Goodbye, Forbes Field

The Pittsburgh Pirates play their final games at historic Forbes Field 54 years ago today.

The Pirates open Forbes Field on June 30, 1909 with a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs before a Wednesday afternoon crowd of 30,330.

Fifty-one years and 4,000-plus games later, they close down the place in style, capping a seven-game winning streak at home by sweeping a doubleheader from – to make the cycle complete – the Chicago Cubs 3-2 and 4-1 before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 40,918.

Pirates closer Dave Giusti gets credit for the victory in the opener before posting the save in the second and final game.

Historians note the Pirates’ Al Oliver hits the final home run at Forbes with a solo homer to deep right field off Milt Pappas in the bottom of the first inning of the second game.

The final out at Forbes is recorded by future Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski on an unassisted fielder’s choice off a ninth-inning grounder by Don Kessinger.

As Mazeroski – the Pirates’ homer-hitting hero of the 1960 World Series – ends the game with his play at second base, souvenir-seeking fans storm a field that hosts more than 4,000 games in its history but nary a no-hitter among them.

After sweeping the Cubs 54 years ago today, the Pirates go on a two-week road trip, coupled with the 1970 All-Star break, before finally playing their next home game on July 16 at Three Rivers Stadium.

Part of Forbes Field’s outfield wall remains intact on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, where Forbes stands for 51 seasons.