{"id":103083,"date":"2025-06-28T19:27:45","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T23:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=103083"},"modified":"2025-06-28T19:27:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T23:27:45","slug":"55-years-ago-final-games-forbes-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/06\/28\/55-years-ago-final-games-forbes-field\/","title":{"rendered":"55 Years Ago: Pirates and Cubs Played Final Games at Forbes Field"},"content":{"rendered":"

On June 28, 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs played the final two games at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won both games of the doubleheader by scores of 3-2 and 4-1 in front of 40,918 fans. This included many who purchased standing-room-only tickets. When the Pirates returned from a subsequent road trip, they would play their next home game at the modern Three Rivers Stadium.<\/p>\n

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Unknown date; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente (21) poses for a portrait at Forbes Field. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 28, 1970: Pirates and Cubs Played Final Games at Forbes Field<\/h2>\n

The front-page headline of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/em> blared, \u201cPirates\u2019 Two Wins Close Forbes Field\u201d before getting to lesser matters like the Vietnam War. It ran a photo of fans eight deep stealing numerals from the manual scoreboard in left field. (Miss Rocco at Immaculate Conception School taught us they were \u201cnumerals,\u201d not \u201cnumbers.\u201d Numerals are symbols for numbers. One can\u2019t see a number. You\u2019re welcome.) The front page of The Pittsburgh Press<\/em> didn\u2019t address the closing of the venerable ballpark in its headlines. It ran a photo of fans making off with wooden seats and scoreboard numerals.<\/p>\n

Fans interviewed by both local papers were almost unanimous in saying they were sad to see the old ballpark go. As the second game began, Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince told his listeners on KDKA radio, \u201cThere\u2019s more than a little sadness, it\u2019s a tremendous, overpowering amount of grief in a sense. . . It\u2019s like losing a dear loved one.\u201d Prince had joined the Pirates’ broadcasting team in 1948.<\/p>\n

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#OnThisDay<\/a> in 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates played their final game at Forbes Field in Oakland. The field had a capacity of 25K in 1909 & 35K in 1938. Built at a cost of $1 million, it was the first ballpark in the United States constructed entirely of poured concrete & steel. pic.twitter.com\/DGckl7xFrI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Heinz History Center (@HistoryCenter) June 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n