Editing Forbes Field (section)

===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>