Pittsburgh sports lore
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In Pittsburgh sports lore history, there have been many extraordinary events that have contributed to the city's sports franchises winning titles.
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[edit] Mazeroski's home run
Mazeroski's home run was the home run hit by Bill Mazeroski in Game Seven of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees, played on October 13, 1960. It gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 10-9 victory and a seven-game series win. It was the first home run to win a World Series.
[edit] The play
In the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates were tied 9-9 with the New York Yankees in the ninth inning. Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry opened the bottom of the ninth against Mazeroski, a second baseman for Pittsburgh. With the count one ball, zero strikes, Mazeroski hit a line drive into left field that cleared the wall for a home run. [1]
[edit] Notes
- Since Mazeroski's home run in 1960, only Joe Carter has repeated the feat of winning the World Series with a home run, hitting one for the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 World Series.
- The home run completed an improbable victory for Pittsburgh, whose three losses to New York were by scores of 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0. In total, the Pirates were outscored 55-27 in the series and their biggest win was a 5-2 victory of Game Five.
[edit] Immaculate Reception
- Main article: Immaculate Reception
In the 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Oakland Raiders, Franco Harris made an incredible catch, known as the Immaculate Reception, one of the most famous plays in the history of sports.
[edit] The Save
Pittsburgh Penguins backup goalie Frank Pietrangelo made an incredible diving glove save against Peter Stastny, who was shooting toward an open net, in the first period of Game 6 of a first-round playoff series at New Jersey during the 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Pietrangelo's stop helped the Penguins to a 4-3 win and forced a seventh game, where he proceeded to shut out the Devils 4-0. Although shortly thereafter Pietrangelo relinquished the starting goalie job to Tom Barrasso, the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup. [2]
[edit] Francisco Cabrera
The 1992 National League Championship Series was played between the Atlanta Braves and the Pirates. The Game 7 series decider, held on Wednesday October 14, was its most memorable contest. The Pirates' Doug Drabek pitched masterfully for the first eight innings, holding the Braves scoreless. His only real scare came in the sixth, when the Braves loaded the bases with none out. But Jeff Blauser lined into a double-play and Terry Pendleton struck out to end the inning. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh wasn't doing much with Atlanta starter John Smoltz, but they did manage single tallies in the first on an Orlando Merced sacrifice fly and in the sixth on an RBI single by Andy Van Slyke.
[edit] The Play
The Pirates took the 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth, when their season imploded. Drabek allowed an inning-opening double to Pendleton. In what would prove to be a crucial play, normally sure-handed second baseman Jose Lind then booted David Justice's easy grounder. A walk to Sid Bream loaded the bases, and Stan Belinda replaced Drabek. Ron Gant then plated one run with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1, and Damon Berryhill walked to reload the bases. Pinch-hitter Brian Hunter popped up to shortstop with nobody scoring, and it looked like Pittsburgh might escape. But pinch-hitter Francisco Cabrera singled to left to score Justice and — just ahead of Barry Bonds' throw — Bream. The Braves piled onto Bream at the plate, the stadium erupted, and Atlanta went back to the World Series.
[edit] Announcer Reactions
- "Swung, line drive left field! One run is in! Here comes Bream! Here's the throw to the plate! He is...safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!" - Skip Caray's call of Francisco Cabrera's game-winning hit in Game 7.
- "Line drive and a base hit. Justice will score the tying run. Bream to the plate...and he's safe, safe at the plate! The Braves go to the World Series!" - Sean McDonough's call of Francisco Cabrera's game-winning hit in Game 7.
[edit] Notes
- After their heartbreaking loss to the Braves in 1992, the Pirates have neither made the postseason nor finished with a winning record since.
[edit] The Immaculate Deflection
Trailing by four points (20-16) with five seconds remaining, the Colts needed to score a touchdown to defeat the Steelers, with the winner advancing to Super Bowl XXX. With the ball at the Steelers' 29 yard line, Colts QB Jim Harbaugh lofted a pass into the corner of the end zone. The pass seemingly hung in the air forever, and was batted down by Steelers defensive back Myron Bell. However, the ball was knocked straight down onto the stomach of fallen Colts WR Aaron Bailey. On the television camera feed, the view of the ball was lost for a split second, after which Bailey had possession of the ball. The Colts immediately began signalling touchdown, and the Steelers defensive backs vehemently signaled incomplete. The back judge, however, ruled that the ball hit the ground, and after a lengthy discussion, the referee declared the pass to be incomplete.
[edit] The Comeback II
- (January 5, 2003, Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC Wild Card Playoff Game)
Trailing by a mere 17 points, a 24-7 disadvantage with 19 minutes left to play, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Quarterback Tommy Maddox rallied the Steelers, scoring three passing touchdowns in four offensive drives. The Browns managed to score 9 points in the 4th quarter keeping them in the lead (33-28) until a 61-yard drive, culminating in a 3 yard rushing touchdown and a successful two point conversion by the Steelers. At 36-33, with 54 seconds left in regulation, it was the first time in the game that the Steelers had been leading on the scoreboard. The Browns failed to answer back in their final drive, ending the game in one of the greatest comebacks in NFL playoff history.
[edit] Immaculate Redemption
- See also: National Football League lore
The Immaculate Redemption refers to an event that occurred on January 15, 2006 during the AFC Divisional Round between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the heavily-favored Indianapolis Colts. Clinging to a 3-point lead, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made a potentially game-saving tackle against Colts cornerback Nick Harper, who was on the verge of returning a fumble by running back Jerome Bettis for a touchdown.
[edit] The play
With 1:20 remaining in the game, Pittsburgh's defense sacked Colts quarterback Peyton Manning on fourth down at Indianapolis's 2-yard line. The Steelers, leading 21-18, appeared to have clinched victory as the Colts turned the ball over to them on downs. Since the Colts had all three of their timeouts, the Steelers were forced to try for a two yard touchdown; they would be unable to run the clock out by simply kneeling on the ball.
On first and goal, Pittsburgh veteran running back Jerome Bettis (who never fumbled throughout the 2005 NFL season) tried to power his way in for the score, but the ball popped out when Colts linebacker Gary Brackett hit the ball with his helmet. Immediately, Indianapolis cornerback Nick Harper picked up the ball and headed for the Steelers' end zone with several blockers around him. It very much appeared as if Harper would take the football all of the way for a touchdown, robbing Pittsburgh of their victory. As Harper was running down the field, Roethlisberger, who had been turned completely around several times desperately trying to stay in front of the speedy Harper, managed to get a hold of Harper's right shin and bring him down at the Colts' 42-yard line.
After the play, the Colts offense tried to drive down the field in an attempt to score a touchdown. The Colts were forced to settle for a 46-yard field goal to tie the game. However, kicker Mike Vanderjagt (the most accurate kicker in NFL history[3]) kicked it wide-right and the Steelers managed to hold on and win 21-18. Vanderjagt never played another game with the Colts.
Fueled by this play, the Steelers travelled to Denver and upset the Denver Broncos 34-17 a week later in the AFC Championship Game, then defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 on February 5, 2006 in Super Bowl XL to claim their first NFL title in twenty-six years.
[edit] Views
- The "Immaculate Redemption" would never have occurred if the referees had not mistakenly overturned a call giving an interception to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu.[4] Allowing this interception to stand would have likely squelched any hope of an Indianapolis comeback.
- If Harper had scored and ended the Pittsburgh season, it would have created a particularly bitter ending to the illustrious career of Jerome Bettis, who would have been blamed with costing Pittsburgh the win with his fumble. Instead, Pittsburgh won and Bettis got to later return to his hometown, Detroit, and win his first championship ring before retiring. Bettis did, however, state that if Pittsburgh lost the Super Bowl or did not reach it that he may have returned for one last season.
- After Roethlisberger's tackle, the game was saved a second time by rookie cornerback Bryant McFadden. On 2nd and 2 from the Pittsburgh 29, Colts QB Peyton Manning fired to the corner of the endzone, looking for star receiver Reggie Wayne. McFadden matched Wayne stride for stride into the endzone and just as Wayne appeared to make the catch, McFadden got an arm between Wayne's arms and knocked the ball free. As it hovered in the air, both Wayne and McFadden dove for the ball, as McFadden foiled two subsequent attempts by Wayne to catch the tipped ball as they went to the ground.
[edit] Notes
- Harper's wife, Daniell, had been arrested the night before the game after slicing his knee during an argument. The injury required three stitches but did not prevent him from playing the next day. However, this event adds to the perceived improbability of the event, as Roethlisberger may not have had the speed to catch a healthy Harper.[5]
