The first batter at Forbes Field was future Hall of Famer [[Johnny Evers]], the Cubs second baseman and leadoff batter.  He was hit by a pitch and later in the inning scored the first run.  The first hit by a Pirate was by catcher [[George Gibson (baseball)|George Gibson]], who eventually became a Pirate manager.<ref name="BonkDan" /> The [[Chicago Cubs]] won the first game, 3–2. Dreyfuss declared, "This is indeed the happiest day of my life."<ref name="CLP" />

=== Playing field evolution ===
[[File:Forbes flagpole.JPG|thumb|right|Forbes Field outfield wall and flagpole in its original location in Oakland]]
The stadium was widely considered the best in the league.<ref name="Buc64" />

Dreyfuss "hated cheap [[home run]]s and vowed he'd have none in his park", which led him to design a large playing field for Forbes Field.<ref name="Dia90" /> The original distances to the [[Baseball field#Outfield wall|outfield fence]]s in left, center, and right field were {{convert|360|ft|m}}, {{convert|462|ft|m}} and {{convert|376|ft|m}}, respectively.<ref name="Dia90" />

The left field foul pole initially intersected the bleacher section about two-thirds of the way toward where the bleacher corner touched the fence, at a distance of {{convert|301|ft|m}},[Pittsburgh ''Daily Post'', June 27, 1909, p.&nbsp;30], leaving a narrow slice which could benefit a strict pull hitter, but which soon proved bothersome to left fielders.

In the early spring of 1912, the diamond was shifted so that the left field foul line intersected the end of the left field fence rather than the bleacher section.[Pittsburgh ''Press'', March 3, 1912, p.&nbsp;20] By 1914, the left field distance was stated as {{convert|365|ft|m}},[Pittsburgh ''Press'', August 25, 1914, p.&nbsp;20] which eventually became the distance marked on the fence.

In 1921, the seating capacity was increased by the addition of several rows of new box seats.[Pittsburgh ''Press'', February 13, 1921, pp.&nbsp;15][Pittsburgh ''Daily Post'', February 13, 1921, p.&nbsp;18]

In 1925, seating capacity received a bigger bump when the right field grandstand was extended into the corner and into [[fair ball|fair territory]], replacing a section of wooden bleachers. Construction of the new stands began in late winter and opened in June 1925.

The change reduced the [[List of baseball jargon (F)#foul lines|foul line]] distance from {{convert|376|ft|m}} to {{convert|300|ft|m}} but increasing the near-right center distance to {{convert|375|ft|m}}.<ref name="Ball53">{{harvnb|Leventhal|2000|p=53|Ref=none}}</ref> Dreyfuss made no secret of his mixed feelings regarding this move, and in May 1930, in response to American League President [[E. S. Barnard]]'s proposed plan to stem the recent flood of sub-350-foot home runs, Dreyfuss readily complied by erecting a {{convert|28|ft|m|adj=on}} high screen.<ref>United News (March 20, 1930). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4bVhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v2gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4148%2C4489078 "Barnard Plans to Check 'Cheap' Homers; Proposes Screen for All Sectors Less Than 350 Feet"]. ''The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. "Three major league clubs already have taken to the screen idea, the Phillies and Cardinals erecting screens at their parks last season and the Pirates building one at Forbes Field this season." Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref><ref>Davis, Ralph (March 22, 1950). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-UsbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L0sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1703%2C6798287 "Plan to Cut Trick Homers is Sensible: Fandom Tires of Freak Four-Baggers, Which Have Robbed One of Game's Features of Its Most Pronounced Thrill"]. ''The Pittsburgh Press''. "President Barney Dreyfuss has always been opposed to freak homers. He hesitated for a long time about increasing his seating capacity by encroaching on his playing area. He finally did it, because everyone else was doing it. But he is said to have regretted the move after it was made, and now has offset it by ordering a screen in front of the right field stands." Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref><ref>Wertenbach, Fred (May 24, 1930). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pRkhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OUsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6490%2C2008537&dq=robbed-new-screen "Bucs Beat Cubs; Ens Shifts Line-Up; Comorosky Going Back to Old Post"]. ''The Pittsburgh Press''. "Wilson was robbed of his thirteenth homer when his drive crashed into the new screen in right and went for a double in the sixth." Retrieved April 20, 2018.</ref>

Even at this long distance from home plate, the fence stood {{convert|12|ft|m}} in height in left and center fields, with the new right field wall reduced to {{convert|9.5|ft|m}} following the 1925 construction (later topped by the screen).<ref name=Ball52/> The [[Baseball field#Home base|backstop]] was set at {{convert|110|ft|m}} behind home plate, larger than the average of {{convert|60|ft|m}} in most stadiums of the time. Additional seating eventually cut down the plate-to-screen distance to a still larger-than-average {{convert|75|ft|m}}.<ref name=Dia90/>

With such a large outfield space, [[Triple (baseball)|triples]] and [[inside-the-park home run]]s were common. The Pirates hit a record eight triples in a single game, on May 30, 1925.<ref name=Ball53/> Conversely, the stadium was one of the most difficult to hit over-the-fence home runs.<ref name=Dia90/> The closeness of the right field line from 1925 onward was the only area that compromised Dreyfuss' original design concept. Even at that, the right field wall angled sharply out to {{convert|375|ft|m}}, a typical distance for a major league power alley. [[Babe Ruth]] hit the final three home runs of his career in Forbes Field on May 25, 1935; the third of these cleared the {{convert|89|ft|m|adj=on}} right field roof and was considered the longest home run in the park's history.<ref name=Dia90/>

The last major change to the outfield came in 1946, when the fence in left and center was replaced by a brick wall.[Pittsburgh ''Press'', December 2, 1945, p.&nbsp;36] The fence had been painted green, while the bricks were of a reddish color. Ivy was planted at the base of the new wall, restoring the green background enjoyed by batters.[Pittsburgh ''Sun-Telegraph'', April 21, 1946, p.&nbsp;21]

Although Forbes Field developed a reputation as a "pitcher-friendly" ballpark, there was never a [[no-hitter]] thrown in the more than 4,700&nbsp;games at the stadium.<ref name=FF226/><ref name=Bucs176/>

The field itself consisted of natural grass grown in [[Crestline, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Talented 1909 Pirates Started New Era of Baseball|first=Robert|last=Dvorchak|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09095/960753-63.stm|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=April 5, 2009|access-date=April 5, 2009}}</ref>
{{Quote box
 | quote  ="There wasn't much flubdubber. You just got a ballgame. If you didn't like it, you could stay home."
 | source = —Art McKennan, PA announcer<ref name=Bucs176/>
 | width  =25%
 | align  =left
 | style  =padding:8px;
}}

Until 1942, Forbes Field's batting cage, when not in use, was stored on the field, in front of the stands directly behind home plate,<ref>Thorn, John; Palmer, Pete (1993). [https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=%22batting+cage%22+%22behind+home+plate%22+%22forbes+field%22+intitle:Total+intitle:Baseball&num=10 ''Total Baseball: The Official Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball'']. New York, NY : HarperPerennial. p. 138.</ref> a bare-bones but viable solution rendered obsolete by the introduction that season of a new, considerably larger cage. During that season and part of 1943, the new cage resided in foul territory, down the right field line, near the Pirates' bullpen.<ref name="FFBC2RF">Biederman, Les. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M1IbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fkwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3574%2C3561874&dq=new-batting-cage-cost-contraption-huge-parked-front-bull-pen-ball-struck-stopped "The Scoreboard"]. ''The Pittsburgh Press''. April 20, 1942. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref> At some point prior to July 26, 1943, evidently prompted by numerous instances of the relocated cage continuing to impact balls in play,<ref name="FFBC2RF"/><ref>Biederman, Les. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bgkeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q0wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6521%2C5513717&dq=fletcher-doubled-cage-right "Bucco Heintzelman Baffles Braves, 3-0; Ken Allows Boston Only Three Hits"]. ''The Pittsburgh Press''. July 19, 1942. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref><ref>Boyle, Havey. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qcMwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_GkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3802%2C2819616&dq=barrett-whipped-double-right-field-presence-batting-cage-near-bull-pen-second "Pirates Given Approval of Fans"]. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. April 28, 1943. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref> the Pirates finally settled on what would become its permanent and, by far, best-remembered home: in fair territory, just to the left of the {{convert|457|ft|m|adj=on}} marker in deepest left-center.<ref>Balinger, Edward. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wegnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_WkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5410%2C6015176&dq=olmo-socked-fly-cage "Vaughan's Homer Beats Bucs, 10-6; Arky's Blow Comes With Bases Full; Olmo, DiMag Hit Homers"]. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. July 27, 1943. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref> The open part of the cage faced the wall, its rear effectively serving as a convex fence,<ref name=Buc64/> somewhat akin to that surrounding the base of the light tower standing just to the left (as well as those surrounding the left field and right-center field towers). Unlike the batting cage and the flagpole just to its right, the light towers themselves—as opposed to the aforementioned fences—were not in play;<ref name=GBU102/> a batted ball striking any one of them, or landing inside the surrounding fence, was a home run.<ref>Hernon, Jack. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vQsNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N2oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4963%2C1515411&dq=kiner-down-inside-guard-around-light-tower "Kiner's 13th Brings Bucs Good Luck; Win in 12th by 5-4 After 7-6 Defeat"]. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. June 12, 1950. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref><ref>Finch, Frank. [http://www.mediafire.com/view/4p57y5a2vmjt0az/.png "Are Dodgers Waking Up?"]. ''Los Angeles Times''. June 1, 1964. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref><ref>Biederman, Les. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=10sqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xE8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3546%2C3354468&dq=stargell-homer-left-field-light-tower "Bucs' Bats Boom for McBean; Early Punch Stampedes Giants, 10-0"]. ''The Pittsburgh Press''. April 22, 1968. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref><ref>Musick, Phil. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OM8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DZYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5836%2C3394213&dq=stargell-put-one-against-light-tower-right-center "Bucs' Taylor More Than Just Talk; Carl's Hit Beats Padres, 4-3; Torrid Finish"]. ''The Pittsburgh Press''. July 25, 1969. Retrieved May 28, 2019.</ref>

In 1947, well after Dreyfuss' death, and upon the arrival of veteran slugger [[Hank Greenberg]], the [[bullpen]]s were moved from foul territory to the base of the scoreboard in left field and were fenced in, cutting {{convert|30|ft|m}} from the left field area, from {{convert|365|ft|m}} to {{convert|335|ft|m}} down the line and {{convert|406|ft|m}} to {{convert|376|ft|m}} in left-center field.<ref name=Dia91>{{harvnb|Gershman|1993|p=91|Ref=none}}</ref> These were not abnormal major league outfield distances, but the obvious attempt to take advantage of Greenberg's bat led the media to dub the area "Greenberg Gardens". Greenberg retired after the season, but by then [[Ralph Kiner]] was an established slugger with the Pirates, and the bullpen was redubbed "Kiner's Korner". Kiner was traded after the 1953 season, and the field was restored to its previous configuration in time for the 1954 season.

[[File:Forbes Field about 1963.jpg|thumb|right|Forbes Field circa 1963, as seen from the University of Pittsburgh's [[Cathedral of Learning]]]]

The final posted dimensions of the ballpark were left field line {{convert|365|ft|m}}, left-center field {{convert|406|ft|m}}, deepest left-center {{convert|457|ft|m}}, deep right-center {{convert|436|ft|m}}, right-center field {{convert|375|ft|m}}, and right field line {{convert|300|ft|m}}. The only marker in exact straightaway center field was the Barney Dreyfuss monument, which sat on the playing field just in front of the wall. Some sources stated {{convert|442|ft|m}} as the distance to straightaway center. Some sources also stated {{convert|408|ft|m}} as a right-center distance, to the unmarked point where the center field wall intersected the end of the double-deck stands.

Forbes Field's outfield fences / walls featured no advertising, except a {{convert|32|ft|m|adj=on}} [[United States Marine Corps]] billboard during the 1943&nbsp;season.<ref name=Bucs176/>

The infield developed a "rock-hard" surface throughout the stadium's history.<ref name=Bucs175/> During the final game of the [[1960 World Series]], Yankees [[shortstop]] [[Tony Kubek]] was struck in the throat with a ball that bounced at an unexpected angle off the hard dirt surface, breaking up a potentially rally-killing [[double play]] and causing Kubek to exit the game. Pittsburgh went on to win the game and the championship.<ref name=GBU102/> Groundskeepers burned gasoline on the mound to dry it off.<ref name=Bucs176>{{harvnb|McCollister|1998|p=176|Ref=none}}</ref>

===Seating and tickets===
[[File:ForbesFieldGateRecon.jpg|thumb|right|A recreated entrance, including ticket window, located near the remaining outfield wall]]
Forbes Field had an original capacity of 25,000, the largest in the league at the time.<ref name=FF17/> Seating at the stadium was remodeled numerous times, peaking at a capacity of 41,000 in 1925 and closing in 1970 at 35,000&nbsp;seats.<ref name=Ball52/> On opening day, ticket prices ranged from $1.25 (equal to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1.25|1909|r=2}}}} today) for box seats and $1 (equal to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1|1909|r=2}}}} today) for reserved grand stand sections;<ref name=Dia90>{{harvnb|Gershman|1993|p=90|Ref=none}}</ref> temporary bleachers were set up for the occasion and cost $0.50.<ref name=FF17/> Ticket prices were considered high for the day and steel pillars supporting the roof occasionally blocked fans' views of the field.<ref name=Bucs175/> Two thousand bleacher seats were situated along the left field side; tickets were sold for a maximum of $1.<ref name=GBU102>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=102|Ref=none}}</ref> When winning streaks attracted high attendance to games, fans were permitted to sit on the grass in right field, provided they agreed to allow a player to catch any ball hit in the area.<ref name=GBU103>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=103|Ref=none}}</ref> The lowest season of attendance came in 1914, when 139,620&nbsp;people attended games; the highest at the stadium came in 1960, when 1,705,828&nbsp;people watched the Pirates play.<ref name=FF227/> On September 23, 1956, the stadium's largest crowd, 44,932, gathered to see the home team play the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]. The game was cut short in the top of the ninth inning, after a rain delay forced it past the Pennsylvania Sunday curfew. The Dodgers won the game 8–2 the following day.<ref name=FF227>{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=227|Ref=none}}</ref> At 200&nbsp;people, June 10, 1938, was believed to have marked the smallest crowd to ever attend a Pirates game (against the Philadelphia Phillies),<ref name=FF226>{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=226|Ref=none}}</ref> however, Baseball Reference has the attendance for that game listed as 1,034.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT193806100.shtml |title=Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score |website=baseball-reference.com |publisher=sports-reference.com |date=June 10, 1938 |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> On September 30, 1962, a crowd of 40,916&nbsp;people saw the [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]] defeated by the [[New York Giants]], at the Steelers' highest-attended game at the stadium.<ref name=FF227/>

===Closing and demolition===
[[File:ForbesField.JPG|thumb|Home plate of Forbes Field, currently located in [[Posvar Hall]] at the [[University of Pittsburgh]].]]
Though Forbes Field was praised upon its opening, it began to show its age after 60 years of use. The park was the second oldest baseball field in the league at the time – only [[Shibe Park]] in [[Philadelphia]] was older (it was replaced in 1971 by [[Veterans Stadium]]). The location of the park, which initially was criticized for not being developed, grew into a "bustling business district" which led to a lack of parking space.<ref name=Meh9/> One [[Sports journalism|sportswriter]] wrote that ''The House of Thrills'' had become "as joyless as a prison exercise yard".<ref name=Dia92>{{harvnb|Gershman|1993|p=92|Ref=none}}</ref> Following a plan to expand their adjacent campus, the University of Pittsburgh purchased Forbes Field in 1958, with an agreement to lease the stadium to the Pirates until a replacement could be built.<ref>{{harvnb|Mehno|1995|pp=9–10|Ref=none}}</ref> A proposal for a new sports stadium in Pittsburgh was first made in 1948, but plans did not attract much attention until the late 1950s.<ref name=Meh9>{{harvnb|Mehno|1995|p=9|Ref=none}}</ref> Construction began on [[Three Rivers Stadium]] on April 25, 1968.<ref name=Meh10>{{harvnb|Mehno|1995|p=10|Ref=none}}</ref> The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs played a double-header on June 28, 1970.<ref name=Bucs175>{{harvnb|McCollister|1998|p=175|Ref=none}}</ref> Pittsburgh won the first game 3–2. In the later game [[Al Oliver]] hit the last home run in the park, and [[Matty Alou]] drove in two runs as the Pirates closed the 62-year-old stadium with a 4–1 victory.<ref>{{harvnb|Cicotello|2007|p=53|Ref=none}}</ref> The 40,918 spectators in attendance stood and cheered as [[Dave Giusti]] retired Willie Smith for the final out (recorded by Bill Mazeroski) at the stadium.<ref name=FF227/><ref>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|pp=104–5|Ref=none}}</ref> Pirates [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]] [[Roberto Clemente]] played 15 seasons at Forbes Field. He was emotional during the last game saying, "I spent half my life there."<ref>{{harvnb|Walker|p=106|Ref=none}}</ref> After the game, home plate was dug up and taken by helicopter to [[Three Rivers Stadium]] to be installed in the [[artificial turf]].

A community group attempted to rescue the structure from demolition, proposing such things as a stage, apartments and a farmers market for the site and comparing it to the Eiffel Tower in significance.<ref>{{cite news |title=People's Plan Set at Saving Forbes Field|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ST0sAAAAIBAJ&dq=forbes%20field&pg=4663%2C195240|newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|date=May 1, 1971|access-date=June 3, 2014|page=B5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pitt Will Demolish Forbes Field as Citizens Group Appeal Fails|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5EZiAAAAIBAJ&dq=forbes%20field&pg=2309%2C2492608|newspaper=[[Observer–Reporter]]|date=July 15, 1971|access-date=June 3, 2014|page=C8}}</ref>

The abandoned structure suffered two separate fires that damaged the park, on December 24, 1970, and July 17, 1971. Eleven days after the second fire, demolition began, and the site was cleared for use by the University of Pittsburgh.<ref>{{harvnb|Lowry|1986|p=73|Ref=none}}</ref>

===Memorials===
In 1955, a statue of Honus Wagner was dedicated in Schenley Plaza adjacent to Forbes Field.  Several thousand fans attended the dedication as well as Wagner himself.  His failing health caused him to never leave his open convertible in which he arrived (Wagner died near the end of that year).  The {{convert|1800|lbs|adj=on}} statue was moved to Three Rivers Stadium in 1970.  Today, the statue stands at the home plate entrance of [[PNC Park]].<ref name="BonkDan" />

[[File:Forbes Field wall 406ft.jpg|thumb|left|The left field wall was moved to PNC Park in 2009]]

[[File:Forbes Field Monument, Pittsburgh, PA.JPG|thumb|Forbes Field Monument, Pittsburgh, PA]]
The portion of the left field wall over which [[Bill Mazeroski]] hit his walk-off home run to end the 1960 World Series, between the scoreboard and the "406 FT" sign, no longer stands at its original location. A portion of that wall, including the distance marker, had been sliced off and moved to the Allegheny Club at Three Rivers Stadium. Before the Three Rivers demolition, the section of the wall was salvaged, and in 2009 it was restored and placed on the Riverwalk outside of [[PNC Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pirates Show Off Revamped PNC Park|first=Jenifer|last=Langosch|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090406&content_id=4139136&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|date=April 6, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2009|archive-date=April 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409044301/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090406&content_id=4139136&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Maz's Wall Displayed Again by Pirates|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-pirates-mazswall&prov=ap&type=lgns|work=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|date=April 10, 2009|access-date=April 10, 2009}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:ForbesPlateinPosvar.jpg|thumb|right|Forbes Fields' home plate lies encased and on display in the lobby floor of the University of Pittsburgh's [[Posvar Hall]]. {{FFDC|ForbesPlateinPosvar.jpg|log=2023 September 13}}]] -->
Meanwhile, the original location of that wall is outlined by bricks extending from the left-center field wall across Roberto Clemente Drive and into the sidewalk. A plaque embedded in the sidewalk marks the spot where Mazeroski's home run cleared the wall.<ref name=WeHad/> The left-center and center field brick wall with "457 FT" and "436 FT" painted on it still stands at its original location, along with the stadium's flagpole, adjacent to the [[University of Pittsburgh]]'s [[Mervis Hall|Mervis]] and [[Posvar Hall]]s.<ref name=Bucs176/> Despite not technically being the correct section of wall where Mazeroski's famous home run cleared, it is often locally referred to as "Mazeroski's Wall." This portion of the wall remained after Forbes Field was torn down, and was refurbished in 2006 in time for the [[2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] hosted in Pittsburgh.<ref name=Restor>{{cite news |title=Forbes Field Remnants Restored|first=Tony|last=LaRussa|url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_451126.html#axzz33d3JAeAI|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|date=May 6, 2006|access-date=September 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Forbes Field to Rise Again|first=Bob|last=Hoover|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06167/698812-63.stm|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=June 16, 2006|access-date=April 18, 2009}}</ref> In addition, a wooden replica of an entrance to the stadium, including a ticket window and players entrance, was constructed and placed near the remaining wall in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carpenters Re-Create Entrance to Forbes Field|first=Kevin|last=Kirkland|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06189/704227-30.stm|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=July 8, 2006|access-date=October 12, 2009}}</ref>  The home plate used in the stadium's final game remains preserved in the University of Pittsburgh's [[Wesley W. Posvar Hall|Posvar Hall]].<ref name=Restor/><ref>{{cite news |title=Crosley Field and Forbes Field|url=http://www.cnn.com/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/9707/stadiums/crosley.forbes.html|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=September 1, 2008}}</ref> However, its location has been altered; author John McCollister wrote, "Had architects placed home plate in its precise spot about half of the Pirates fans could not view it. The reason: it would have to be on display in the fifth stall of the ladies' restroom."<ref>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=105|Ref=none}}</ref> However, the original location of the home plate has been more recently determined by others to be approximately {{convert|81|ft}} away from its current display, just inside the [[University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs|GSPIA]]/Economics Library, and not in a restroom as has been popularly believed.<ref>{{cite video |title=Searching for Home Plate|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4743737&flvUri=&partnerclipid=|medium=web|publisher=Post-Gazette Publishing Co|people=Andrew Rush|date=2010|access-date=May 3, 2010}}</ref>

A ceremony is held each October 13 at the outfield wall in Oakland to listen to a taped broadcast of the final game of the 1960 World Series.<ref name=WeHad>{{harvnb|O'Brien|1998|pp=319–21|Ref=none}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=95|Ref=none}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fans Relive Joy of Pirates' 1960 World Series Win|first=Kevin|last=Kirkland|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08284/918907-13.stm|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=October 10, 2008|access-date=October 10, 2008}}</ref> The tradition was started by [[Squirrel Hill]] resident Saul Finkelstein, who at 1:05&nbsp;pm on October 13, 1985, sat alone at the base of the flagpole and listened to the [[NBC]] radio broadcast of [[Chuck Thompson]] and [[Jack Quinlan]].<ref name=FF150>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=150|Ref=none}}</ref> Finkelstein continued the tradition for eight more years, until word spread and other people began attending in 1993.<ref name="FF150"/> On October 13, 2000—the game's 40th anniversary—over 600&nbsp;people attended to listen to the broadcast, including Mazeroski himself.<ref name=FF153>{{harvnb|McCollister|2008|p=153|Ref=none}}</ref> For the 50th anniversary, on October 13, 2010, a plaque honoring Mazeroski was dedicated and more than 1,000 attended the broadcast, including Mazeroski and several other former Pirates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Game 7 'Still Feels Like It Happened Yesterday'|first=Robert|last=Dvorchak|url=http://post-gazette.com/pg/10287/1095059-63.stm|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=October 14, 2010|access-date=October 14, 2010|archive-date=October 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015191931/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10287/1095059-63.stm|url-status=dead}}</ref>