Happy Birthday, Three Rivers Stadium

When Three Rivers Stadium was about to be imploded back in 2001, I put together a list of my own personal "Top Ten Three Rivers Stadium Memories".  Not many people cared all that much about my own personal memories, but what the heck, right?  Anyway, today being the 43rd anniversary of the opening of Three Rivers Stadium, allow me to share those memories with you once again. Perhaps they will stir up some memories of your own.

Top Ten Three Rivers Stadium Memories

  

1.      1972 – Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception beats the Oakland Raiders in the Steelers first ever playoff game.  How could anything else be Number One?

2.      1979 – Pirates defeat Cincinnati Reds in Game Three to sweep the National League Championship Series and win Pennant.

3.      1971 – Attended Game 3 of World Series, my first World Series game.  Pirates win and go onto win World Series.

4.      1975 – Steelers defeat Oaklandon an icy field in AFC Championship game.

5.      1978 and 1979 – Steelers defeat Houston Oilers two years in a row in AFC Championship game.

6.      Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente – just watching these two Hall of Famers over the years.

7.      1979 – Attend Game Three of World Series. It’s a night game, it’s cold, there are snow flurries, and Pirates lose.  They win the World Series anyway.

8.      1994 – Steelers lose AFC Championship to Chargers when last minute fourth down pass at goal line falls incomplete.  I’ve never heard 60,000 people get so quiet.

9.      1995 – Steelers beat Indianapolisin AFC Championship game to go to Super Bowl.

10. 2000 – I catch foul ball hit by Jason Kendall, my first such souvenir in over 40 years of attending ball games.

11. 1985 – Bruce Springsteen “Born in the USA” concert.  Over 65,000 people, largest crowd ever at Three Rivers for any event.  Still the single best concert I’ve ever seen.

12. 1970 – Three Rivers Stadium opens.  It is old and outdated now, but it sure was dazzling when it first opened.

OK, I know that’s twelve.  So sue me! 

Standing With Clemente

I had the pleasure of engaging in some mild vandalism early yesterday morning when SABR buddies (from L to R) Len Martin, Jim Haller, Dan Bonk and I visited the parking lots in the vicinity of Heinz Field and marked the spots where home plate and second base were located at Three Rivers Stadium.  It was especially appropriate that second base was located and marked since today, September 30, is the 40th Anniversary of Roberto Clemente's 3,000th, and final, hit, a double against the New York Mets.   You can see us gathered around the marker above, but here is that same spot in a picture with which you are no doubt more familiar:

Actually, full credit for locating these marks goes to Len and Dan who used Google Maps, satellite Images, GPS coordinates and God only knows what else to determine the location of these spots.  Len then produced the templates for home plate and second base as well as the wording that you see on them.

If you care to see these for yourself, take a stroll down General Robinson Street towards Heinz Field.  As you walk down the left sidewalk just past Stage AE, you will see the second base marker.  Then, walk 127 feet to your right, cross General Robinson into the parking lot, and you will be at home plate.

Here you see the vandals at work:

While Len and Dan were doing this. Jim and I were pretty much standing lookout in hopes that the cops didn't come and haul us away to the hoosgow.

Next up: refreshing the paint job on home plate of Exposition Park, which is located in yet another parking lot about a half a block closer to PNC Park.  Len, Dan, and a few other SABR guys were responsible for finding that land mark back in 1995.  We ran out of time yesterday, so that will wait for another Saturday morning raid in the future.

I leave you with one more picture from yesterday:

This is a nice early morning view of downtown Pittsburgh as seen over the rooftop of Stage AE.  I took it while standing at "home plate" of Three Rivers Stadium.  Thanks to Len Martin and Dan Bonk, you can now stand in this same spot and imagine yourself to be Willie Stargell or Roberto Clemente, digging in at home plate, ready to do battle with Bob Gibson or Tom Seaver.

Happy Birthday, Three Rivers Stadium

On July 16, 1970, forty-two years ago tonight, Three Rivers Stadium opened.  Given the two venues that replaced it, no one much misses it any more, but it was the centerpiece location for Pittsburgh sports for 31 years.  As it was about to be imploded, I compiled a list of my Top Ten Memories of the place.    


No one asked me to do it, and it was greeted with great ennui at the time, but, what the hell, I thought I'd reprint them here on this anniversary date.  All of these are events that I actually attended at Three Rivers Stadium.

Top Ten Three Rivers Stadium Memories

1.      1972 – Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception beats the Oakland Raiders in the Steelers first ever playoff game.  How could anything else be Number One?

2.      1979 – Pirates defeat Cincinnati Reds in Game Three to sweep the National League Championship Series and win Pennant.

3.      1971 – Attended Game 3 of World Series, my first World Series game.  Pirates win and go onto win World Series.

4.      1975 – Steelers defeat Oaklandon an icy field in AFC Championship game.

5.      1978 and 1979 – Steelers defeat Houston Oilers two years in a row in AFC Championship game.

6.      Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente – just watching these two Hall of Famers over the years.

7.      1979 – Attend Game Three of World Series. It’s a night game, it’s cold, there are snow flurries, and Pirates lose.  They win the World Series anyway.

8.      1994 – Steelers lose AFC Championship to Chargers when last minute fourth down pass at goal line falls incomplete.  I’ve never heard 60,000 people get so quiet.

9.      1995 – Steelers beat Indianapolisin AFC Championship game to go to Super Bowl.

10. 2000 – I catch foul ball hit by Jason Kendall, my first such souvenir in over 40 years of attending ball games.

11. 1985 – Bruce Springsteen “Born in the USA” concert.  Over 65,000 people, largest crowd ever at Three Rivers for any event.  Still the single best concert I’ve ever seen.

12. 1970 – Three Rivers Stadium opens.  It is old and outdated now, but it sure was dazzling when it first opened.

OK, I know that’s twelve.  So sue me!