Forbes Field: A Century of Memories

In 1908, city leaders developed plans for one of baseball’s iconic stadiums. Legendary Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss opened Forbes Field, the world’s first three-tiered steel and concrete stadium, one year later in 1909.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of one of America’s most famous parks, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum will honor Forbes Field throughout the summer with a new exhibition.

Forbes Field: A Century of Memories, an exhibit that opens on Thursday, June 27, will celebrate the iconic park through a series of photographs, fan memorabilia, and never-before-seen artifacts from the park’s illustrious history.

Forbes Field: A Century of Memories focuses on several key events in Forbes Field history, including the legendary 1909 World Series between the Pirates and Detroit Tigers, which featured Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb, and the 1960 World Series, which featured one of baseball’s most famous moments, when Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off homerun beat the New York Yankees for the World Series title.

Fans of all ages will enjoy rare artifacts and unique memorabilia from local baseball history, including:

• Forbes Field construction photographs, along with a ticket and invitations from the first game in 1909


• Team owner Barney Dreyfuss’ personal day planners from the Pirates’ World Series championship years in 1909 and 1925


• 1910 baseball cards of Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb


• An original Homestead Grays uniform from the 1940s


• A baseball signed by Babe Ruth on the day he hit three homeruns at Forbes Field in 1935


• An original Forbes Field window and signage, along with seats, and banners


• Dozens of never-before-seen photos of Forbes Field throughout the years


• Roberto Clemente’s game-used bat from 1966


• The pitching rubber from the 1960 World Series


• Scorecards, tickets, and game programs from throughout the iconic stadium’s history

Forbes Field: A Century of Memories also explores Pittsburgh’s other ballparks (including Exposition Park and Three Rivers Stadium), the unique fan experience at Forbes Field, and a look back at the other teams and events hosted at Forbes Field, such as Negro League baseball, professional and collegiate football, boxing, and much more.

Fans are also invited to learn more about local sports history by visiting the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, a dynamic museum-within-a-museum located on the History Center’s second and third floors.

Lincoln bLog: My Surprise Appearance

By: Abraham Lincoln, guest blog writer, Senator John Heinz History Center

Four score and seven years ago…

Okay, not really, but my new exhibit at the History Center has made quite an impact since opening just a couple of weeks ago.

People are rushing to see Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War and Lincoln Slept Here, just like the 15,000 people who mobbed downtown Pittsburgh to hear me speak on Feb. 14, 1861.

(1861? Yes, you read that correctly. I’m starting to get up there, but you know what they say, “You’re only as old as you feel!”)

I made a surprise visit during a preview reception for the exhibition and read excerpts from that speech, delivered from my balcony at the Monongahela House hotel en route to my inauguration.

After captivating the audience with my speech, History Center Chairman of the Board Steve Tritch signaled for the firing of a Civil War-era cannon and with that, my exhibit was officially open.

You can watch video highlights from the preview reception below:

Make sure to come back and visit my bLog soon. Videos, blogs, online slideshows, wow. Now if I can only figure out this cell phone thing…

Abe

We All Scream for Ice Cream U

By: Brian Butko, publications director, Senator John Heinz History Center

Ice Cream U: The Story of the Nation's Most Successful Collegiate Creamery
By Lee Stout
72 pages, 41 color/60 b&w illustrations, $19.95 cloth

It’s not just alumni who know of Penn State’s famous creamery. Fans around the world recognize the university’s program and its ice cream as one of the school’s great success stories. This large-format book does the story justice by exploring the history of the creamery from modest beginnings as an agricultural college to today’s internationally recognized research and education facility.

Dairy studies began there as early as 1865, and two short courses were launched in 1892. A correspondence course was also started that year. Experimental work focused on both fundamental and practical research to provide information to both farmers and commercial producers. The Creamery began selling its excess output in 1902, and by 1912, 195 farmers were supplying milk for total sales of nearly $70,000.

But enough of that — I know you want to hear about ice cream! That’s here too, from Peachy Paterno to WPSU Coffee Break, in glorious color. After detailing the history of the program, the book comes alive with sections on the flavors, the new Creamery, the ice-cream making process (from cow to cone in 4 days), and dairy farms. And more than ice cream is made there; milk, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ricotta cheese, and yogurt are also produced and packaged. The images, both vintage sepia and modern shots, are laid out and reproduced beautifully.