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Exposition Park

Pittsburgh Pirates 1891-1909, Pittsburgh (PL) 1890, Pittsburgh (FL) 1914-15


Home of the Pirates until Forbes Field was completed, Exposition Park twice had its roof ripped off by strong winds, in 1900 and 1901, and no ball ever cleared the orignal left and center field fences. Three Rivers Stadium, the Pirates' home from 1970-2000, later stood on the site. (ADS)


Contribute your recollections of Exposition Park by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
» October 4, 1902: When Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss demands a game be played despite a rain-soaked Exposition Park field, Cincinnati plays most of its team out of their normal positions. First sacker Jake Beckley starts on the mound for the only time in his career, pitching four innings and giving up eight runs, four earned. Cy Seymour followed, and Turkey Mike Donlin finished up. Reds rookie pitcher Rube Vickers tries his hand at catching, and sets a modern major-league record with six passed balls to help Pittsburgh win 11-2 [It is also a record for both teams in a game. Vickers makes no effort to retrieve wide pitches, and it's a surprise he only had six passed balls.] But Dreyfuss refunds the fans' money and the Reds return their share of the gate to keep the irate fans (not for nothing were they called 'cranks') from wrecking the stadium.

» May 6, 1903: The Pirates Deacon Phillippe, en route to 25 wins, lets one get away when the Cubs score nine runs on nine hits in the top of the 9th for an 11-4 triumph at Exposition Park. Dick Harley leads off the 9th with a single, the first hit off Phillippe since the 2nd inning. Doc Casey drills a bases-loaded single to make the score 6-4, and Evers follows with a two-run triple. The scoring ends when Chance is forced at 2B. Jack Taylor is the winner, the 3rd time in 11 days he's beaten the Bucs.

» June 20, 1906: At Exposition Park, Honus Wagner clubs one of the longest hits in park history, but only makes it to 3B. Rounding first he is clipped by 1B Kid Gleason, and Wagner limps his way to a triple. A pinch runner, Harry Smith, scores for the Pirates on a fly and the Phils then generously allow Wagner to return to SS. But the injury will force him to miss three games.

» June 29, 1909: Playing their last game in Exposition Park, the Pirates score four runs in the first inning off Mordecai Brown and sail to an 8-1 win over Chicago. Lefty Leifield is the winner. Tomorrow, the Pirates will move to Forbes Field, named after British General John Forbes, who captured Ft. Duquesne during the French and Indian Wars.

» May 8, 1912: The Pittsburgh Filipinos, of the newly formed United States League, opens the season at vacant Exposition Park. The team is named after its veteran Deacon Phillippe, former Pirates star. The USL has promised not to sign current major leaguers, but will not last through June.