My First Professional Game in 1959

In 1959, my father, John Sr. and I would listen to the radio broadcasts of my Pittsburgh Pirates. Many summer nights as I drifted off to sleep the soothing voices of Bob Prince and Jim Woods would carry me off to dream land.  On Saturday July 18th I would attend my first game, at Forbes Field in person. Now some of the young people reading this may believe that since it was 1957, it actually was at the Roman Coliseum as the Christians faced the lions, but it really was a game between the Pittsburgh Pirate and the San Francisco Giants. I have never anticipated an event like this before or since. When my father parked the car, we made our way across Forbes Ave. toward the ballpark. I stood looking at the outside, which appeared to be an office building. Where was Forbes Field? We made our way through the crowds surrounding the field. I lived in a town with maybe fifteen thousand people and here I was, one of maybe 30,000. There where more people in that ballpark then in our whole town. We entered the gates and a man took our tickets, but I still wondered where the playing field was. When we found our area, we went up the ramp to our seats and there it was. The greenest grass I had ever seen, the playing field at Forbes Field. I looked out to left field and the ivy covered wall, with the museum on the other side. There was right field where Babe Ruth had sent a record shot over the stands and onto the street. In or near the batting cage was Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Bill Virden, Smoky Burgess, Bob Skinner and the rest of my baseball heroes. I also saw in my first game, the great Willie Mays, but my attention was on the Pirates. The smells of hot dogs, popcorn and roasted peanuts engulfed us as we prepared for the upcoming game.  There has never been a gourmet meal that can compare with a hot dog during a baseball game. I watched intently as the teams went through batting and fielding practice. Soon the umpire shouted out, "Play Ball".  I could have stayed there forever, but soon the nine innings had slipped past and it was time to head for home. I wish I could say that the Pirates had won, but they lost 4-3. It really didn't matter that much. The following year the Bucs would win the World Series.  As my father drove along the river toward downtown Pittsburgh, the night sky was bright red from the glow cast by the steel mills that were in full swing. The steady hum of the tires on the concrete roadway, caused me to drift to sleep, where I would relive my own, "Field of Dreams."  I have had opportunities to attend and enjoy many sporting events in my life, but none will ever compare with that first trip to Forbes Field.

Changes to "Old School Sports"

When I started to develope a new blog, "Old School Sports" , there was a struggle to find how to make something new about sports and talk about current issues, but I also wanted to find a way to talk about past times in sports. I believe going forward the focus of my blog will be about times in our memories. I want to talk about my first trip to Forbes Field in Pittsburgh to see my Pirates play. I also want, you, to talk about your first visit to the ballparks that you cherished as a kid. I want to relive the glory of Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazerowski. I will take us down the road with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Bob Gibson. The days of listening to games on the radio, because so few were on TV. We will look at the NFL when it was in, infancy and still behind baseball in popularity. The great players I grew up with were Jimmy Brown, Bart Starr, Paul Warfield, Jim Ryan and even a Steeler or two, like Paul Martha and Bill Saul. In basketball I watched Bill Russel and his match up with Wilt Chamberlain. Arnold Palmer and a young Jack Nickolas ruled the links. These are the sports heroes I read about and grew to warship. I want to hear about yours. This is how I am taking "Old School Sports". It truly will be old school. See you soon. John.

Spurs The Hearts of Champions

What a finish by the Spurs over the Grizzles, last night. This is what I think of when a team has that championship mentality. They never give up. They may still lose the series, however there is no way we can dismiss the way they keep fighting. Basketball is great and the playoffs are really special. It separates the men from the boys.

All Right Magic, One down.

The Orlando Magic, not only won last night, at the Amway, they dominated. With Dwight Howard on the bench the rest of the Magic team, finally decided to put in the effort to win. Yesterday I challenged them to heed Vince Lombardi's words and make the important decission to play like a winner. This they did. The question is now, can they continue to do this in Atlanta on Thursday? I certainly hope so. They have a large mountain to climb, but last night they picked up the gautlet and advanced to the first level. Go Magic, make us believe.

The Magic Need the Effort

For too long I have thought the quote, "Winning isn't everything it is the only thing," was attributed to the great Vince Lombardi. Apparently I was wrong. Enjoy that last line, because there are not many times you will hear it. The quote from Lombardi was actually, "Winning isn't everything, but making the effort to win is." When you look at this line, you can see the fit and the truth behind it. I don't root for a team because they win every championship or even  be in contention all the time. I root for teams due to some abstract reason. It may be that geographically a team was the one I saw in person, or on TV or listened to on the radio. It may be that I have rooted  for teams since my childhood. One thing I do know is when my teams do not put in the effort to win, I loose interest. What ever the reason, once you are a fan, you remain loyal whether they win or not. Yesterday I was hard on the Orlando Magic and part of that reason is at times they seem to lack the effort or will to win games. Tonight I will still be rooting for them to keep going and maybe pull this series out, but what the Magic have to show me is that they are willing to make that effort to win. I won't change my allegience, but my perception of the players and coaches depends on the idea, "Winning isn't everything, but making the effort to win is".  Remember, Magic, myself and all of Central Florida will be watching.

O.K. Magic, Let's just get it over with.

The Orlando Magic are limping through their playoff series with Atlanta, without a real fight. Oh, sure they show up, but where is the intensity and fight they have shown in previous years? Last night they shot 9% from the three point line. That is not a misprint! Nine percent. A high school team could have done better. I almost could shoot 9% if no one was guarding me and many times the looks that they got were open. The Magic would miss on their end and Atlanta would come down and hit an open shot. The Magic defense tightened up later in the game, but where were the sharp shooters from Orlando, when they had the ball in their hands. I just looked at my wife and said, I hope they get this over quickly, so we can get on to the real playoffs, Boston and the Heat or the Bulls.  So, to the Magic, just let this end quickly, so that I can quit hoping that somehow you all will regroup and make another run this year. If you don't have the desire against Atlanta, how will you ever find it against the better teams in the east.

Red Sox are they getting bangs for their bucks.

A few years back I was one of those people that rooted for  Boston to win the World Series and break the. " Curse of the Bambino". It was the lowly Red Sox taking one from the Darth Vader of sports the hated Yankees. Today the Sox are just like the Yankees in that they are out there buying a championship. I know that is the rules, but when you have been a Pittsburgh Pirate fan your whole life, it doesn't  make it easier to accept. When you look at today's standing and the payrolls, the Pirates are getting much more for their money then the BoSox and I can't help but laugh. Pittsburgh's total payroll is $35 million and Boston's is $162 million. The cost per victory for the Pirates five wins is $7 million and for the Red Sox it is $81 million for their two wins. I realize that it is very early and the Pirates will loose more games then they win this year and the Red Sox will contend for the championship of baseball, but I can't help and have a little chuckle as the Sox fans wring their hands in worry. At least I have no expectations for the Bucs.