David Finoli
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The great tradition of collegiate sports in western Pennsylvania told through 50 memorable games
When sports fans think of collegiate sports in western Pennsylvania, most think of football at the University of Pittsburgh, but there is much more.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Duquesne University basketball was not only the most revered team in the city but also won the area's only Division I national championship ever in a tournament. Carnegie Mellon University,...
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Includes the 2016 Stanley Cup Championship Series: In the first edition of Classic Pens readers were reminded of the franchise's most memorable contests, from its beginnings in the 1960's through the 2010s. This new edition brings the team's standout games up to date, including their triumphant 2016 Stanley Cup victory. During the Penguins' early years, it wasn't uncommon to buy a $5 ticket for a seat at the top of the Civic Arena (the "Igloo") and...
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A countdown of the greatest games of a Steel City institution… When slow-footed former Pirate Sid Bream broke the heart of the "Bucco" nation, it was Game Seven of the 1992 NLCS. He slid across the plate in the bottom of the 9th for the Braves, giving them the pennant with a heart-wrenching 3–2 victory. The run began a mind-numbing slide that enters its third decade of sub.500 performances. The curse of Sid Bream was born. Until the surprising...
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In the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates, no team has been more memorable than that of 1960. In the decade before, the team produced only two winning records: a second-place finish in 1958 and in 1959. In 1960, they put it all together to win the pennant. Their reward was a trip to the World Series against the favored New York Yankees. In the Yankees' three winning games, they outscored Pittsburgh 38-3, but the Pirates were able to win three to send...
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When it came to football in the 1930s, the college sport was king. But in 1933, former boxer and minor league baseball player Art Rooney, who had quarterbacked the squad at Duquesne University, purchased a team for Pittsburgh for $2,500. Thus began the legacy we know as 'Steeler Nation.' At the time, no one could have imagined that the Pirates, as they were originally named, would become a treasured possession for Pittsburghers. For the first 40 years,...
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For 46 days in the spring of 1884, Altoona had the honor of having a major-league baseball team, the Mountain City. For the next 115 years, despite the fact that baseball flourished here in the form of the game that the men of the Pennsylvania Railroad played, professional baseball floundered as six teams came and six teams left. Finally, in 1999, Altoona proved it could support a professional team when the Curve came to town. Since then, an impressive...
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Pittsburgh is synonymous with winning. From the Penguins and Steelers to the Pirates and Panthers, the Steel City knows championships. The Negro League's Crawford and Homestead Grays are too often overlooked in the city's sports history but were as talented as any team that has played there. Names such as Lemieux, Crosby, Roethlisberger, Bradshaw, Clemente and Stargell are legends of American sport and members of Pittsburgh's most cherished franchises....
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Greatness in sport is both undefinable and immediately recognizable. Though it is rare, Western Pennsylvania has been graced with a long history of athletes who embody the essence of greatness. They have proudly represented the region in sports such as boxing, golf and track; carried their collegiate teams to victory; and worn the black and gold of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Pittsburghers still recall how Mario Lemieux glided effortlessly...
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Sports in the Steel City has never reached the highs and lows that fans in Pittsburgh experienced in the 1970s.
Most remembered may be the multiple championships celebrated in city during the era, including two World Series titles, four Super Bowl victories and a NCAA football championship. Despite those successes, fans still recall major tragedies such as the deaths of Bob Moose, Roberto Clemente and others.
Local authors present essays on the...
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The Epicenter of Steel City Sports
From Forbes Field to Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood has been home to some of the most iconic moments in sports history. Including the Fitzgerald Field House and the Duquesne Gardens, Oakland has drawn in both professional and college sports fans alike.
Local authors and sports historians David Finoli, Tom Rooney, Robert Healy III, Douglas Cavanaugh and Chris Fletcher celebrate the glorious victories...