Well into the seventh decade of my life as each baseball season ends, the
reality of my mortality grows stronger, which increases the temptation to
look back and not ahead to the next season. For baseball players it is a common, yet strange paradox that as your overall memory becomes less acute, the recollection of games, events and relationships enjoyed become more cherished and vivid.
My most graphic baseball memory goes back to 1941, when at age 13, I saw
my first major league game. It was at Shibe Park in Philadelphia as the
Phillies hosted the Cincinnati Reds. In most major league parks in those years, after the game you could exit the park by walking onto the playing field. It gave fans, especially kids, the delight of stepping onto a major league field. I was enjoying that thrill while passing the visiting team dugout on the first base side when my brother Bill said, "Nels, that’s the same dugout Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig sat in." Fourteen years later, April 24, 1955, I was sitting in that very same dugout as I prepared to make my start in the major leagues against the Phillies at Shibe Park. Talk about a proud moment and treasured memory. It doesn't get any better than that.
The most enjoyable season of my brief major league career was in 1956.
Joe. L. Brown, then in his first season as general manager, made a bold
decision to go with a roster dominated with talented but inexperienced
players. It was a wise move as this team became the nucleus of the 1960
World Championship team. Young players like Clemente, Groat, Skinner,
Mazeroski, Virdon, Face, Friend, and Law began to believe they could win in the major leagues. I was part of a team that amazed everyone by moving into first place in the National League, June 20, 1956.
The surprising success was due mainly to the leadership and offensive production of Dale Long. The big first baseman brought the fans and excitement back to Forbes Field, when in late May he tied the major league record for consecutive game home runs, hitting his seventh in a road game at Philadelphia.
We returned to Forbes Field May 28, for a home stand with the Brooklyn
Dodgers in an atmosphere similar to a World Series game. I was watching from the Pirate bullpen down the right field line as Carl Erskine, the Dodger starting pitcher, retired Long his first time at bat. As Long stepped in for his second at bat, you could feel the anticipation and excitement grow.
After Erskine's pitch it sounded like an explosion when Long pulled it for a home run, over the screen and into the stands in right field. The place went wild! As he rounded the bases the fans gave him a standing ovation. He crossed home plate and disappeared into the dugout, as the standing ovation continued. Jack Berger, the Pirate PR Director was in the dugout and he had to push Long out onto the field, where he tipped his cap as the standing ovation subsided. It was an unusual ovation that lasted a full three minutes.
Branch Rickey, who was in attendance that evening said, "I have been in major league baseball since 1913 and that is the first time I have ever seen a player asked to make a curtain call by the fans." It’s now
a common occurrence for much less worthy feats, but It happened for the first time ever in the major leagues that May 28th evening at Forbes Field. Everyone who attended that game will attest to how unusual the adulation was for that event.
It has been said that baseball players die twice. The first is when your
career ends. For me it came too early. At age 29 an arm injury forced my retirement after the 1957 season. I had to, as Chuck Knoll of the Steelers said, "Get on with my life's work." I prayed for a life that would give me the satisfaction and joy I had playing baseball. Thanks to Jack Berger, the Pirate PR Director, who died this past July, I found that job.
Joel Rosenblum, who owned small radio stations in western Pennsylvania called Jack to inquire if he could recommend a former player to do sports for his stations. Jack gave him my name and in 1960 I began doing sports for a small daytime station in Latrobe. What a year 1960 was for Pirate baseball!
The excitement of the entire 1960 season had a scripted Hollywood ending
when Bill Mazeroski hit the most dramatic home run in baseball history. As the lead off hitter in the last of the ninth inning of the seventh and final game he hit a Ralph Terry fastball for a home run to capture the 1960 World Series. It created the most spontaneous and memorable event in Pittsburgh and Pirate baseball history.
People to this day will tell you where they were when that ball left Forbes Field. Many of them congregate at the site where Forbes Field once stood every October 13 to hear a replay of the game.
In 1960 I was in the first of what would be 40 years of broadcasting,
working at that small daytime station in Latrobe. Prior to the series I
interviewed various players for their opinion on who would be the hero of the series. Names such as Groat, Hoak, Clemente, Mantle, Maris were mentioned often. Harvey Haddix, who was the winning pitcher in two games, including the final one, was the only player to pick Bill Mazeroski. I asked him why and Harvey, with the wisdom of a veteran pitcher said, "Because the Yankees
will pitch to him." They did and we did the same to Bobby Richardson of
the Yankees, who although on a losing team was voted the MVP of the series.
This spring, at a Pirate Alumni Golf Day at South Hills Country Club, was
the first time I heard Mazeroski describe what was going through his mind
that dramatic day October 13, 1960. During a question and answer session
someone asked, "Can you run us through your thoughts that last inning?"
Despite all the acclaim over the years, Bill Mazeroski is still the quiet, humble person he was as a rookie, who does not enjoy public speaking. He proved that at his Hall of Fame induction last summer at Cooperstown. However, this night his personal recollection and description of that event had the audience and the Pirate Alumni players spellbound.
Shyly he began to describe that historic event in detail:
"We had a one
run lead into the ninth inning and I thought, 'three more outs and we'll beat the Yankees to become the Champions of baseball', but things fell apart and the Yankees tied the game.
I was a great Cleveland Indians fan as a kid and as I went into the dugout at the end of the half inning thinking, 'those damn
Yankees are going to do it again. They always seem to win the big games.'
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I forgot I was the lead off hitter in the last of the ninth, until I heard a coach say, 'Maz, grab a bat you're the lead off hitter'. I stepped into the batter's box just wanting to get a good pitch and hit it hard.
The first pitch from Ralph Terry was high for a ball. I can still hear Johnny Blanchard the catcher, hollering to Terry, 'Keep the damn ball down on this guy, he's a good high ball hitter!'. The next pitch
was still high, but in the strike zone and when I hit it I knew it was an
extra base hit. I thought I might get three bases as Yogi Berra, was playing in left field and he might have trouble playing the ball off the wall. As I got about 20 feet from second base I saw the umpire waving his arms to signal a home run....and from then until I touched home plate, I don't remember my feet ever touching the ground."
Maz's home run touched off the most spontaneous, joyful and peaceful celebration Pittsburgh has or ever will experience. Everyone who was alive then can tell you exactly where and what they were doing when Maz hit his home run.
I was lucky to witness the Pirate post game clubhouse celebration. With
the tension and pressure of the World Series now relieved, champagne was
being sprayed all over the room. Bob Skinner and Bill Virdon each grabbed a bottle of champagne, stuffed them into their lockers, to be enjoyed later.
When the clubhouse finally cleared, they popped the champage and enjoyed the memories of an unforgettable season. Virdon, a strong, quiet man from Missouri, realizing he had drunk too much champagne, made the strangest request I've ever received. He asked, "Nellie, will you take a shower with me?" I said, "What?" He replied, "I've had too much champagne and I'm afraid I'm going to fall on my rear in he shower and get hurt and I don't want to miss the team party at the Webster Hall Hotel". I agreed and we showered together and Bill made it to the party.
Those years of Pirate baseball were truly the "Bob Prince Years". It was an unusual time, TV was just in its infancy, FM radio was barely recognized and AM radio and Pirate baseball dominated the market. Mike Levine, then a newsman on KDKA radio told me the ratings for Pirate baseball in August and September showed that 65 - 70% of the people were listening to Pirate baseball. You could walk down the street in any town in Western Pennsylvania not missing a pitch while listening to the games coming from the radios of people sitting on their front porches If you wondered why Bob Prince became one of the most dominant personalities in Pittsburgh those ratings are the reason.
For 28 years, and 154 or more games a year, he visited with people in the Tri State region, in their homes, on their porches, in their cars, doing Pirate games on radio. His colorful descriptions of the game entertained and at times irritated listeners, but they always listened. He described a pitcher who worked slow, saying, "It would take this guy a week to die a sudden death", or one who worked fast, "He pitches like he's double parked outside the stadium." A high bouncing ball off the hard infield at Forbes Field was "An alabaster plaster" -- a well hit ball that was just foul was "Foul by a gnats eyelash". -- A ground ball on the new Astro Turf at Three Rivers was a "Bug on the Rug" -- a double play was a "Hoover", that is until Westinghouse complained about him using a trade name. But to me and most Pirate fans, a double play was and will forever be a "Hoover". His home run call "You can kiss it good-bye", is part of the Pittsburgh lexicon to this day as is "Chicken on the Hill", used to describe a Willie Stargell home run. The
nicknames he gave to Pirate players on the 1960 team remain with them to this day -- Bill Virdon was "Quail", Vern Law was "Deacon", Don Hoak was "Tiger", Bob Skinner, "Dog" , Dick Schofield was "Ducky" and Roberto Clemente, "The Great One".
Bob suffered with each loss, and as soon as you tuned
into the game and heard his voice you could tell if the Bucs were winning or losing. He was always hopeful and optimistic. I particularly enjoyed his comment after a Pirate win that had just ended a long losing streak. He would loudly proclaim, "We may NEVER LOSE ANOTHER GAME!". The only rule he had for broadcasting was that announcers only identified themselves at the start and finish of a game, never during the game. This was of no concern when broadcasts were heard only on KDKA, but it became a problem for listeners when we did our first NCLS games in 1970 with Cincinnati. Our broadcasts were being picked up by other National League cities in Atlanta, Houston, San Diego, etc. About the fourth inning we began to get Western Union wires and phone calls asking "Who are the announcers? They never identify themselves." Bob's reply was, "We only mention our names at the start and finish of the broadcasts. We figure if we're good you'll know who we are. If we're bad, we don't want you to know!" There was only one Bob Prince and he was as much a part of Pirate baseball as any Hall of Fame player. "The Gunner" as he will always be known, left Pirate broadcasts and all of us too soon. He died June 6, 1985
In 1967 the position for color commentator on Pirate broadcast opened
when Don Hoak decided to return to baseball as a coach with the Phillies. I did not apply for the job until I read in Al Abrams column in the Post
Gazette I was considered a prime prospect for it. I thought, "I might
as well apply, what do I have to lose. I already have a good job here at
WHJB in Greensburg." I have found out the best time to audition for a job is when you already have one. I was relaxed and with the six years of experience doing all kinds of sports, including live bowling on radio for two hours, I was chosen for the job and began a nine year association with Bob Prince.
Despite the acquisition of big name players, Maury Wills and Jim
Bunning, the first two years as a member of the Pirate broadcast crew were
disappointing. In 1969 Joe Brown again decided to go with youth. It was
an opportune time, as baseball's expansion to Montreal and San Diego diluted the talent at the major league level allowing the young Pirates to achieve success quicker than usual. Al Oliver, Bob Robertson, Richie Hebner, Freddie Patek, Dave Cash, Manny Sanguillen, Bob Moose, Luke Walker and Dock Ellis, joined with the established stars, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, and Steve Blass to create what would become the greatest winning years in Pirate history. The timing was right as a new facility, Three Rivers Stadium, (then under construction) was to be ready to accommodate the Pirates by July, 1970.
Joe Brown also surprised the media when he announced Danny
Murtaugh would return to manage the Pirates. It was expected that Don Hoak, who wanted the job, was the prime candidate and in an ironic bit of fate, the afternoon Murtaugh was annouced as the new manager, Hoak died of a heart attack in Shadyside, while chasing someone who had stolen a family member's car.
It wasn't easy walking away from Forbes Field, where the Pirates had
played for sixty-two historic and memorable years. Construction of Forbes Field began March 1, 1909 and it was opened four months later, June 30, 1909. A crowd of 30,338, then the largest Pittsburgh crowd ever to see a baseball game, saw the Pirates lose 3-2 to the Cubs. In a bit of irony, the last game at Forbes Field played June 28, 1970, was just two days short of 61 years of the date it opened, and against the same team, the Chicago Cubs. The largest Forbes Field crowd was 44,932 for a home season ending Prize Day game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, September 23, 1956,
With Bob Prince and Gene Osborne, on June 28, 1970, I broadcast the final day at Forbes Field, as the Pirates swept a double header from the Chicago Cubs. Between games of the double header I did an interview with Roberto Clemente. I asked him for his thoughts on this final day at Forbes and moving to the new Three Rivers Stadium. He replied, "Nellie, I have spent 16 years of my life here at Forbes Field. Almost half of my life has been spent in this ballpark." He then continued, " I was telling the players today it is like being married to your wife for 16 years and something bad happens. You feel hurt. You may find another wife and you have to wait and see how it works out. I will have to wait and see if the new ballpark will be as good as Forbes Field was to me."
Nearing the end of the interview I asked Roberto, then 38, how long he would like to continue playing. He said, "I think I would like to play as long as I can contribute to the team." After a pause, in what turned out to be a sadly prophetic statement, he continued, "I would like to play until I get 3000 hits."
The record books show that two years later, on September 30, 1972, at Three Rivers Stadium, batting in the fourth inning against Jon Matlack of the New York Mets, Roberto doubled to left center field for his 3000th hit. It was to be the last hit of his career. He was killed in a tragic plane crash off the shores of his native Puerto Rico, December 31, 1972 on a humanitarian mission taking medical supplies to survivors of the earthquake that hit Nicaragua.
In a fitting end to the final game at Forbes Field, Bill Mazeroski, whose name will always be associated with the greatest moment at Forbes Field, recorded not only the last Pirate hit at Forbes Field, a double to left center in the seventh inning, but also the final out in the field.
Appropriately he also recorded the final out in the field, fielding a ground ball by Don Kessinger, he touched second base to retire Willie Smith, who as a pinch hitter, registered the last hit at Forbes Field. Jim Nelson was the winning pitcher. Reliever Dave Giusti, the winning pitcher in the first game, saved the final game for the Pirates. Al Oliver hit the last home run at Forbes Field.
The move to Three Rivers Stadium was not as pleasant as expected.
Financed with public funds at a cost of $35 million dollars, not including land acquisition and site development, it created political controversy between the City and County governments. The site development was never realized and it was years before the proposed roads were completed.
Three Rivers Stadium, like all municipal stadiums built at that time, were made to accommodate both baseball and football and used the new synthetic Astroturf surface. Among early designs for consideration was an open ended stadium with a view of the Point and downtown Pittsburgh. Ideal as this design was for baseball it was rejected due to the increased cost of construction. The estimated increase was from $8 to $10 million more than the circular, enclosed stadium that was built. In that regard it was a failure for baseball and it in the long run turned out to be an unwise financial decision. A tell-tale indication of how unwise became clear to me before the stadium opened.
Late in September, 1969 prior to a game in Philadelphia, I noticed
Burrell Cohen on the field. Cohen was then the secretary to Pittsburgh Mayor Joe Barr, and also the liaison between the Pirates, Steelers and the City. I inquired of him, "How's the new stadium coming along?" I heard him proudly say, "Nellie, it's going to be the best football stadium in the country!" With disbelief I replied, "You mean we're going to play 81 games a year there, the Steelers 8, and you're building a football stadium?" Unfortunately that's what Three Rivers Stadium was, a good football stadium.
The only good seats for baseball were located on the first and second
level and the third and fourth level club boxes which always sold well.
Viewing baseball from the fifth level at any location was never attractive to fans. Pittsburgh got a bum rap from the national media for not selling out the stadium for NLCS games as they criticized the fans and described Pittsburgh as, "A poor baseball town."
Especially remembered was the seventh and final game of the 1991 NLCS with Atlanta that drew 46,932 fans. All the empty seats were in the outfield fifth level. Few, if any media ever viewed a game from those seats, but Pirate fans did as Bob Prince and I. Pittsburgh fans knew those seats were bad when they were priced at $5.00 or less, and weren't going to get any better for $20.00 or more for the playoffs. They stayed home and watched it on TV!
Bob Prince, the long time Pirate announcer came up with so many
successful, off-the-wall promotions such as, "The Green Weenie" at Forbes
Field in 1966 and "Babushka Power" at Three Rivers. He thought he could do something to promote those center field seats that were always going empty.
He decided to do a game broadcast from the lower deck of the center field
seats to let people know they were good viewing seats for Pirate baseball. We did the broadcast and he was right. We were able to follow the ball, see all of the field and the scoreboard.
Fresh from the lower deck success, "The Gunner" decided we would do another broadcast, this time from the fifth level center field seats. It was a disaster! We couldn't follow the flight of the ball, outfielders went out of view when they came close to the fence, we couldn't see the scoreboard and the windy conditions kept us more interested in keeping our stats sheets and score sheets from blowing away.
It was our last broadcast from those locations!
Despite these many negatives, playing at Three Rivers Stadium didn't
bother the success of the team on the field. The Pirates in 1970 began what was to be the finest decade of winning baseball in their history.
Bob Prince described this era best during a commercial break late in the 1972 season as the Pirates were ready to clinch their third consecutive National League Eastern Division Championship. Bob leaned over to me and with almost quiet reverence, said, "Nellie, we're seeing the halcyon days of Pirate baseball." He said nothing else.
They truly were halcyon days as the Pirates won 916, lost 695 (.570), winning six division titles, five of them coming in the first six seasons, and in 1971 and 1979, capturing two exciting, seven game World Series Championships against the Baltimore Orioles. The only losing season for the Pirates during the first decade at Three Rivers Stadium was in 1973 when they were two games under .500 with an 80-82 mark.
Despite the death of the great Roberto Clemente, the retirement of Bill Mazeroski and the mysterious loss of control by their top pitcher, Steve Blass, they remained in the pennant race into the final week of the season, finishing third, just 2 1/2 games behind the National League Champion New York Mets.
Most remembered Three Rivers Stadium moments:
The thing I remember most about the first game at Three Rivers Stadium was the trouble I had getting into the park. My wife and three daughters wanted to attend the opener so we left home around 4 o'clock and had dinner downtown. As I drove up General Robinson Street ready to enter the stadium, a City policeman stopped me and asked for my parking pass. I said, "What parking pass?" He informed me, "If you don't have a parking pass you will not enter here." I pleaded telling him I was the announcer for the Pirates, working with Bob Prince, both of which failed to impress him. Now irritated and getting anxious, I had to find a place to park.
The parking lots were all full and I recall twice finding myself driving on Ridge Avenue overlooking Three Rivers Stadium. I thought, "Hell, I can spit on the stadium from here, but I can't get into the place." Finally I found a parking spot, but still had the long walk to get to the Stadium. I finally arrived at the Press Gate and thankfully, the attendant knew who the Pirate broadcasters were and,
allowed me to enter. I found my parking pass the next day in the pile of
mail that had accumulated during the long road trip from which we had just returned. I never lost possession of it after that!
Opening Night vs Cincinnati: I was amazed by how large the broadcast booth Bob Prince had arranged for
us to use. "The Gunner" always liked to have visitors in the booth and this one was perfect for him. Jim Woods used to kid him as Bob's friends crowded our radio booth on the road saying, "This looks like a Greyhound Bus Terminal".
The big surprise for the opener was the uniforms the Pirates wore as they
took the field for the start of the game. During batting and fielding
practice prior to the game they wore the loose fitting, wool uniforms with
buttoned shirts. The new uniforms were the tight fitting pants and slip over shirts now used by all teams. I was so surprised, I wondered who those guys were, coming out of the Pirate dugout.
Winning three consecutive Eastern Division titles 1970-71-72: Most remembered was the 1971 NLCS five game series against the San
Francisco Giants. We split two games in Candlestick Park and came home to face Juan Marichal at Three Rivers. Marichal, the Giants top pitcher could not start the first game of the NLCS, as he pitched the Western Division clincher, the final game of the regular season. Nellie Briles was to be the starter for the Pirates, but during warmups, pulled a hamstring muscle and told Danny Murtaugh he could not make it. It took courage for Nellie to make that decision, but it was the difference in the series.
Murtaugh chose Bob Johnson as the starting pitcher to replace Briles. Johnson with a 9-10 record and a 3.50 ERA appeared to be no match for Marichal. However, he pitched the greatest game of his life, going eight innings allowing only one unearned run and Dave Giusti saved it in the ninth for a 2-1 win. Both Pirate runs came on homers by Bob Robertson and Richie Hebner. We won the next day 9-4 and were on our way to the World Series.
The first World Series games at Three Rivers Stadium, October
12-13-14, 1971: The Pirates were so embarrassed and beaten badly in the first two games at Baltimore, a writer remarked, "This series may be over in three games." That annoyed Danny Murtaugh who countered, "Anybody who thinks the Pirates are dead is in for a rude awakening". He was right as Pirate pitching dominated the rest of the series.
Baltimore gave up only four runs in the three game sweep by the Bucs. Highlight was the first World Series night game, October 13, won by the Pirates 4-3 as a pair of rookies, Bruce Kison and Milt May were the heroes. Bruce Kison came on to relieve starter Luke Walker who gave up three quick runs to get the final out of the first inning. Kison went 6 2/3 innings, gave up only one hit, but kept the Orioles loose, hitting three of them with pitches, to get the win. Milt May in a pinch hit role drove in the winning run in the seventh inning and Dave Giusti got the save. Nellie Briles the next day pitched a gem, shutting out the Orioles 4-0 , allowing only two hits, facing just 29 batters. The Pirates won 2-1, the final game in Baltimore on a clutch pitching performance
by Steve Blass.
The team received World Championship rings in a polished
wooden box with a bronze plaque on top, dated October 11, 1971 and signed by Danny Murtaugh that read, "Anybody who thinks the Pirates are dead is in for a rude awakening."
Roberto Clemente's 3000th hit at Three Rivers Stadium, September 30, 1972: Roberto appeared to have registered his 3000th hit the night before against Tom Seaver on an infield single, but the official scorer, Luke Quay of the McKeesport News, changed it to an error. Clemente then rarely played in a day game following a night game but in his desire to get his 3000th hit he started in the Saturday afternoon game against the New York Mets. Jon Matlack the Mets starter struck him out swinging to end the first inning.
Bob Prince always broadcast the first three innings and I would do the middle three. I did the top of the fourth
inning, but with Clemente leading off the bottom of the fourth, I said to
Bob, "You've seen almost every hit Roberto has had during his career, I think you should do this at bat." He really appreciated that and gave it his usual good call as Roberto doubled to left center field for his 3000th hit. Little did we know then, it was to the last hit of his career.
Opening Day, Apri, 1973 - Roberto Clemente's #21 was retired: It was the saddest day in Pirate history. Roberto Clemente died,
December 31, 1972 in a tragic plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico while taking medical supplies to the earthquake ravaged people of Nicaragua. His wife Vera and sons Roberto, Jr, Luis and Enrique were honored prior to the game as Roberto's uniform was presented to Vera and his #21 was retired.
This was especially difficult for me and Bob Prince as Roberto invited us and our wives to be his guests in Puerto Rico late in October, 1972. He did it to honor Prince with a special "Bob Prince Day", for all he had done over the years. He presented Bob with one of his prized possessions, the silver bat he won for having the best batting average in the National League.
Roberto was so proud of his native country and their people and it was never more obvious than during that wonderful visit we enjoyed. He was a great baseball player, but an even better human being.
The longest and best baseball fight at Three Rivers Stadium, 1974: Cincinnati and the Pirates got into it big time. Bruce Kison brushed
back Dave Concepcion his first time at bat and got him to ground out. As he returned to the Reds dugout on the third base side, he made some comments to Kison and continued his harangue from the dugout.
Aware that this was going to get heated, Kenny Brett and Richie Hebner agreed that they would both head for second base to work over Concepcion if a fight broke out. Well Kison led off the fourth and was plunked in the ribs on the first pitch by Jack Billingham, the Reds pitcher, which brought both benches out onto the field.
They were lined up like the armies in the Colonial Wars, facing each other just inside the first base foul line. Sparky Anderson was bumped and stepped on the foot of the Pirates Ed Kirkpatrick, who quickly pushed him and all hell broke out. It took about ten minutes to finally settle things down and surprisingly nobody was ejected from the game.
Unfortunately for Kenny Brett, he got to Concepcion, but Hebner never got there and three Cincy players did a job on him. It was without a doubt the best baseball fight I ever witnessed. It served to wake up the Pirates who were in a funk from the start of the season. After that "Hey Rube", they went on to win another Eastern Division Championship.
The Final broadcast for Bob Prince and me - October 7, 1975: I witnessed and described one of the best power pitching performances of
my nine years of broadcasting Pirate baseball in this NLCS game against
Cincinnati.
John Candelaria, then in his rookie season, struck out the
first four Reds hitters and went on to compile 14 strikeouts in eight
innings, but the Reds won it 5-3 in ten innings to end the 1975 season.
I did an interview with Tony Kubek, the NBC -TV announcer, following the game and had no indication this was to be the last appearance for me and Bob Prince as Pirate broadcasters. Following an afternoon of golf with Jack Berger and Manny Sanguillen late in October, my wife told me that Joe. L. Brown had called and wanted me to meet him at 7:00 PM his home in Mt. Lebanon.
As I was going down the steps to the garage to leave, my middle daughter Leslie asked, "Where are you going Dad?" I told her I was going to Joe Brown's home. She inquired why and I told her I didn't know. In what was to be meant as a bit of humor she said, "He's probably going to fire you!" He did that night inform me I would not be returning next year, nor would Bob Prince. I was disappointed and shocked.
However, after 70 plus years of life I have discovered when a door closes in your life, another one opens. The one that opened has always turned out to be better than the one that closed. It doesn't seem like it at the time, but it does.
I went on to enjoy 18 years as Sports Information Director at Duquesne University, retiring from that position in 1993 and still serve as golf coach. It's been a great journey -- still is and the Pirate years were the most treasured and remembered.
