Sports in Pittsburgh

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See also: American football in Western Pennsylvania

Main article: Pittsburgh
MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, PNC Park is located in North Shore, in front of the Allegheny River, Roberto Clemente Bridge, and the Pittsburgh city skyline
.

Sports in Pittsburgh have been played dating back to the American Civil War. Baseball, hockey, and the first professional American football game had been played in the city by 1892. Pittsburgh was first known as the "City of Champions" when the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Panthers football team, and Pittsburgh Steelers won multiple championships in the 1970s.[1] Today, the city has three major professional sports franchises, the Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins; while the University of Pittsburgh Panthers compete in a Division I Power Five conference, the highest level of collegiate athletics in the United States, in both football and basketball. Local universities Duquesne and Robert Morris also field Division I teams in men's and women's basketball and Division I FCS teams in football. Robert Morris also fields Division I men's and women's ice hockey teams.

Pittsburgh's major teams have seen great success, with the MLB's Pirates winning 5 World Series titles, the NHL's Penguins winning 5 Stanley Cups, and the NFL's Steelers winning a tied league record 6 Super Bowls. The Pittsburgh Panthers have also been successful in the NCAA with 9 national championships in football and 2 in basketball.

The flag of Pittsburgh is colored with black and gold, based on the colors of

1935-36 NHL season.[4][5]

In 1975, late Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope invented the Terrible Towel, which has become "arguably the best-known fan symbol of any major pro sports team."[6] Cope was one of multiple sports figures born in Pittsburgh and its surrounding area; others include golfer Arnold Palmer, Olympian Kurt Angle, and basketball player Jack Twyman. Pittsburgh is also sometimes called the "Cradle of Quarterbacks"[7][8] due to the number of prominent players of that position who hail from the area, including NFL greats Jim Kelly, George Blanda, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana.

winning the Stanley Cup championship
two rounds later. As of 2024, this is the most recent major league sports championship won by a Pittsburgh team.

Professional team sports

The City of Pittsburgh has had various professional sports franchises throughout its history and today is home to three teams competing at the highest professional level in their respective sports: the Pittsburgh Pirates of the MLB, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, and the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.

Major League Professional Teams

Franchise Founded Sport Current Venue League Championships
Pittsburgh Pirates 1882 Baseball PNC Park Major League Baseball 5 World Series
Pittsburgh Steelers 1933 American football Acrisure Stadium National Football League 6 Super Bowls
Pittsburgh Penguins 1967 Ice hockey PPG Paints Arena National Hockey League 5 Stanley Cups

Minor League Professional Teams

Franchise Founded Sport Current Venue League Championships
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1999 Soccer Highmark Stadium USL Championship
Pittsburgh Passion 2003
Women's American football
West Allegheny High School
 Women's Football Alliance 3 Women's Football Championships
Steel City Yellow Jackets 2014 Basketball A Giving Heart Community Center American Basketball Association 1 ABA Championship
Pittsburgh Thunderbirds 2015 Ultimate Highmark Stadium
American Ultimate Disc League
Pittsburgh Maulers 2021 American football TBD
United States Football League

Top Tier Amateur Teams

Franchise Founded Sport Current Venue League Championships
Pittsburgh Hotspurs
 2019 Soccer Founder's Field (Indiana Township), Penn Hills High School National Premier Soccer League

Baseball

We had 'em all the way

Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince, after a comeback[9]

Prior to 1876, three amateur Pittsburgh baseball teams—the Enterprise, the Xanthas, and the Olympics—competed, most often at Recreation Park.[10] On April 15, 1876, Recreation Park was the site of a game between the Xanthas and the Pittsburgh Alleghenies (alternately spelled "Alleghenys"[11]), an unrelated forerunner to the "Alleghenys" team which would later be renamed the Pirates. The Alleghenies won the game 7–3.[12] The 1877 squad was the most successful yet, finishing within 1 game of the pennant in the International Association; only a Canadian team had a better record, allowing the city potential bragging rights for being the best American team that season.

1882 marked the first "major league" and fully professional season for the Pittsburgh Alleghenies (Pirates) and in 1887, the Alleghenies moved from

Vernon Law) and 1990 (Doug Drabek). In 2001, the team opened PNC Park on the city's North Shore
, regularly ranked as one of the top three baseball parks in the country.

In addition to the Pirates, the

Hill District on April 29, 1932.[17]

Basketball

ABL
, posting the city's best record in almost 40 years when they finished 2nd in 1962.

The most lasting legacy of pro roundball in Pittsburgh was the Pittsburgh Pipers-Pittsburgh Condors of the American Basketball Association from 1967 until 1972. In the first ABA World Championship in 1968, the Pipers defeated the New Orleans Buccaneers, which were owned by Harry Connick Sr.[citation needed]

After the ABA Pipers/Condors folded in 1972 the city hosted the

Mellon Arena and the Petersen Events Center before ceasing operations prior to the 2008–09 season because of the economic recession. Another professional basketball team, the Pittsburgh Phantoms of the American Basketball Association, played during the 2009–10 season and held their games at the Carnegie Library of Homestead
, but folded prior to the following season.

Hockey

See also: Flyers–Penguins rivalry and Sports in Philadelphia § Pittsburgh

First played in Pittsburgh in 1895, ice hockey grew in popularity after the Duquesne Gardens opened in 1899. In 1901 the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL), a semi-professional ice hockey league based in Pittsburgh in the early 1900s, may have been involved in the first trade involving professional hockey players. In 1907, the WPHL was the first league to openly hire hockey players. The league played its games in three Pittsburgh hockey arenas, the Gardens, the Schenley Park Casino and the Winter Garden at Exposition Hall. The Casino, which was destroyed by a fire in 1896, had the first artificial ice surface in North America, was the first place in Pittsburgh where organized ice hockey was played and had the most modern indoor lighting system of the time era, that consisted of 1,500 incandescent lamps, 11 arc lights and 4 white calcium lights. In 1905–1907, the city was represented in the International Professional Hockey League, the first fully professional hockey league, by the Pittsburgh Professionals.

Pittsburgh Civic Arena was replaced by the venue now known as PPG Paints Arena in 2010.

The Gardens housed the largest indoor rink in the world and was home to the city's first NHL franchise, the Pittsburgh Pirates, from 1925 to 1930. The Gardens also was home to the Pittsburgh Shamrocks and the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets of the International Hockey League as well as the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League.[19]

In 1961,

Hodgkin's lymphoma, throughout his career.[25] In 1999, Lemieux purchased the Penguins and saved the franchise from bankruptcy. He returned to play one year later as the first player/owner of the modern era.[26] The Penguins, led by top point scorers Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, returned to the Stanley Cup finals in 2008 and won the franchise's third Cup in 2009.[27]
The franchise recorded their fourth Stanley Cup in 2016 and their fifth Stanley Cup in 2017.

Football

On November 12, 1892,

New York Giants and Fred Crolius
, and outfielder with Pirates. The team won the league's only championship in 1902.

In 1933, as the oldest of nine children

Dan Rooney, son of founder Art Rooney, became the majority owner of the Steelers in November 2008 along with his son Art II, after they bought all of the shares of two of his four brothers.[38]

Outside of the NFL, the city was represented by the Pittsburgh Americans of the second American Football League in 1936 and 1937. It was also briefly represented by the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League, in 1984, and the Pittsburgh Gladiators (which later became the Tampa Bay Storm), of the Arena Football League from 1987 until 1990. A second Arena Football League team, the Pittsburgh Power, played in the Consol Energy Center from 2011 until 2014.[39]

In addition, Pittsburgh has also been home to women's full-contact football teams. The

Legends Football League during the 2017 season with home games at the downtown Highmark Stadium
.

The "most established area minor-league football team" the Pittsburgh Colts are members of the North American Football League's Regional American Football League.[42][43]

The

United States Football League (2022) announced that the league would be relaunching in April 2022 and that the Pittsburgh Maulers would be returning[44]

Soccer

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC are members of the USL Championship (second division) and play at Highmark Stadium.[45]

The Riverhounds are one of the oldest professional soccer clubs in the United States operating outside of MLS; the only two older clubs are fellow USL Championship side Charleston Battery and USL League One's Richmond Kickers, both of which were founded in 1993. Like their counterparts, the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, the Riverhounds are a full-time professional club, and many of their current and former players have represented their countries in international play.

Historic teams such as the suburban

U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer's national championship, with Harmarville winning in 1952 and 1956 and reaching the final in 1953. Pittsburgh area teams Gallatin and Morgan Strasser also won the Open Cup in its earlier years, but since the end of the 1950s, only the Riverhounds have advanced as far as the quarterfinals, which they achieved in 2001 and 2023. The amateur club Pittsburgh Beadling has contested for regional and national titles for over 100 years, winning the National Amateur Cup in 1954,[46]
though Beadling now operates primarily as a youth club.

Aldo Donelli, better known as a Duquesne University Football player and coach played soccer with a number of clubs in the 1920s and 1930s and was a member of the United States men's national soccer team during the 1934 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In a 4–2 qualifying victory over Mexico in Rome, Italy on May 24, he tallied all four times, becoming the first American to score his first three international goals with the senior team in the same match.

The region's interest in soccer continues as modern stars such as natives

Marvell Wynne II
have all achieved international success.

Rugby

The

South Side Pittsburgh
. The club formed in 2018 when the Pittsburgh City RC and the Pittsburgh Highlanders combined to form the Forge. The Pittsburgh Forge currently fields two competitive men's senior sides and one competitive women's side. The men currently participate in the Midwest Competition Region (NCR1) at the Division II and Division III levels, and the women also play in the Midwest Competition Region at the Division II level.

The

AMNRL
competition.

The

Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union
. Over 300 active players wear the Harlequin jerseys every year at the Division 1 men's, Under 19, and Under 14 levels. In 1995, the Founders Field Center for Athletic Leadership was developed to support the Harlequins Men's and Youth programs. The 12 acre Founders Field facility includes lighting, irrigation, a clubhouse, locker rooms, concessions, and parking.

Major league professional championships

Individual sports and recreation

Golf

U.S. Amateurs
.

See also:
List of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area § Golf

Such golf legends as

LPGA Championships (1957–1958), Senior Players Championships (2012–2013) and the Senior PGA Championship
(2005).

Local courses have sponsored annual major tournaments for 39 years:

The region has deep roots in golf, boasting the oldest continuous country club in the U.S. at Foxburg, dating back to 1887.

The suburban

U.S. Amateurs. Other area courses such as Laurel Valley Golf Club and the Pittsburgh Field Club have hosted PGA Championships, the Ryder Cup, LPGA Championships and Senior PGA Championships
.

The region has hosted annual PGA Tour events such as the

84 Lumber Classic (2001–2006) at Mystic Rock, the Dapper Dan Open 1939–49, the Pittsburgh Open (1950s), the Tri State Open (1980s),[47] the Pittsburgh Senior Classic (1993–1998) and since 2010 the annual Mylan Classic
.

Golf greats such as Arnold Palmer, Jim Furyk, Rocco Mediate and others hail from the region.[citation needed]

Fishing

Since the 1960s the city has focused on revitalizing its rivers, hosting the

Forrest Wood Cup in the 2000s and seeing a boom in local fishing participation. Among the variety are Catfish and Trout. [2]

Rowing/Rafting/Kayaking

Pittsburgh is the host city for both the annual

Three Rivers Regatta (since 1977) and the annual Head of the Ohio (since 1987) races and events. The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University
as well as several area high schools have long standing rowing teams.

In 2010 National Geographic named the city to its top six of "Best Cities for Kayaking".[48] Kayak Pittsburgh is the largest river recreation rental in the area located on the North Shore on the Allegheny River.

Suburban Ohiopyle State Park offers some of the best white-water rafting in the country.

Trails/Camping/Biking

Pittsburgh has multiple mountain biking areas close to the city in area parks and in the surrounding suburbs.

railroads to recreational trails, including a Pittsburgh-Washington, D.C. bike/walking trail. Kayaking
is popular on the city's three rivers.

Pittsburgh and its region are internationally known for its extensive and varied trail system. Such assets as the

Youghiogheny River, Beaver River, Indian Creek, Panhandle, Laurel Highlands, Rachel Carson, Five Star and Montour offer stunning, natural, suburban and urban views of the metropolitan area. The Great Allegheny Passage provides an all natural-trail (non motorized) link to Washington, D.C., while the North Country Trail passes through the northern suburbs of the city and connects Bismarck, North Dakota to the Plattsburgh, New York area, with such cities as Duluth, Minnesota and Buffalo, New York
in its path.

Within the urban core of the city and its immediate surroundings the

Grandview, South Side, Riverfront, Three Rivers, Point of View, and Roberto Clemente
.

Large 500–2,000 acre suburban parks that feature several miles of diverse trails each are plentiful throughout the metropolitan area.

For hikers/trailblazers that desire a historical or cultural element to nature the metropolitan area offers the

Phipps Conservatory and proximity to Schenley Plaza, the Cathedral of Learning, Hillman Library and the Frick Gallery. Riverview includes the Allegheny Observatory and Point includes the Fort Pitt Museum and the remains of Fort Duquesne
.

For true environmentalists and wildlife fans the metro area includes the Jennings Environmental Education Center, as well the Allegheny Islands State Park, Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Ohioplye for hiking and water sports.

Tennis

Such teams as the

Gretchen Magers
in succeeding in international competition and rankings.

From 1979 to 1984 the city also hosted a yearly international tournament, the Pittsburgh Open.

Skiing/skating

Southside Works
called "Penguin Pond".

Year round ice skating and skating events can be enjoyed at indoor area rinks including the

Bladerunners Ice Complex
.

Such notable olympians as natives Kristi Leskinen, Kylie Gleason, Suna Murray, Ron Robertson, Mike Seibert, Suzanne Semanick, Jamie Silverstein and Taylor Toth have trained and began their careers at area facilities.

Youth sports Youth football Suburban league, Big East youth football league Penn Trafford, Woodland Hills, Greater Latrobe, Jeannette, PHMFA, Arken, Franklin Regional, Plum, Mckeesport, Gateway

College sports

There are several universities within the city that field athletic teams in NCAA Division I including the University of Pittsburgh (often referred to as "Pitt"), Duquesne University and Robert Morris University. Of these, Pitt is the only school that is a member of the so-called "Power Five" conferences that are primary partners in the College Football Playoff structure (the Atlantic Coast Conference). Other universities in Pittsburgh that field athletic teams include Carnegie Mellon University (Division III), Chatham University (Division III), Point Park University (NAIA), and Carlow University (NAIA).

Football

College football in Pittsburgh dates back to the

Football Bowl Subdivision, while Duquesne and Robert Morris have football teams that compete in the Football Championship Subdivision, and Carnegie Mellon fields a Division III
football team.

Basketball

The Petersen Events Center, basketball home of the Pittsburgh Panthers

Three Pittsburgh universities, the

Sweet 16
four times and the Elite Eight once. In the years 1941, 1964, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1989, 1992 and 2008, two of the city's universities sent teams to tournaments; in 2009 and 2010, all three universities earned bids to post season tournaments.

NCAA tournament.[51] A rivalry game between Pitt and Duquesne, termed the City Game
, is played annually between the two schools' men's and women's basketball teams, as well as their baseball teams.

Other collegiate sports

Along with college football and men's and women's basketball, the area universities compete in many additional sports. The

volleyball, and wrestling.[53] The Duquesne Dukes, in addition to many of the sports above, also participates in Division I lacrosse, golf, and rowing.[54] Robert Morris University fields Division I teams in men's and women's hockey, among other sports.[55]

Major events

Event Number Venue Years
PGA Championship 5 Oakmont Country Club
Pittsburgh Field Club
Laurel Valley Golf Club		 1922, 1951, 1978
1937
1965
Senior PGA Championship 1 Laurel Valley Golf Club 2005
PGA Tour Champions 5 Laurel Valley Golf Club
Fox Chapel Golf Club		 1989
2012, 2013, 2014
US Open
 9 Oakmont Country Club 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973,
1983, 1994, 2007, 2016
Ryder Cup 1 Laurel Valley Golf Club 1975
MLB All Star Game
 5 Forbes Field
Three Rivers Stadium
PNC Park		 1944, 1959
1974, 1994
2006
NHL All Star Game
 1
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1990
NHL Entry Draft
 2 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
PPG Paints Arena
2012
NHL Stadium Series 1 Acrisure Stadium 2017
NHL Winter Classic 1 Acrisure Stadium 2011
AHL All-Star Game
 1 Duquesne Gardens 1956
NCAA Men's Final Four Tournament 3 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
PPG Paints Arena		 1997, 2002
2012
NCAA Men's Frozen Four Tournament
 1 PPG Paints Arena
2013
NCAA Women's Final Four Tournament 3 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Petersen Events Center		 2001
2007, 2010

Annual events

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

Pittsburgh also hosts several annual major sporting events, including the:

Mckeesport Pa The city's vibrant rivers have attracted annual world title competitions of the

Forrest Wood Cup in 2009 and the Bassmaster Classic
in 2005.

Annual events continue during the winter months at area ski resorts such as Boyce Park, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Wisp as well as ice skating at PPG Place and North Park.

Rivers

A

Formula-1 ChampBoat Series race, the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta, which is the largest inland regatta in the country during July at Point State Park.[56] There is also an annual large rowing regatta, the Head of the Ohio, which was founded in 1987 and is one of the largest inland regattas in the United States.[57]

Motorsports

The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, the last remaining vintage automobile race run on city streets in the United States, is held annually at Schenley Park.[58][59]

Running

For 30 years Pittsburgh has also hosted a large 10K and 5K road race, the

Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race, which attracts nearly 10,000 athletes and has been ranked as a Top 20 Multi-Race Events by USA Track & Field's publication On The Roads.[60] In addition, the 28th Pittsburgh Marathon will be hosted in the city in May 2018.[61]

Basketball

Pittsburgh was previously home to the first national high school all-star basketball game, The Dapper Dan Roundball Classic, from 1965 to 1992, prior to its move to Detroit and later Chicago.[62] It has long been home to the City Game between Pitt and Duquesne.

Cycling

Since 1983 the Dirty Dozen Cycle Race has been held in the city.

Awards banquet

Since 1936 the

William Penn Hotel then at the Hilton ballrooms and more recently at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center
.

Other events

Pittsburgh has its own cricket league conducted by Pittsburgh Cricket Association[63] which was founded in 2005. The league features about 16 teams and the games are held at linbrook park and edgebrook field. The Pittsburgh Cricket Association, revived in 2004 from the long dormant 1882 Pittsburgh Cricket Club charter, comprises 16 active teams and more than 250 members.

PCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized for charitable purposes to further the sport of cricket in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized are: To promote, encourage, foster and cultivate interest in the sport of cricket; To initiate, sponsor, promote and carry out plans, policies and activities that would further the development and advancement of cricket in Pittsburgh and North Eastern PA; To develop, foster and train amateur athletes for representation in state, national and international cricket competitions; to promote building of facilities for other non-traditional sports like badminton, table tennis and rugby. [64]

  • Tennis: Historically the Pittsburgh Triangles of the 1970s played tennis at the Civic Arena, winning the WTT championship in 1975. The arena also hosted the Pittsburgh Open tennis tournament from 1979 until 1984. The year-round facilities at Mellon Park Tennis Center currently serve the city.
  • Gaelic football: Teams such as the Celtics (men's) and Banshees (women's), founded in 1976 and 2002, respectively. The Celtics won the Midwest title in 2002, 2006, and won both the midwest and National titles in 2011. The Banshees won the Midwest title in 2004, 2005, and both the midwest and Junior B shield national title in 2011.
  • Steel City Derby Demons of the WFTDA
    .
  • Dodgeball: NDL's Pittsburgh Punishers.

People

Pittsburgh native Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks
See also:
List of people from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area

Multiple professional athletes were born or raised in the Pittsburgh area. Major League Baseball players

Basketball Hall of Fame member Jack Twyman were born in Pittsburgh.[75][76] Olympic gold medalists Swin Cash and Kurt Angle, the latter of whom went on to become a major star in professional wrestling, were born in McKeesport and Pittsburgh respectively.[77][78][79] Professional golfers Rocco Mediate and Arnold Palmer were born in Greensburg and Latrobe respectively.[80][81] Author Jim O'Brien, who was born in Pittsburgh, has authored 20 books about Pittsburgh sports.[82]

Cradle of quarterbacks

The Pittsburgh region also has developed many notable athletes that have gone on to outstanding careers in professional sports. The region has produced a multitude of NFL quarterbacks, giving Western Pennsylvania the nickname "Cradle of Quarterbacks".[8][83] Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Jim Kelly, Johnny Unitas, Bruce Gradkowski, Marc Bulger, George Blanda, Johnny Lujack, Jeff Hostetler, Gus Frerotte, Willie Thrower, Warren Heller, Johnny Gildea, Tyler Palko, Alex Van Pelt, Sandy Stephens, Terry Hanratty, Mike McMahon, Major Harris, Matt Cavanaugh, Chuck Fusina, Rod Rutherford, Ted Marchibroda, Babe Parilli, John Hufnagel, Tom Sherman, Richie Lucas, Boyd Brumbaugh, Scott Zolak, Ed Matesic, Tom Clements, Coley McDonough, Charley Seabright and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch all hail from within a 50-mile radius of the city.

Former professional franchises

Club Sport League Venue First season
(in Pittsburgh) 		Last season
(in Pittsburgh) 		Championships
(in Pittsburgh) 		Fate of team
Allegheny Athletic Association American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit Recreation Park 1890 1896 1890, 1892, 1894, 1896 Club folded team
Duquesne Country and Athletic Club American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit Exposition Park III 1895 1900 1895, 1898, 1899 Club folded team
Duquesne Country and Athletic Club ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Duquesne Gardens, Winter Garden at Exposition Hall 1908 1920 Club folded team
Fort Pitt Hornets ice hockey United States Amateur Hockey Association, Duquesne Gardens 1924 1925 Team partially merged into the Pittsburgh Pirates
Glassport Odds American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit ?? 1913 1950 Folded
Harmarville Hurricanes
soccer
U.S. Open Cup, National Amateur Cup
 ?? 1947 1967 1952, 1956 Folded
Homestead Grays baseball Negro leagues Forbes Field 1912 1950 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1948 Folded
Homestead Library & Athletic Club
 American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit Carnegie Library of Homestead 1900 1901 1900, 1901 Club folded team
Hope-Harvey/Majestic Radios/J.P. Rooneys American football Independent Exposition Park III 1921 1932 1930, 1931 Team morphed into the Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers
McKeesport Olympics American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit, Independent ?? 1896 c. 1940 Folded
Pennsylvania Enforcers/Pittsburgh Cougars ice hockey America East Hockey League
IceoPlex at Southpointe
 2007 2009 Folded
Pennsylvania Pit Bulls/Pittsburgh Hard Hats/Pittsburgh Xplosion basketball American Basketball Association, Continental Basketball Association
Peterson Events Center
 2004 2008 Folded
Pittsburgh baseball Ohio–Pennsylvania League ?? 1912 1912 Relocated to New Martinsville after just 4 days
Pitcairn Quakers American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit Broadway Stadium 1904 1920 Folded
Pittsburgh Allegheny baseball International Association for Professional Base Ball Players Union Park 1876 1878 Folded
Pittsburgh Americans American football American Football League II Forbes Field 1936 1937 Folded
Pittsburgh Athletic Club American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit East Liberty Park 1891 1898 1891 Folded team
Pittsburgh Athletic Club ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1899 1909 1899, 1900, 1901 Folded team
Pittsburgh Bankers ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1900 1909 1903, 1908, 1909 Club folded team
Pittsburgh Bulls
indoor lacrosse
Major Indoor Lacrosse League
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1990 1993 Folded
Pittsburgh Burghers baseball Players' League Exposition Park III 1890 1890 Folded with the League
Pittsburgh Cannons
soccer
American Soccer League
 ?? 1972 1972 Folded
Pittsburgh Hardhats softball
APSPL, UPSL
 Morrell Field, LaRussa Field 1977 1982 Folded
Pittsburgh Champions softball
NASL
 LaRussa Field 1980 1980 Folded with the league
Pittsburgh Crawfords baseball Independent, Negro National League (II), Negro American League Greenlee Field 1931 1938 1932*, 1933*, 1934, 1935, 1936 Relocated to
Toledo
Pittsburgh CrosseFire
indoor lacrosse
 National Lacrosse League
Mellon Arena
 2000 2000 Relocated to Washington D.C.
Pittsburgh Filipinos baseball United States Baseball League, Federal League Exposition Park III 1912 1913 1912 Became the Pittsburgh Stogies/Rebels
Pittsburgh Force
women's American football
 Women's Football Alliance Campbell Field Munhall, Pennsylvania 2009 2014 Inactive
Pittsburgh Forge ice hockey
Island Sports Center
 North American Hockey League 2001 2004 2003 Relocated to Toledo
Pittsburgh Gladiators arena football
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 Arena Football League 1987 1990 Relocated to Tampa
Pittsburgh Hornets ice hockey American Hockey League
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1936-37 1966-67 1951–52, 1954–55, 1966–67 Folded
Pittsburgh Ironmen basketball Basketball Association of America Duquesne Gardens 1946–47 1946-47 Folded
Pittsburgh Keystones baseball Negro National League
Ammon Field
 1887 1921 1887, 1922 Folded
Pittsburgh Keystones
 ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Schenley Park Casino, Duquesne Gardens 1895 1904 1902 Club folded team
Pittsburgh Lyceum American football Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit Duquesne University, Recreation Park 1902 192? Club folded team
Pittsburgh Lyceum ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Duquesne Gardens, Winter Garden 1907 1920 Club folded team
Pittsburgh Maulers American football United States Football League Three Rivers Stadium 1984 1984 Folded
Pittsburgh Monticello/Loendi basketball Black Fives League ?? 1903 192? 1912, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 Folded
Pittsburgh Phantoms basketball American Basketball Association Langley High School, Carnegie Library of Homestead 2009 2010 Folded
Pittsburgh Phantoms
soccer
 United Soccer Association Forbes Field 1967 1967 Folded
Pittsburgh Phantoms roller hockey Roller Hockey International
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1994 1994 Folded
Pittsburgh Pipers/Condors
 basketball American Basketball Association
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1967–68 1970–72 1967–68 Folded
Pittsburgh Piranhas basketball Continental Basketball Association
A.J. Palumbo Center
 1994-95 1994-95 Folded
Pittsburgh Pirates ice hockey National Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1925-26 1929–1930 Relocated to Philadelphia
Pittsburgh Pirates / Raiders basketball National Basketball League ?? 1937–39 1945 Folded
Pittsburgh Pirates (WPHL) ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1907 1908 Folded
Pittsburgh Power arena football Arena Football League
CONSOL Energy Center
 2011 2014 Folded
Pittsburgh Professionals ice hockey International Professional Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1904 1907 Folded with the League
Pittsburgh Rebellion
women's American football
Legends Football League
 Highmark Stadium 2017 2017 Folded
Pittsburgh Rens basketball
American Basketball League
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1961 1963 Folded with the League
Pittsburgh Shamrocks ice hockey
International Hockey League
 Duquesne Gardens 1935-36 1935-36 Folded
Pittsburgh South Side basketball Western Pennsylvania Basketball League/
Central Basketball League		 ?? 1903 1915 1904, 1907, 1913 Folded
Pittsburgh Spirit indoor soccer
Major Soccer League
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1978 1986 Folded
Pittsburgh Stars American football National Football League (1902) Recreation Park 1902 1902 1902 Folded with the League
Pittsburgh Stingers indoor soccer Continental Indoor Soccer League
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1994 1995 Folded
Pittsburgh Stogies baseball Union Association Exposition Park II 1884 1884 Folded with the League
Pittsburgh Stogies/Rebels baseball Federal League Exposition Park III 1914 1915 Folded with the League
Pittsburgh Triangles tennis World TeamTennis
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
 1974 1976 1975 Folded
Pittsburgh Victorias ice hockey Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1902 1904 1903 Club folded team
Pittsburgh Winter Garden ice hockey Independent Winter Garden at Exposition Hall 1915 1916 Club folded team
Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets ice hockey United States Amateur Hockey Association, Duquesne Gardens 1915 1925 1924, 1925 Became the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets ice hockey International Hockey League, Eastern Amateur Hockey League Duquesne Gardens 1930–31 1936-1937 Folded
Steel City Derby Demons
 roller derby Women's Flat Track Derby Association Romp'n Roll Roller Skating Rink 2006 2006 Folded

*The championships listed for the teams are the highest possible achievement in their respective leagues for each season. For baseball seasons prior to the advent of the

National League Championships and Negro National League Championships
are listed.

Professional venues

Notes

  1. ^ a b Gallo, DJ (April 21, 2008). "So good, they donate champions". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  2. ^ Dvorchak, Robert (November 10, 2008). "Vintage Penguins jerseys selling up a blue streak". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  3. ^ Potter, Chris (June 3, 2004). "Why are our colors always black and gold for our sports teams?". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  4. ISBN 978-1-68358-385-1
    .
  5. ^ Moore, Gerry (November 19, 1935). "Bruins Play Amerks in First Home Game". The Boston Globe. p. 22.
  6. ^ "Former Steelers broadcaster, Terrible Towel creator Cope dies". ESPN. Associated Press. February 28, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
  7. ^ McHugh, Roy (January 20, 1991). "VIEWS OF SPORT; True Grit: Quarterbacks From Steel Belt Football". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Mike White (August 25, 2005). "Tradition of Western Pennsylvania quarterbacks continues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  9. ^ O'Brien 1998, p. 18
  10. ISBN 1-886110-40-9
    .
  11. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  12. ^ William Benswanger (March–June 1947). "Professional Baseball in Pittsburgh" (PDF). An Informal Game. Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  13. ^ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 1–3
  14. ^ Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 472
  15. ^ Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 612
  16. ^ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 605–07
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References

Further reading
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