April 25, 2011

Past Venue: Forbes Field

Pittsburgh, PA



Year opened: 1909
Capacity: 41,000, up from 23,000 at opening

Names:
Forbes Field, 1909-71

Pro football tenants:
Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers (NFL), 1933-63
Pittsburgh Americans (AFL), 1936-37

Postseason games hosted:
NFL Eastern Division playoff, Eagles 21 Steelers 0, Dec. 21, 1947

Other tenants of note:
Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB – NL), 1909-70
University of Pittsburgh (college football), 1909-24
Homestead Grays (baseball Negro Leagues), 1922-39
Pittsburgh Phantoms (NPSL), 1967

Notes: Hosted some home games of combined Phil-Pitt team (“Steagles”, 1943) and Card-Pitt team (1944). The Steelers began splitting home games between Forbes Field and the Univ. of Pittsburgh’s Pitt Stadium in 1958 before moving to Pitt Stadium exclusively in 1964. Stadium was bought by Univ. of Pittsburgh in 1958, with university agreeing to lease to the Pirates until a new stadium was built.

Fate: Demolished in 1971, the site contains the Forbes Quadrangle, a library and dormitories for the Univ. of Pittsburgh. Home plate remains on display in its exact location in what is now first floor walkway of Forbes Quadrangle and a portion of the left field wall still stands.