Who / What
Forbes Field was a baseball stadium located in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It served as the venue for professional and college sports from 1909 until it closed in 1970.
Background & History
The park opened in 1909 as the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the city’s Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise. From 1909 to 1924 it also hosted football games for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. In 1930, the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) chose Forbes Field as their first home field. The venue remained in use for baseball until June 28 1970, when it was replaced by Three Rivers Stadium.
Why Notable
Forbes Field played a pivotal role in Pittsburgh’s sports culture, hosting both the city’s MLB and NFL franchises, as well as college football. Its design and location made it one of the early 20th‑century baseball parks to accommodate multiple sports under one roof, reflecting a broader trend in urban stadium usage. The field’s history includes significant moments for the Pirates, the Steelers’ inaugural seasons, and early days of professional football in the United States, underscoring its importance in American sports history.
In the News
No recent developments regarding Forbes Field have been reported; the stadium has remained closed since 1970. Its legacy continues to surface in historical retrospectives and commemorative articles about Pittsburgh’s early 20th‑century sports venues.
