Goodbye, Three Rivers

Another cookie-cutter stadium from the 1970s disappears as Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium – photographed here in better days by former Pirates All-Star pitcher Jerry Reuss – is imploded 23 years ago today.

Three Rivers, of course, is the site in 1971 of the first World Series night game; where in 1972 Roberto Clemente records his 3,000th hit; where in 1987 Mike Schmidt hits his 500th career homer; and where in 1992 Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini turns only the ninth unassisted triple play in major league history.

Pirates third baseman John Wehner is the last player to homer at Three Rivers Stadium as he hits a two-run drive off Chicago's Jon Lieber in the bottom of the fifth inning of Three Rivers Stadium’s final game of the 2000 season.

Turns out Wehner also is the final batter in Three Rivers’ history, bouncing out to Cubs third baseman Jeff Huson to end the Cubs' 10-9 victory before a season-high crowd of 55,351.

A look at Three Rivers’ final moments may be found at the 4:00 mark of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X7hWcctXLw

Approximately 4,800 pounds of TNT bring down the 59,000-seat stadium in just 19 seconds, leaving behind an eight tons of pulverized concrete and steel.

(David Maxwell photo)