sign in sign up
<<
Home , George Blanda, Johnny Unitas, Rooney family

President’s Message by Andrew E. Masich President & CEO A Fun-Filled Football Fall

Western Pennsyl- lives. Football provided a way out of the mills even the trophy’s namesake, John Heisman, grew vania has a history and mines, a means to an education for the up in Titusville. We’re known as the “Cradle of unlike any other children of steel workers and coal miners, and ” for cultivating nearly four dozen region in the world. a recreational activity on Friday nights. Football professional signal callers, including some of the To fully grasp our brings communities together, whether it is rival games’ all-time greats, such as , incredible past, it’s high schools battling one another, one of our , , , Jim important to under- local colleges or universities, or our beloved Kelly, and . stand our region’s Steelers battling for another . Our tradition spans deep-rooted connec- The region is also important to the history numerous All-Americans, and the University tions to sports. Sports are a source of pride for of the sport—the first professional football game of has produced eight NFL Hall of our region and a rallying point for the far-flung was played in Pittsburgh in 1892. On November Famers, the third most of any school in the nation. Pittsburgh diaspora. Our sports history reflects 12 that year, the Allegheny Athletic Association The Rooney Family’s enduring leadership the human condition, our triumph and tragedy, squared off in a grudge match against their rivals of the Steelers, which started with and our sports traditions are now an integral from the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. The game in 1933, has made the Steelers one of the most part of who we are and aspire to be. took place in Allegheny City, just a stone’s throw popular teams in the world. A total of 25 For generations of Western Pennsylvanians, from on today’s North Side. Hall of Famers and a record six Super Bowl football in particular was embraced by Both teams would do almost anything to championships will tend to do that. immigrants and their children and reflected win the game. To prove it, the Allegheny Athletic Beginning October 6, the History Center the ethos of hard work that permeated their Association paid $500 to William “Pudge” is proud to be the premier venue of a major Heffelfinger, an All-American national touring exhibition, Gridiron Glory: guard from Yale, to help beat The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This their rivals. The plan worked; exhibition recognizes the game’s pioneers from Heffelfinger scored the game’s Knute Rockne and all the way up only , leading his to today’s stars such as and Drew team to victory. Brees through nearly 200 unique artifacts from Over the next 120 years, the Pro Football Hall of Fame collection. A football has left an indelible dozen interactive activities and videos from the mark in the region. Western vaults of NFL Films will make sure every visitor Pennsylvania is nationally experiences the passion and pride of America’s recognized for the quality of most popular sport. its high school football and Please join us throughout the fall as the region has produced four the History Center honors the legends of Heisman Trophy winners the gridiron. Special weekend programs will (John Lujack, , John feature the Steelers’ six Lombardi trophies, the Cappelletti, and ); busts for every Steelers player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a special commemoration of the 40th anniversary of

Jack Butler rose from the “” – the NFL’s most an undrafted free famous play – in December. agent to a four-time (1956–’59) Lace up your shoulder pads and tighten defensive back for your chin strap. It’s football season in the Steelers. He was inducted into the Pro Pittsburgh. Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

western pennsylvania history | fall 2012 3