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Old 06-05-2009, 11:21 AM
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Theoldprofessor Theoldprofessor is offline
John Manning
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Remember that the Bucs spent the first sixty or so years of the modern era in Forbes Field .. 365 down the left field line (topped by a 24 foot scoreboard), 406 in left center, 457 to dead center, 375 in right center and, after 1925, only 300 down the line in right. But also in right was a 30 foot screen that went well out into right center. About the only guy able to hit homers out of Forbes was Babe Ruth, who hit #714, his last, over the roof in right, his third of the day.

Of Kiner's seven league leading seasons, six came immediately after Hank Greenberg joined the team in '47, and the bullpens were moved to left field, dramatically shortening the distance a homer had to travel. What had been intended as "Greenberg Gardens" quickly became "Kiner's Korner."

By Stargell's time, of course, Forbes was truly ancient, and the Bucs moved to smaller, friendlier Three Rivers in the summer of 1970 "On the Hill" Will hit 48 homers to lead the league the following year, and 44 two years later.

Tommy Leach played all his Pirate home games in Exposition Park, where he led the league in homers only once, in 1902 ... with 6. (The same year he cranked out 22 triples.)

The only surprise in all of this is that more members of the "Pittsburgh Lumber Company," the Bucs of the 70s, didn't lead the league.
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