Len Martin and the Three Rivers Stadium Markers

This past Thursday, April 17, marked the 70th anniversary of Roberto Clemente's first major league hit.  This date was chosen to dedicate the permanent markers that were placed on the sidewalks along General Robinson Street to mark the precise locations of the pitcher's mound and second base at Three Rivers Stadium.  A home plate marker was placed and dedicated a few years ago. (History lesson, kids: Three Rivers Stadium stood on land between PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium.) 

Lots of dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the occasion.  A couple of members of the Pennsylvania State Legislature were there, and deservedly so, since they helped secure some state funding for the project.  Roberto Clemente Jr and Steve Blass were there and spoke, and their presence was deserved for obvious reasons.  Also speaking was Travis Williams, President of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  It should be noted that the Pirates contributed ZERO DOLLARS, as in NOTHING in support of this project, a fact that should surprise no one who follows this team closely.

However, it must be noted that the events of this day would not have happened without the vision and the dog-on-a-bone persistence of my friend Len Martin.  It was Len who assisted in finding the precise locations of home plate, the pitchers's mound, and second base.  It was Len who designed the markers and helped in their fabrication.  And it was Len who persisted in raising money and being a general thorn in the side of all of the players involved to make sure that this project got done.  This was Len's baby from start to finish.

Some photos of the day.

The Monuments Themselves

Len Martin addresses the crowd

Roberto Clemente Jr

Bob Walk and Steve Blass pay a visit to their old "office"

Len with some of his closest pals

Dennis DeValeria, Dan Bonk. Andy Terrick, Len,

Roberto Jr, Craig Britcher, Fred Egler, Bob Sproule

Hey! Who is that guy seeking advice from The Grandstander?

One more history lesson.  A permanent marker also is in place at the location of old Exposition Park, where the Pirates played from 1890 to1909 and where the first World Series was played in 1903.  It is in the shadow of PNC Park in a parking lot along Mazeroski Way and right across from the Southern Tier Brewing Co. restaurant.  That was Len Martin's project as well

Throwback Thursday - Three Rivers Stadium

Today, July 16, marks the 45th Anniversary of the first ball game played in Three Rivers Stadium.  The Pirates lost that game to the Cincinnati Reds. The picture above is a ticket stub from that game.  No, it wasn't my stub, it's my Dad's.  He was at that game.  I was not.  

My first visit to Three Rivers came three days later, on Sunday, July 19, which happened to be the first DAY game played at Three Rivers.  That day, my Dad and I were among 32,294 in attendance to see the Pirates defeat the Reds 7-3. In that game, Dave Cash hit a home run, Manny Sanguillen had a triple, Roberto Clemente went 0-for-2 with three walks, and Willie Stargell went 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Luke Walker pitched eight innings to get the win and boost his record to 7-3.  Joe Gibbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning and was, according to the box score on Retrosheet, credited with a save.  The Save Rule must have been different then.  Under today's rules, Gibbon, who entered the game with a four run lead, would not be credited with a Save.  Oh, well.

That was the first of many, many visits that Stadium for me over the course of the next 31 years, and with that in mind, I reprint for you know (whether you want to see it or not), a list that I complied back in 2001, shortly before the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium.  These are events for which I was actually in attendance.

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 Oakland on 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 Indianapolis in 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! 

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 Oakland on 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 Indianapolis in 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 Oakland on 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 Indianapolis in 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! 

Three Rivers Stadium

I give full credit to my friend Dan Bonk, whose idea I am shamelessly stealing for this blog post.

Dan posted the above picture on Facebook yesterday, and it generated quite a bit of comment there. Pittsburghers of a certain age will recognize this picture as the original architectural rendering of the North Side Stadium that was to built for the Pirates and Steelers in the 1960's. It had an open-ended design with a view on to the Point and downtown Pittsburgh. We may also remember what happened: the bids came in over budget, the stadium was redesigned, and Three Rivers Stadium became what came to be known as a generic concrete, cookie-cutter stadium.

Dan asked the question: if Three Rivers Stadium was built as originally designed, would the Pirates and Steelers still be playing there today? This is one of those "what if?" kinds of questions that are fun to consider.

My own thought is that if historical events happened as they did, especially the success of the Steelers in the 1970's, that the Steelers would have lobbied to have the stadium capacity increased (as they eventually did at Three Rivers) and that the open end of the Stadium would have been closed (as happened at Candlestick Park), and we would have ended up with a concrete bowl of a stadium anyway. This Stadium would have been considered outmoded as a baseball park as the Camden Yards of the world were built, and we would probably have been forced to abandon it and build PNC Park and Heinz Field anyway.

As I said, this generated lots of comments on Facebook, and one of the things I said was that, although Three Rivers Stadium was disparaged in its final years, we all seem to forget how mind boggling and magnificent it was when it first opened. It was a product of the era in which it was built, and because of that, it gets a bad rap in hindsight.

Again, thanks to Dan Bonk for providing the inspiration and the picture for this blog post.