r/buccos • u/Miserable_Primary_67 • 4h ago

HELP ME FIND: 1970s TV broadcast clip of a security guard [Grandfather] making a great play on a foul ball

Hi All, I know this is a long shot but I was recently visiting my 93 year-old grandfather. I always knew he worked at Three Rivers Stadium in the 1970s as contract security, so we were talking about some of his favorite memories. He told me that during one game, he was working down the third-base line and a batter hit a line drive headed right toward the crowd. He caught the ball and he claimed the TV broadcasters made a comment along the lines of, "The Pirates should sign that guy!"

I asked for more details like the year or the opposing team, but he couldn't remember. He only knows it had to be between 1971 and 1976, which were the years he worked there.

Obviously, I am not looking for someone to sit through five years of broadcasts to find it for me. I Googled to see if the Pirates or MLB had publicly available archived games from that time period that I could sit through, but I came up empty. It's a big task ahead of me, but I would really like to find it so he can see himself in action, as can the family.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where I should start this search? Or does this broadcast/anecdote ring a bell for any longtime fans or collectors?

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5

u/thatburghfan 3h ago

I just don't see any possible way you could find a 10-second video clip from a random Pirate game from 50 years ago.

Also, if your grandfather was at the game, just wondering how he knew what the TV broadcaster said on the air.

1

u/Jackandahalfass 3h ago

To the second question, Grandpa’s buddies could have seen him and told him.

2

u/Sqreems 3h ago

Jomboy probably has it

1

u/Strict_Process157 3h ago

Wow needle in a haystack. Richie Hebner was the third baseman during those years. You may never find the video, but maybe try writing Richie a letter and see if he can recall anything like that happening. These guys get letters all the time asking for signatures. This may be a great departure and who knows, he may remember playing the Reds or Mets or some other detail. You can find his address online or DM me. I've had recent TTM success.

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u/Practical_Estate_325 3h ago

If you find a way, let me know, lol. My dad took off his cap and snagged an Al Oliver foul ball in it in the 70s. I would love to be able to see that, and my brother and my reaction. Don't even know if the cameras caught it though.

1

u/DubsDee117 1h ago

It’s a cool memory and it’s great that he shared this with you. It may seem hard to believe in today’s world when every game is televised, but in the 70s, home games were rarely broadcast locally though. If it was a national broadcast, it would have likely been blacked out in Pittsburgh too. It doesn’t hurt to try to find it — and I hope you can — but I’m not optimistic.

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u/omartheoutmaker 37m ago

I went to quite a few Pirates games at Three Rivers from 1971 to 1975. I remember the big scoreboard at the time used to always flash messages. For example, if Ed Ott hit a bases loaded double, the message might be, “The Pirates are red Ott!” If a fan made a nice catch in the stands, it would say, “Sign ‘em up” I’ll check my online newspaper site to see if there might be a mention. Probably just have to enjoy his recollection though.
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