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Out of the Past

By Commentary Jim Kriek 5 min read

Bucs shut down Forbes Field with sweep of Cubs 36 years ago How many times have you mentioned an event that occurred around here, be it historical, sports, or whatever, and have your listener look at you, and ask, “Has it really been that long ago?”

Yes, tempus does indeed few-jit, and that came to mind this past week while rummaging through the files to hatch this column. So, let’s pick up where the last column ended, for this week, away back in1970.

If you really want to make it sound like ancient history, savor the headline in the Morning Herald that proclaimed “Pirates Sweep Cubs, Run Streak to 7.” Yes, the Pirates had swept a doubleheader from the Cubs, 3-2 and 4-1, before a standing room only crowd of 40,918 (largest since 1956) and that 7-game win streak left them with a 40-35 record, just two percentage points out of sole possession of first place, the Mets standing .535 and the Pirates .533.

But there was also a sad note to the occasion. These would be the last games ever played at Forbes Field. The historic old baseball site, named for Revolutionary War General John Forbes, opened in 1909, ironically against the Cubs, who won 3-2. But the Pirates went on to win the World Series that year.

Forbes Field would be torn down while the Pirates were on a road trip, and when they returned, they would open the new Three Rivers Stadium against Cincinnati. Now, even Three Rivers has heard Taps.

Which raises a trivia question – name the last team ever to win a championship game at Forbes Field.

In that week of 1970, Mount Pleasant High School beat Bethel Park, 4-2, in eight innings to win the WPIAL championship. The Vikings scored two in the top of the eighth to break a tie. Right-hander Terry Gesinski struck out Bruce Evanovich in the last of the eighth to clinch the win and the championship. MP shortstop Bob Gorinski, who would later play for the Minnesota Twins, bounced a double off the left field scoreboard near the 365 mark, and Dan Welc had a triple when the BP outfielder missed a shoestring catch.

In Fay-West Baseball League play:

-Trotter edged Breakneck, 5-4, and added a 1/2-game to its lead. In the home eighth, Mike Shmigalsky walked, Augie Reich bunted, but the throw to first was in the dirt, and Art Heisterman singled. Joe Beucher was the winner in relief.

-Trotter maintained its lead with an 11-9 edging of Mill Run, while Breakneck held second with a 9-2 win over Dunbar.

Trotter scored eight in the fourth, capped by Beucher’s grand slam. He also had a two-run shot in the first. Reich had two hits and Kostelnik three. Brent Watson had a bases-loaded double for Mill Run, Dick Taylor had two hits, and Ken Meadows a double and single.

Bill Lessman pitched a 2-hitter, singles by Bob Lohr and Jim Means singles, and hit a home run to lead Breakneck. Jack Smarslak and Jerry Smarslok added a double and single each, and Punch Coughenour had two hits.

-Bob Brown worked a 2-hit shutout (singles to Bill Bryner and Perry Russell) as Mill Run collared Dunbar, 5-0. Bradley Bryner and Don Shearer had a double and single each for MR.

VFW Teener League Baseball:

-Tim Trafecanty pitched a 4-hitter, and Ron Addis and Shane Kovack had two hits each as Connellsville downed Colonial, 10-2. Trafecanty also hit a triple. Greg Garbutt had two Colonial hits.

Duane Reckard pitched a 5-hit shutout, as Point Marion collared Perryopolis, 5-0. Lombard (2B) had two hits and Lew Sweitzer a double for Perry. Andria had two hits for Point Marion while Gastie a triple.

In American Legion Baseball:

-Jim Russell had four hits (including a triple and double), O’Hara had a double and Zippay finished with two hits, to lead Fayette City past Republic, 10-7. Vernon had three hits for Republic, and Collaut and Joe Mazurek each tripled.

Brownsville got three in the fifth to edge Perryopolis, 4-3. Hadden had three hits and Nichols two. McClusky had two Perry hits.

Elsewhere around the area:

-South Connellsville beat Gallatin Bank, 4-1, in Connellsville Pony League play, the 100th win for manager Jim Stimmell. Bob McCoy hit a double and two singles, and Dan Shaw a double for the Firemen.

-Dale Nedrow, playing out of Pleasant Valley Country Club, had rounds of 85-90 for a 175 in the West Penn Amateur Golf Tournament at Rolling Hills Country Club.

-Bill Galand and son Mark won the 18-hole division of the Father-Son-Daughter golf event at Uniontown C.C. Paul Sprowls and son Brad won the boys 9-hole play, followed by Ira Coldren and son David, and Dr. Edward Gaither and son Edward. Pat Lorenzo and daughter Saundra won the girls 9-hole division title.

-Bob Clites, Mapletown High baseball and basketball standout, signed a minor league baseball contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was assigned to Bradenton, Fla., of the Rookie Gulf Coast League.

-Jim Lewandowski, Everson, aced the 200-yard, par 3, No. 14 at Linden Hall Golf Course, using a 6-iron. The shot was witnessed by Pete Lucia and Ron Rossman. Also witnessing were Matt Wasko, Mario Martina, and Chuck Queer, who were waiting to tee off behind them.

-Gene Dzambo, Everson, fired par 72 (34-38), at Linden Hall, to win the annual Everson Polish-American Club Golf Tournament. He won by two over Frank Kowalczyk and Bill Surniak. Dobre!! Dobre!!.

Jim Kriek is a correspondent for the Herald-Standard

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