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Plaque
in background:
PITTSBURGH THREE RIVERS STADIUM
GROUNDBREAKING - APRIL 25, 1968
OPENED TO THE PUBLIC JULY 18, 1970
DEDICATED
TO THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN THE CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO BUILD GREAT CITIES
--- CITIES WHICH PRIZE HISTORY, THRIVE ON THE TALENTS AND ENERGIES
OF THEIR MEN AND WOMEN, AND OFFER COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, BEAUTY,
INSPIRATION, FAIR COMPETITION, RECREATION AND EXCITEMENT AS
INALIENABLE PRIVILEGES OF ALL CITIZENS IN A FREE SOCIETY.
STADIUM
AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH
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Pittsburgh
Sports
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Pittsburgh
is the City of Champions,
Title Town, & Quarterback Country
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There's a rich sports tradition in the Pittsburgh area that began over 100
years ago with sports including college football. In fact, local
college football teams were the first to wear numbered jerseys and play
indoor games.
A famous man by the name of John Heisman walked local sidelines in search
of football victories and found them while coaching at W&J College in the
early 1900's. Local small colleges played and prevailed on a national
level with today's who's who of college football greats.

FIRST PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL GAME
This historical marker on North Shore Drive tells of the
first Pro football game on November 12, 1892
This early sports greatness carried over into professional Pittsburgh
sports teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.
Super Bowl and World Series trophies, as well as Stanley Cups, have
graced Pittsburgh on multiple occasions.
High school sports teams have also shared in these winning traditions, with
championships in various sports at different levels. Today's
Pittsburgh fans grew up watching sports and are multi-generational sports
fans. Steelers fans have been mentioned in songs and the
'Steelers Nation' extends around the globe. Pittsburgh will always be the City of Champions!

Steelers' first 4 Super Bowl Rings
Exclusive photos of
the Steelers Super Bowl XL Victory Parade |
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Some
football
memorabilia on display at the
Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum
Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA |
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Franco's
Italian Army
Franco Harris #32 |
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Steelers
Car |
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Pitt
Coach John Majors |
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'Steel
Curtain'
Greene #75
White #78 |
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
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THREE
RIVERS STADIUM
1970-2000
Home of the Steelers through 4 Super
Bowl victories in the 1970's. |
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The Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum
Commission installed this sign in 2007
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STEELERS
& PITT PANTHERS
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HEINZ
FIELD
2001-Present
Home of the
Pittsburgh Steelers
and Pitt Panthers football teams |
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THE
CRADLE OF QUARTERBACKS
By: Roy McHugh, New York Times, 1991 |
You know the names of local legends such as George Blanda, Johnny Unitas,
Joe Namath, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana. Did you know that the first
African American to play quarterback in the modern NFL was New
Kensington's own Willie Thrower? Or that this region spawned a Heisman
Trophy winner in Johnny Lujack?
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September 1, 2006
Ringgold High School dedicated Joe Montana Stadium |
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The high school "football factories" of Western Pennsylvania
have turned out legions of college and pro stars, but they are perhaps
best known for producing great quarterbacks. These on-field leaders
benefited from the knowledge imparted by skilled coaches and from the
example set by the quarterbacks who went before them.

Dan Marino game ball
October 7, 1984
Quarterbacks
became the most visible manifestation of a culture that valued football
and recognized that it provided a means to escape the mill, receive an
education, and achieve success. This region has been a cradle for
quarterbacks but it also has been an incubator of football
excellence.

Joe Namath's home turf
Joe's high school in Beaver Falls still shares this
football field with Geneva College
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