Forbes Field Park

Forbes Field was a major baseball and football stadium in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, first opened in 1909. It was the home park of the Pittsburgh Pirates and hosted University of Pittsburgh football for many years.

Built and opened in 1909, Forbes Field hosted major league baseball, college football and notable events through the first half of the 20th century. The Pirates and other teams left the venue in 1970; the stadium was demolished in 1971 and the land was subsequently redeveloped, including use by the University of Pittsburgh.

Located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood adjacent to the University of Pittsburgh campus; the former ballpark site is accessible from city streets and university grounds.

• Dates: Opened in 1909 and served as the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the University of Pittsburgh football team until its closure in 1970; the stadium was demolished in 1971.

What to See#

• Home plate marker: A metal plaque on the site marks the approximate location of the original home plate; it is set into the ground near the University of Pittsburgh campus where the stadium once stood.
• Outfield wall remnant: A short section of the original outfield wall and some foundation fragments survive and can be seen near the site redeveloped after the stadium’s demolition.

The historic site is located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood near the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University; it is walkable from the campus core and accessible by local transit.

• Look for the brass markers and the remaining flagpole on the University of Pittsburgh campus-they mark portions of the old outfield.
• The site is in an active urban neighborhood (Oakland); combine a visit with nearby Carnegie Mellon or the Cathedral of Learning.
• There's no formal museum on-site-consult local historical societies or the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center for in-depth materials.