THE HISTORY

A LINEUP FOR ALL TIME

Thousands of Downtown commuters pass it every day. Yet how many know its there? How many have stopped to look at it on the wall of the
underpass where Ross Street passes under the Boulevard of the Allies. There, a mural has hung since April 2000, larger than life, yet almost
inaccessible in the middle of a busy intersection. It is The Legends of Pittsburgh, painted by Michael Malle and honoring the 14 greatest fig-
ures in the history of Pittsburgh baseball. From Wagner to Clemente, they are timelessly painted against a vivid Forbes Field and into a time
capsule of the imagination. Larger than life, yet, likely too often unnoticed on the way to and from the office.

OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE?

THE HONOR ROLL
The Honus Wagner statue has been a part of the Pirates gameday
experience since it was dedicated April 30, 1955, outside Forbes
Field. It moved with the Pirates to Three Rivers Stadium and then to
PNC Park, and through all the years and each move, it contained an
unseen bit of Pittsburgh history. Encased within its base is the name
of every individual, organization and foundation that contributed 50
cents, a dollar or 100 to its $50,000 price tag; each name inscribed
on one long, continuous scroll and sealed in a steel tube a roll call
of Pirates fans of another time to this.
Well beyond PNC Parks left-center field fence there is a win-
dowed security building on the outfield concourse. If this were
another ballpark, there might be a marker on it. But there is no
designation. There is only a number in the media guide, some
scattered memories and an enduring awe. It was against this
building near the three flagpoles that Chicago Cubs slugger
Sammy Sosa on April 12, 2002, hit the longest home run in
the 15-year history of PNC Park. Generally, when fans think of
long balls there, they think of right field and river splashdowns.
But on that Friday night, Sosa turned on a 3-0 fastball from
pitcher Dave Williams and hit it farther than any ball before or
since over the North Side Notch, over both bullpens and to
the left of the batters eye before ricocheting off that security
post 484 feet from the point where bat met ball. I didnt
think it was ever going to come down, said Pirates manager
Lloyd McClendon. Among the five longest home runs hit in park
history, it remains the only one hit to left.

PHOTOS (T, L-R): STEVE MELLON, JOHN BEALE, REBECCA DROKE PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2016 81