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Home , 1903 World Series, 1925 World Series, 1960 World Series, 1979 World Series, Barney Dreyfuss, Bob Skinner

ootball legend was not known to toss around many compliments, F so when he signed the back of a 1968 Dapper Dan Club dinner program “To Al Abrams, in high esteem, Vince Lombardi,” it was a huge compliment to the Post-Gazette The

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By Richard “Pete” Peterson “Pete” Richard By sportswriter and longtime coordinator of the charity event.

Aside from occasional mail and Golden Quill awards, sportswriters rarely receive accolades, yet they were and often still are a prime conduit between athletes and fans. During the age when newspapers were the main source for news and opinions about sports, ’s top sportswriters wrote daily columns, sponsored major charities, and became household names. They were routinely elected president of the Writers Association of America and of the National Football Writers Association.2 A few eventually received Hall of Fame recognition for their meritorious service to sports, including playing a leading role in the integration of baseball, and one became famous for creating the .3 Pittsburgh’s newspaper archives are filled with bylines of The Golden Age of Pittsburgh’s Sportswriters sportswriters who wove the stories that helped transform the city’s championship teams and athletes into legends. Storytellers

28 WESTERN HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 Pirates Pitcher . Library of Congress.

There is no way of knowing who was Wagner’s signature, the American Tobacco Pittsburgh’s first sportswriter, but longtime Company stopped printing the Wagner card, Pittsburgh Press sports editor Chet Smith, but in 2007 one of the few still in circulation set writing in Pittsburgh and a record by selling for $2.8 million. Sports Hall of Fame, gave the honor to Gruber was an unabashed rooter for bearded John Gruber, a reporter for the ’s Pittsburgh ball clubs and Pittsburg Times, the Pittsburgh Post, and the didn’t hesitate to “gush” in his description of Pittsburgh Leader.4 Smith based his claim on their successes on the field. In his coverage of the questionable story that Gruber, who began the first modern game, played on his career in Pittsburgh as a reporter in 1882 October 1, 1903 between Pittsburgh and the after briefly working as a printer, invented and Americans, he declared, after Pittsburgh handset baseball’s first box score. Gruber may handily won the game 7-3, “There is gloom in have laid the type for the first box score printed old Boston town tonight ….The work put up by in Pittsburgh, but historians credit journalist the champions simply made and baseball pioneer , elected the Boston men look like counterfeit money. John Gruber to the Hall of Fame in 1938, for developing the This is no gush, but the downright truth, and on Deacon Phillippe modern box score and introducing statistics to it is this that makes the gloom so thick here. (“Phillippe the Whole Cheese”) in Game One of 5 the game in 1859. Local fans cannot see how their team is going the Although John Gruber might not have to win a game let alone the series.”7 invented the first box score, he did play an If John Gruber actually does deserve “ cause of Boston’s downfall interesting role in the history of the famous and the title of Pittsburgh’s first sportswriter, was the work of Deacon Phillippe on rare baseball card, printed by the it’s because he was likely the first reporter to the rubber. The deacon was all there American Tobacco Company in 1909 without cover and write about baseball for a Pittsburgh and had everything a champion pitcher Wagner’s permission. The company offered newspaper. He also served as the Pirates official should have. Only six hits were made off Gruber, who was the Pirates’ at scorer for 40 years. Gruber died in 1932 at age the time, $10 if he could convince Wagner to 79. His death followed the passing of Barney his delivery, two going into the crowd endorse the promotion. Wagner, who didn’t Dreyfuss by less than a year. and counting as three-baggers and two smoke, turned down the others of the scratchy order. One was a offer, but sent a $10 check to Leaguer into left field, and the other Gruber, who framed it and a hard drive to Bransfield. The deacon hung it in his den.6 Denied struck out ten batsmen, something he did not accomplish in the National League…. The champions were absolutely powerless against Phillippe. Of the first seven men who faced him, he If John Gruber actually struck out five, fanning the entire side does deserve the in the second inning. Not a man went title of Pittsburgh’s to before the steady firing first sportswriter, of the deacon. His grand performance it’s because he was was cheered by the spectators and likely the first reporter vociferously applauded by the Pittsburg to cover and write delegation, which soon was the only living thing in the stands.” (Pittsburgh about baseball for a Post, October 3, 1903.) Pittsburgh newspaper.

John Gruber, Pittsburgh’s first sportswriter. WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY SUMMER 2010 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives. | 29 Champion boxer During his long career, Keck was recognized Harry Greb. Library of Congress. as the leading authority on Pittsburgh’s many boxing champions, including Harry Greb, Fritzi Zivic, and Billy Conn.

Fritzi Zivic and Billy Arnold, 1945. Courtesy of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Harry Keck on Harry Greb (“Greb Light-Heavy Champion”) in his bout against Gene Tunney

“The dope panned out properly in Madison series games, including Davis’s lament following Square Garden tonight and when Harry John Gruber was the first Pittsburgh Pittsburgh’s eventual loss to Boston after Greb, Pittsburgh’s greatest fighter, left sportswriter to attract public notoriety, but it winning the first game of the series: “It is a pity the ring at the conclusion of a hard was his more polished contemporary Ralph that the Pittsburgh pitchers were not right for the 15-round bout with Gene Tunney, he was Davis who gained a national reputation with his Series, for, under the present circumstance, there the new light-heavyweight champion, and writing. The highly respected Davis, regarded will always be doubt in the minds of the fans during his long and distinguished career as whether Collins’ team could have triumphed the logical next opponent for a battle with the dean of Pittsburgh sportswriters, became had the local [Pirates] been at their best. For George Carpentier for the championship the sports editor for and myself, I do not think they could.”8 of the world at 175 pounds…. Greb won the Pittsburgh correspondent for The Sporting Ralph Davis also covered the Pirates’ first the decision of the two judges and the News in 1903 when he was only 21 years old. World Series victory over and the referee…. There was little doubt that In his first year as sports editor and Tigers in 1909, their dramatic come- the officials would give the award to correspondent, Ralph Davis, like John Gruber, from-behind win against and the man who had entered the ring the reported on the 1903 World Series. When Hall the Washington Senators in the 1925 World of Fame baseball writer was preparing Series, and their loss in four straight games challenger, and when the announcement his book on the for the highly to and the Yankees in was made the house let loose a great roar regarded Putnam team histories, he relied on 1927. Unlike his lament for the Pirates in of approval.” (Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, Davis’s dispatches to The on 1903, Davis praised the conquering Yankees’ May 24, 1922.)

30 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 domination of the Pirates in 1927, writing, Smith, who had just become sports editor Pirates Pitcher 10 John Miljus. “There is no use to try to deprive the Yankees for the Pittsburgh Press. Smith’s words are Library of Congress. of their laurels. They are a great ball team, and eloquent, and today serve as a reminder of why they out played the Pirates in every department baseball waited over 70 years before inducting a throughout the series.”9 well-deserving Dreyfuss into the Baseball Hall Ralph Davis retired in 1931, but, after the of Fame: “Opinionated to a degree, lacking death of Barney Dreyfuss on February 5, 1932, the flair for showmanship which carried Ralph Davis The Sporting News asked him to write a tribute other owners to greater heights of popularity, on last game defeat to the Pirates’ longtime owner. Published Dreyfuss was not what newspaper men called (“Wild Pitch Ends on February 11, the Davis article includes good copy, but even his bitter enemies were Series”) in 1927 numerous testimonials to Dreyfuss’ greatness forced to admit that he was baseball’s warmest World Series as a Pirates owner, including one from Chet supporter and wisest counselor.”11 “It’s all over. The world series of 1927 has

passed into baseball history and the are the premier…. They One of the first things that Wendel Smith did won the honors today in one of the most in his new position as sports editor of the thrilling contests in all world series history. Pittsburgh Courier was to begin a campaign And yet the finish came in one of the most to integrate . disappointing anti-climaxes the fans have ever seen…. John Miljus was on the Wendell Smith arrives in New York. Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Courier archives. mound for the Pirates…. The ninth inning opened with the scored tied at three runs each…. Jovo opened the last half of the ninth by passing up Combs, then dumped the ball toward third and was credited with a when Traynor failed to scope it. Ruth, the bustling Babe, was intentionally passed up…. That filled the bases with none out…. Pittsburgh hopes were at the zero point. But a mighty cheer went up from the Smoky City contingent in the stands, when Miljus fanned ….That brought up Bob Meusel and the hopes revived when he also whiffed…. That made it two out…. fans were shouting for Miljus to fan Lazzeri also. After one ball, Mijus let loose a wild pitch… which ended the game and the series…. It was a terrible moment for Pittsburghers, hundreds of whom saw their Buccaneers go down into oblivion as one of the poorest world series teams in the entire history of the classic.” (Pittsburgh Press, October 9, 1927.)

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 31 When Ralph Davis and John Gruber were for the Pittsburgh club, lies in an unmarked covering sports in the first decade of the 20th grave in Erie, Pa.” and hoped that “some of the century, there were nine major newspapers old-timers around who have fond memories of in Pittsburgh.12 By 1927, after over a decade of ‘the Godfather of the Pirates’ … will be glad to closings and mergers, there were only three: contribute … to have his grave marked.”15 Today, the morning Post-Gazette, the afternoon Sun- a modest headstone marks Bierbauer’s grave. Telegraph, and the Press. When Chet Smith became sports editor of the Press in 1932, the When Harry Keck moved from the Pittsburgh sports editor at the Post-Gazette was Havey Gazette-Times to the Sun-Telegraph in 1927, . Boyle. When Boyle died in 1947, Al Abrams took the colorful Charles “Chilly” Doyle, who first Library of Congress. over the position. Smith remained with the Press began covering the Pirates in 1915, moved until his retirement in 1966, while Abrams stayed with him. Doyle’s “Chilly Sauce” column was on with the Post-Gazette until 1974.13 as popular with Pittsburgh readers as Abrams’ Chilly Doyle At the beginning of 1927, Harry Keck was “Sidelights on Sports” and Smith’s “The Village on Kiki Cuyler’s winning the sports editor for the Pittsburgh Gazette- Smithy.” Like Abrams and Smith, Doyle also hit (“Cuyler Gives Bucs Times, but when the paper merged that year served a term as president of the Baseball Lead”) in final game of with the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, he became Writers Association of America. When the Hall the the sports editor of the Sun-Telegraph until of Fame opened in 1939, Doyle had the honor, the paper stopped publication in 1960. An “To attempt to pick the most heroic part in just before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, of authority on boxing, Keck gained national reading the names of the deceased players and the last grand struggle is much the same attention when he became the first sportswriter officials who were elected to the Hall of Fame, as looking for the brightest sunbeam on in the country to predict Gene Tunney’s victory along with the living legends, including Honus ABOVE: Al Abrams, far right, founder of Dapper Dan Club with broadcasters and Joe Tucker. BELOW: Chester “Chet” Smith with Pirates . the dewy grass of a Maytime morning. It over in their 1926 heavyweight 16 Wagner, who were being inducted that day. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives. was the clean-living, good-natured Hazen championship bout.14 Never shy of purple prose, Chilly Doyle . Cuyler that unloosed the flood gates of joy During his long career, Keck was recognized once compared the seventh game of the 1925 with a long hit that produced two tallies as the leading authority on Pittsburgh’s many World Series to one of the most dramatic boxing champions, including Harry Greb, Fritzi that gave us a two- advantage going moments in Pittsburgh’s colonial history, Zivic, and Billy Conn, but he was also admired writing, “Not since Braddock clashed with into the ninth. This hit will go into history for his pieces on a number of past Pittsburgh the French and Indians back around 1750 has as one of the outstanding markers in the sports figures and personalities. In a March 9, there been such fighting in the relative sectors progress of the diamond game – Yes, it 1955 column, he reported that “Louis Bierbauer, bordering on the Allegheny and Monongahela may be that Cuyler’s with was responsible for the nickname of Pirates rivers. No blood was shed in the most bases loaded, the score tied, and two out in the eighth, will get the first portal in the Hall of Fame….To recount the valid deeds of the Pirates and their worthy foemen – The long reign of Chet Smith, Al Abrams, and Harry Keck to chronicle the deeds in a meritorious as sports editors of the major newspapers in Pittsburgh manner, the folds of a big book would coincided with the emergence of sports as a cultural and not be nearly enough. If the sport had a social force in American society. Whether it was a World Lincoln who could express himself after the fashion of the inspired one when he Series game, a heavyweight championship bout, a Rose touched on a more sublime subject at Bowl, or a Kentucky Derby, it was up to the sportswriter to Gettysburg, a better appreciation might capture the drama of the event for his readers. be sensed by the reader…” (Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, October 16, 1925.)

32 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 . HC Museum Collection, Gift of Gregg Ficery.

Al Abrams on victory (“Like Dropping an A-Bomb”)

“It just had to happen…. It couldn’t have been any other way…. It just had to be for the victory-starved, emotionally drained Pittsburgh baseball populace and its ABOVE: Al Abrams, far right, founder of Dapper Dan Club with broadcasters Ray Scott and Joe Tucker. BELOW: Chester “Chet” Smith with Pirates manager Billy Meyer. beloved Pirates…. It was written into the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives. . baseball books long ago that the Pirates would go all the way in the year of 1960 and at exactly 3:35 yesterday afternoon by the scoreboard clock at , they had it all the way…. This was when Bill Mazeroski laced into the first pitch served him by and sent it on a beautiful arch over the left-center field wall for a which beat the New York Yankees, 10-9 in the ninth inning of the seventh and deciding game of the World Series…. Thus came to an end one of the most suspenseful and dramatic battles in the series annals. Forgotten was all the bad baseball played by the two clubs in the previous six games. Forgotten, too, for the moment were all the exciting plays and early developments which set the stage for Maz’s wallop and which erupted one of the wildest mob scenes ever seen in sports anywhere.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 14, 1960.)

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 33 . HC Museum Collection, Gift of Matt Branca.

Charley Feeney on victory (“Battlin’ Bucs Beat ’Em”)

“One time it was Bill Mazeroski. Another time it was and . This time it was Willie Stargell…. Wonderful Willie, 38 years young, carried the Pirates with his bat last night and led the bounce-back Buccos to baseball’s world championship with a dramatic 4-1 win over …. Stargell, named the Most Valuable Player of the Series, was the only Pirate in the seven games to produce a home run. He hit his third last night against Scott McGregor. It was a two-run blast over the right-field wall, out a 1-0 Baltimore lead…. A crowd of 53,733, including President Carter, saw Stargell collect four hits, a single and two doubles to go with his homer. Later, President Carter went to the Pirates’ clubhouse to congratulate the Pirates…. Four clubs have come back in the Series after being down three games to one. The Pirates are the only team to do it twice.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 18, 1979.) Charles Feeney. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives.

34 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 . Courtesy of .

After the Pirates’ World Series victory in 1971, Charles Feeney broke the story that Clemente had intended to retire if the Pirates won the Series, but changed his mind because of his wife, Vera. “She said to me, ‘Roberto, don’t quit baseball now. Please don’t quit now. It’s your life.’”

Harry Keck strenuous fight ever staged in baseball, but in To attract readers, Al Abrams picked out on pending sale of Steelers (“Rooney Gives the serious business of war the participants two of the best-dressed men in Pittsburgh Up the Steelers”) at the seldom moved with deeper concentration on and put their names in the column. “The idea end of 1940: the main objective.”17 Doyle never had a chance was to see if anyone was reading the column. to capture the drama of the seventh game of I thought it would attract attention and help “Art Rooney’s decision to sell the the 1960 World Series with his colorful writing. create local interest.”20 As the list of readers Pittsburgh Steelers’ football franchise in He died on November 15, 1959. grew, some of Abrams’ colleagues and friends, the National Professional Football League at their regular luncheon across the street from was not unexpected…. After eight years The long reign of Chet Smith, Al Abrams, the William Penn Hotel, suggested that he hold of trying, you can’t blame the guy for and Harry Keck as sports editors of the major a banquet and start a club. Calling it the Dapper newspapers in Pittsburgh coincided with the Dan Club, Abrams and his friends sold over giving up when he finds he can’t make emergence of sports as a cultural and social 400 tickets for the first banquet in 1936, which any money and, indeed, is lucky not to force in American society. It was a time when was attended by such sports luminaries as Art lose a considerable amount…. As Art radio sports broadcasting was still in its early Rooney and Sutherland, and then donated himself says, it isn’t the fault of local days and television was a fanciful experiment. the $800 raised to the DePaul Institute (a school fans or due to a lack of newspaper and Whether it was a World Series game, a for hearing impaired children) in Brookline. radio support that his original Pirates and heavyweight championship bout, a Rose The organization eventually became so then his Steelers failed to click. There was Bowl, or a Kentucky Derby, it was up to the successful that it was able to promote major sportswriter to capture the drama of the event sporting events, like the National Open golf only one reason for their lack of appeal at for his readers. tournament, and bring them to Pittsburgh. the box office, and that was their failure When , a Hall of Fame In 1951, Dapper Dan sponsored the PGA to be in the running and, frequently, to baseball writer for the Tribune, tournament held at Oakmont Country Club. stack up as formidable opposition for interviewed 24 of the most famous sportswriters A month later, it brought the heavyweight the better teams…. One championship from the era between the two world wars for championship fight between Ezzard Charles season here would have led to big crowds, his book, No in the Press Box, he and Jersey Joe Walcott to Forbes Field.21 It also increased interest, more operating capital included Al Abrams, whom he praised as “Mr. became the sponsor for the annual Roundball Pittsburgh.”18 Abrams grew up in the Lower Classic high-school basketball all-star game – and who knows but it would have made Hill District and spent most of his adult life and the Wrestling Classic tournament, though Pittsburgh one of the league’s strongest living in the downtown Carlton House. He its most prestigious and popular function cities instead of its next to weakest city…. joined the Post-Gazette in 1926 and became its remains its annual banquet and the Sportsman Just what Pittsburgh’s future is to be in sports editor in 1947. He covered the boxing of the Year award. In 1999 the Dapper Dan professional football is problematical…. scene in Pittsburgh early in his career, but he Club, which started out as a “men only” Developments will be interesting, but the didn’t gain a celebrity status in the city until he organization, also added a Sportswoman of the pro game is coming along.” (Pittsburgh started writing a daily sports column in 1936.19 Year award to its banquet.22 Sun-Telegraph, December 10, 1940.)

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 35 What began as a private sports club During his long tenure with the Press, Pat Livingston wrote evolved into one of the most prestigious and about all of the city’s major sports teams, but he was recognized effective charitable organizations in Pittsburgh. By the 1990s the club, re-named the Dapper nationally for his coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also Dan Charities, directed its major fund had the good fortune of covering the Steelers during their rise raising efforts to the Boys and Girls Clubs of to national prominence after decades of mediocrity. After yet Western Pennsylvania and the thousands of another losing season in 1971, Livingston wrote, “For the underprivileged urban youths who participate in its sports programs. When the Pittsburgh first time in a decade, the pendulum is on the upswing for the Post-Gazette named Western Pennsylvania’s Steelers, a team more deserving of support than slander.” top 100 sports figures of the 20th century, Al Abrams, founder of the Dapper Dan Club, was the only sports editor and columnist to appear on the list.23

Jerome Holtzman included one of Al Abrams’ fellow Pittsburgh sports editors in No Cheering in the Press Box, but it wasn’t Harry Keck or Chet Smith. Wendell Smith, by the Post-Gazette and Sun-Telegraph and also who scouted Robinson in the Negro Leagues, an African American sportswriter who started appeared in national publications, including The told Smith that “Mr. Robinson’s going to do with the Pittsburgh Courier at about the same Sporting News. After writing a letter to baseball all right,” Smith wrote, “I think he is, too!”28 time Al Abrams was organizing his Dapper commissioner Judge Landis, Smith, along with Smith was also encouraged by the “hospitable Dan Club, became the Courier’s sports editor his editor at the Courier, Ira Lewis, and the and friendly” attitude of the Pirates, writing, in 1938. One of the first things that he did singer and activist Paul Robson, were invited “It may be that the Pittsburghers are more in his new position as sports editor of one of to an owners’ meeting at the Roosevelt Hotel in understanding and reasonable. It may be that the most widely circulated African American New York. Nothing came of the meeting, but they admire him for the way he carries the newspapers in the country was to begin a the person who seemed the most interested tremendous load he has on his shoulders, with campaign to integrate major league baseball.24 in the integration of baseball was the St. Louis ease and grace. Or it may be that it is a club Denied a baseball writers’ card and not Cardinals general manager, .26 made up fundamentally of high-class players always welcome in the press box at Forbes When Rickey, after moving to the Brooklyn who are too big to hit him below the belt Field, Smith would hang out at the Schenley Dodgers, decided to sign to a because it happens to be of a darker hue.”29 Hotel and interview visiting National League professional contract in 1946, he asked Wendell A year after Jackie Robinson crossed players and managers who were staying there. Smith to live with Robinson during spring baseball’s color line, Wendell Smith finally He interviewed 40 players, including Dizzy training and to be his traveling companion won his own campaign against racial Dean, , , Gabby for road games. Though Smith would face the discrimination. In 1948, after Smith pointed Hartnett, and , and asked them same prejudices that Robinson had to endure, out that even Lester Rodney, the sports editor if they would welcome a black player as a he agreed to Rickey’s request and became of the Communist Party newspaper, the Daily teammate. While most of the players were Robinson’s chaperone, while sending out daily Worker, had a membership card, the Baseball guarded in their comments, 75 percent said stories about Robinson’s progress.27 Writers’ Association of America finally that if a black player had the skills they could A little more than a year later, Smith wrote integrated its organization by accepting Smith accept him as a teammate.25 a May 24, 1947 story in his “Sports Beat” column as a member. In 1993, 21 years after Smith’s Smith’s interviews and subsequent stories about Robinson’s first visit to Pittsburgh to play death, he brought down another racial barrier in the Courier were a revelation because the against the Pirates. In the column, he expressed in baseball when he received the J. G. Taylor prevailing view among baseball owners was that his optimism that, in spite of all the obstacles, Spink Award for “meritorious contributions white, major league players would refuse to play Robinson would be successful in integrating for baseball writing” and posthumously entered with black players. His stories were picked up baseball. After Dodger Clyde Sukeforth, the writers’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.30

36 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 Pat Livingston with hockey stars Jean Pronovost and Lowell McDonald, 1974. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives.

Ernie Stautner. HC Museum Collection, Gift of Marty Rosen.

Pat Livingston on (“Ernie Stautner Raps Fans”) and the Same Old Steelers

“An embittered Ernie Stautner, charging he has wasted his career playing football before empty stands, has characterized Pittsburgh as a ‘lousy’ sports town…. Irked by the booing of his teammate and pal, , in last Sunday’s victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, Stautner exploded…. ‘I’m not happy playing in Pittsburgh, I never have been happy here, and I wouldn’t have been here in the first place if I had any choice about it,’ said Stautner. ‘This is a lousy sports town and if Art Rooney had any sense he’d get out of it’…. Stautner, a veteran of 12 pro campaigns who has been to the All-Pro team six times, said he lost his patience at a baseball game last summer, long before the football season started…. ‘I went to a baseball game and what did I hear?’ he asked. ‘They booed Elroy Face. Of all people, Elroy Face! The guy gives you great baseball for six years, wins a pennant for this town and they boo him…. What’s wrong with these people? Do they have an inferiority complex or something?’” (Pittsburgh Press, November 29, 1961.)

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 37 Ed Brown. HC Museum Collection, Gift of Craig Britcher. With the closing of the Sun-Telegraph in year to become a freelance writer.33 When 1960, there were only two major newspapers in he informed Al Abrams about his decision, Pittsburgh, the Press and the Post-Gazette, but Abrams told him, “Kid, you’ll starve. You’ll be the city’s sports fans still could read the stories back in six months.”34 and columns of writers who had been covering Contrary to Abrams’ skepticism, Cope sports for decades. Al Abrams remained as went on to develop a national reputation for sports editor for the Post-Gazette, while Chet his writing in magazines like the Saturday Smith continued as the sports editor of the Evening Post and , where he Pittsburgh Press, until he retired in 1966. finally had the opportunity to display his flair Born in Springdale, Pennsylvania and the for language. In a Saturday Evening Post essay son of a newspaper editor, Smith began his about the 1960 Pirates, Cope wrote, “Captain newspaper career in 1920 with the Pittsburgh Groat’s forces range from Don (The Tiger) on critical Steelers Dispatch. During his more than 30 years Hoak, a former middle-weight boxer who loss (“Pro Football’s with the Press, he won numerous awards and stalks in livid rage to the mound and censures Gas Hose Gang”) at the end of the 1963 season honors including selection to the National his own pitchers in language that would raise Football Foundation and Hall of Fame for his the hair on a seal, to , “Contrary to general belief it was not Y.A. outstanding contributions to football. He also a gangling, easygoing philosopher who is Title’s passing arm that hoisted the New was elected president of the National Football unruffled by the vocal aficionados who inhabit Writers Association and the Baseball Writers Forbes Field’s one-dollar left-field bleachers.”35 York Giants to the Eastern Division title Association of America.31 At Chet Smith’s When Sports Illustrated put together of the in 1963. induction into the Football Foundation Hall of an anthology of 50 years of great writing, the There is sound reason to believe that the Fame, declared Smith the “best editors selected one of Myron Cope’s essays Eastern race was decided by a Pittsburgh sportswriter of them all.” 32 for inclusion. “Would You Let This Man quarterback’s impetuous decision to go on With Al Abrams at the Post-Gazette in Interview You?” was a perfect choice because the wagon…. That is precisely what Ed 1960 was a disgruntled Myron Cope. Frustrated Cope had written about , who Brown did. On the final day of the 1963 by what he perceived as the sports department’s in many ways resembled Cope himself. But cronyism and its refusal after more than eight that didn’t prevent Cope from having some season the Steelers played the Giants in years to assign him a beat, Cope resigned that fun with Cosell: “Cosell fondles a martini at the New York, winner-take-the-money. The Giants led the standings by percentage points, but the Steelers, who earlier in the season had humiliated them, 31-0, needed only to win the game to become Eastern champions. To the utter dismay of those who knew their Steelers best, quarterback Brown, a strapping marine buck sergeant, took the big game too seriously. On the Wednesday preceding the showdown battle, he disappeared from his favorite saloon. He went into training…. Moreover, although his intentions were good when he decided to train for the big game, he contravened the very motto that had carried the Steelers to the brink of the title: ‘Stay loose.’” (True, September 1964.) Myron Cope’s typewriter and an autographed Terrible Towel. HC Museum Collection, Gifts of Myron Cope.

38 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 Myron Cope and Art Rooney. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives.

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 39 LEFT: . Courtesy of Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club.

BELOW: Bob Smizik, 1982. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo archives.

Bob Smizik on the demise of Three Rivers Stadium (“Let’s Not Forget the Great Times…”)

“This, folks, is a stadium to mourn, a stadium that brought us a lifetime of thrills and memories. It’s an oft- ridiculed ballpark that we never took to our hearts, but should have. It was too hard to get to and harder still to leave. And it housed baseball and football and so wasn’t really right for either. But, oh, the memories, oh, the thrills…. It hasn’t stood for three decades, but it has given us remembrances we can pass on to the grandkids, stories we’ll tell as long as we live…. took a bow at the groundbreaking ceremonies. Nothing more need be said to bring to mind the most famous play in NFL history – the . It will be talked about as long as they play the game and it happened at Three Rivers…. Think about it: Four Champions, arguably the greatest teams in NFL history, played on this turf. So did two World Series winners…. This is the place that enabled Pittsburgh to be called the City of Champions in the 1970s. This is the place that and Roberto Clemente graced.” (Pittsburgh Post- Gazette, June 20, 1999.)

40 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 Born in Pittsburgh, a graduate of Peabody High School The golden age of Pittsburgh sportswriting and the , Smizik also represents that began in the first decade of the 20th century and continued for several generations is still the continuation of a long line of distinguished reflected, despite the decline in newspaper sportswriters who were born in the Pittsburgh area, went audience and influence, in the work of current to Pittsburgh schools, and spent their entire careers writers like Bob Smizik, who began his career with the Press in 1969 and moved to the Post- writing for Pittsburgh newspapers. Gazette after the 1992 newspaper strike.41 Born in Pittsburgh, a graduate of Peabody High School and the University of Pittsburgh, Smizik also represents the continuation of a long line of distinguished sportswriters who were born in the Pittsburgh area, went to Pittsburgh Warwick bar, across the street from American with the Pirates superstar. After the Pirates’ schools, and spent their entire careers writing Broadcasting Headquarters. Anguish clouds World Series victory in 1971, Feeney broke for Pittsburgh newspapers. his face. His long nose and pointed ears loom the story that Clemente had intended to retire For sportswriters ranging from Gruber over his gin in the fashion of a dive-bomber if the Pirates won the Series, but changed his to Smizik, the recognition and celebration swooping in with a fighter escort.”36 mind because of his wife, Vera. “She said to me, of so many sports history makers during ‘Roberto, don’t quit baseball now. Please don’t the commemoration of Pittsburgh’s 250th With the Steelers’ four Super Bowl wins, quit now. It’s your life.’”37 In 1996, a decade anniversary is, of course, a tribute in itself to the Pirates’ two World Series victories, and after Feeney retired from the Post-Gazette, he their success, but their ability to transform teams Pitt’s national football championship, the became the second Pittsburgh sportswriter to and players into the stuff of dreams and legends 1970s turned gold for Pittsburgh sports fans, receive the J. G. Taylor Spink Award and enter is only part of their contribution to Pittsburgh but the decade saw the end of the golden age the writers’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.38 sports. Understanding the importance of for Pittsburgh sportswriters. The rapid growth Feeney wasn’t the only future Hall of Fame Pittsburgh’s sports teams to the character of of the electronic media’s sports coverage had writer covering Pittsburgh sports in the 1970s. the city, they have also written stories that reach a dramatic effect on limiting the impact of During his long tenure with the Press, Pat beyond the playing field and into the heart and newspaper coverage of events and reducing the Livingston wrote about all of the city’s major soul of the Pittsburgh sports fan. sports columnist’s of influence. sports teams, but he was recognized nationally In his “The Village Smithy” column The diminished role for the sports print for his coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers. written the day after Bill Mazeroski’s history- media did not, however, end the national He also had the good fortune of covering the making home run won the 1960 World Series, recognition of Pittsburgh’s sportswriters Steelers during their rise to national prominence Chet Smith related the story of an “elderly and their tradition of excellence and after decades of mediocrity. After yet another man” who, after the game, took his grandson to accomplishment. Several years after Myron losing season in 1971, Livingston wrote, “For a nursery to buy a tree, writing, “Together they Cope’s departure, New York transplant Charley the first time in a decade, the pendulum is brought it home and planted it.” He explained Feeney joined Al Abrams at the Post-Gazette. on the upswing for the Steelers, a team more Beginning his career in 1946 as the New York deserving of support than slander.”39 to his grandson that he had planted a tree “back Giants beat writer for the Long Island Star In 1972, Pat Livingston’s first year as sports in 1925, when the Pirates won their last one.” Journal, Feeney moved to the New York Journal editor, the Steelers won their first division title in He had never forgotten the act and wanted to 42 American in 1963 where he covered the Yankees team history and defeated the Raiders duplicate it “when the occasion arose.” and the Mets. When the newspaper ceased in the famous Immaculate Reception playoff It’s a wonderful story and a perfect publication in 1966, Feeney took a position game. In 1979, the year that the Steelers were illustration of the value of sports in binding with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he headed for their fourth Super Bowl victory, generations together, though Chet Smith covered the Pirates until 1986. Livingston became the first and only Pittsburgh couldn’t resist adding a punch line about the Arriving at a time when Roberto Clemente sportswriter to receive the prestigious Dick need for patience and endurance for Pittsburgh felt distrustful of and alienated from the press, McCann Memorial Award from the Football sports fans, especially those who root, root, Feeney developed a good working relationship Writers Association of America.40 root for the hometown Pirates. Smith ended

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | SUMMER 2010 41 For sportswriters ranging from Gruber to Smizik, their ability 25 Ibid., p. 314. 26 Ibid., pp. 315-316. to transform teams and players into the stuff of dreams and 27 Ibid., pp. 321-323. legends is only part of their contribution to Pittsburgh sports. 28 “The Sports Beat,” in the Pittsburgh Courier, May 24, 1947, reprinted in The Pirates Reader, p. 148. Understanding the importance of Pittsburgh’s sports teams to 29 “The Sports Beat,” p. 144-145. 30 Ford C. Frick and J. G. Taylor Spink awards in The the character of the city, they have also written stories that National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 1997 Yearbook (Pittsburgh: Geyer Printing, 2007), p. 25. reach beyond the playing field and into the heart and soul of The yearbook also contains a 50th anniversary tribute to Jackie Robinson that includes a copy of a October the Pittsburgh sports fan. 31, 1945 letter from Robinson to Wendell Smith thanking him and his paper “for all you have done and are doing in my behalf. As you know I am not worried about what the white press or people think so long as I continue to get the best wishes of my people,” p. 2. 31 Burgess, “Baseball Fever: Meet the Sports Writers.” 32 See Pittsburgh; The Story of the City of Champions, the story by writing, “I’m glad everybody didn’t 10 The Sporting News, February 11, 1932. p.5. The edited by Jim O’Brien and Marty Wolfson (Pittsburgh: article also includes testimonials from Honus Wagner, Wolfson Publishing, 1980), p. 9. wait for our boys to win to plant a tree. We’d be who praised Dreyfuss for his generosity and from 33 In Double Yoi! (Champaign, Ill: Sports Publishing, living in a desert.”43 Havey Boyle, sports editor of the Pittsburgh Post- 2002) Cope displayed his lingering grudge with harsh Gazette. attacks of Al Abrams and his fellow sports editors (p. 11 Ibid., p. 5. 40). Richard “Pete” Peterson is Professor Emeritus 34 12 See Marc Okkonen, Baseball Memories: 1900-1909 Double Yoi!, p. 40. of English at Southern Illinois University. He (New York: Sterling, 1992) for a list of Pittsburgh 35 “What’s Got into the Pirates?” September 17, 1960, is the editor of The Pirates Reader and the newspapers and their baseball writers. reprinted in The Pirates Reader, pp. 177-187. author of Growing Up with Clemente and Extra 13 Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of 36 Sports Illustrated: Fifty Years of Great Writing (New Innings: Writing on Baseball. His essays have Fame, p. 134. York: Time Incorporated, 2004), edited by Rob 14 Fleder, p. 466. appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and See Bill Burgess, “Baseball Fever: Meet the Sportswriters” (baseball-fever.com) for a collection 37 the . See Bruce Markensen, Roberto Clemente: The Great of news items, including obituaries, for prominent One (Champaign, Ill.; Sports Publishing, 1998), p. Pittsburgh sportswriters. 284. 1 Source: program, www.AmericanMemorabilia.com, 15 “Godfather of Pirates Lies in Unmarked Grave,” 38 “1996 J. G. Taylor Spink Award Winner Charlie April 2010. in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 9, 1955, Feeney,” (baseballhalloffame.org). Feeney was widely reprinted in The Pirates Reader, pp. 36-37. 2 All three of Pittsburgh’s major papers, the Press, admired for his writing, but he was notorious for Post-Gazette, and Sun-Telegraph, had a sports editor 16 Jim Reisler, A Great Day in Cooperstown (Carroll & calling everyone “Paly.” His former Post-Gazette or lead columnist serve as president of the BWAA or Graf, 2006), p. 29. colleague Phil Musick tells the story of the day in Bradenton he stopped by Feeney’s condo to give him FFWA. 17 “World’s Title Never Equalled for Thrills, Heroic a ride to the ballpark. When his wife Bea came to the 3 In a telephone conversation with this writer, Myron Action,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, October 16, door, she hollered to her husband, “Hey Paly, Paly’s Cope said that he regarded himself as a writer more 1925, reprinted in The Pirates Reader, p. 101. calling you from Brooklyn and Paly’s here to take you than a broadcaster or personality because that was 18 “Al Abrams,” in No Cheering in the Press Box (New to the ballpark.” how he first made his living. York: Henry Holt, 1995), p. 288. 39 “No Ancient History Please,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4 Chet Smith and Marty Wolfson, Pittsburgh and 19 Ibid., p. 297. December 9, 1971, reprinted in The Steelers Reader Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2001), p. 20 Ibid., p. 297. (Pittsburgh: Wolfson Publishing, 1969), p. 134. 153. 5 21 Ibid., pp. 297-298. See, for example, Alfred H. Spink, The National 40 For a complete list of Dick McCann Memorial Award Game (St. Louis: National Game Publishing, Second 22 Sixty years after Billy Conn was named the Dapper recipients, see a list at en.wikipedia.com/. Edition, 1911), p. 326. Dan Sportsman of the Year for 1939, Suzie 41 Pittsburgh: The Story of the City of Champions, Jim 6 McConnell Serio was named the Dapper Dan Frederick G. Lieb, The Pittsburgh Pirates (New York: O’Brien and Marty Wolfson, eds. Pittsburgh: Wolfson Sportswoman of the Year for 1999. See “Previous Putnam’s Sons: 1948), p. 58. Publishing, 1980), p. 9. Dapper Dan Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the 7 “Pirates Wallop the Beaneaters,” in the Pittsburgh Year” in the April 8, 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 42 “Series Greatest—Even Beats 1925 Win Over Post, October 2, 1903, reprinted in The Pirates (post-gazette.com). Johnson,” in “The Village Smithy,” Pittsburgh Press, Reader, Richard Peterson, ed. (Pittsburgh: University reprinted in The Pirates Reader, p. 95. of Pittsburgh Press, 2003), pp.58-59. 23 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 2, 2000, p.1. For information on see Pittsburgh 43 Ibid., p. 95. 8 Lieb, pp. 100-109. NOW – About PG – PG Charities (post-gazette.com). 9 “Yanks Win Baseball Championship,” in the 24 “Wendell Smith” in No Cheering in the Press Box, p. Pittsburgh Press, October 9, 1927, reprinted in The 314. Pirates Reader, pp. 124-126.

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