When Brady Peck walked toward Mervis Hall on Pitt’s campus Tuesday afternoon, he was taken aback by the hundreds of people gathered near the Forbes Field wall listening to a baseball game.
A junior from Glen Rock, N.J., Peck asked around and quickly learned about the Pittsburgh tradition, where Pirates fans gather every Oct. 13 to listen to Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, erupting when Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off homer beats the Yankees.
“It’s such a great sense of community,” Peck, 21, said. “I love how it’s right here, on our campus. It’s awesome to see that. Definitely gives you a good feeling before an exam.”
The tradition rolled on as normal as Pirates fans soaked up every ounce of a sun-splashed fall day. At the same time, those gathering did so with heavy hearts after Mazeroski and ElRoy Face passed away in February.
Both made multiple appearances at this event. Mazeroski’s family actually sent a floral wreath that was displayed next to the old-time scoreboard that was added a few years ago.
One of Mazeroski’s cousins, Gary, lives in Aspinwall and made the trip for this year’s event, recalling something he was told growing up about the greatest home run in baseball history and the hysteria that followed.
“Bill later told me that all he was trying to do was find home plate because people mobbed him,” Gary said. “If he didn’t touch home plate, it wouldn’t have counted.”
This event started in 1985, for the 25th anniversary of Maz’s homer, when a Pirates fan named Saul Finkelstein randomly decided to listen to the game near the wall.
It’s grown plenty over time, attracting as many as 1,600 people for the 50th anniversary in 2010 and consistently drawing several hundred fans who bring food and drinks, smoke cigars and reminisce about the Pirates’ rich history.
After Finkelstein got the ball rolling, a group of regulars began calling themselves the “Game 7 Gang," and for the past four decades or so there’s been an organized listening party.
Bob Recker, 83 of Warrendale, has an especially unique perspective on Game 7. He was one of the bat boys for the game and vividly remembers a dejected Casey Stengel walking down the tunnel at Forbes Field.
He also recalled the unique cast of characters who comprised the 1960 Pirates: Roberto Clemente, Maz, Dick Groat, Don Hoak, Smoky Burgess, Vern Law, Bob Friend, Face and many more.
Recker, who was 17 at the time, has seen this tradition evolve and doesn’t want to see it go anywhere as many of its attendees get up there in age.
“It’s a Pittsburgh thing and a part of history that shouldn’t be forgotten,” Recker said. “We need to keep it going.”
Casey Staats of Beaver was doing her part. She took a personal day from work and pushed her young son around in a stroller.
They got some exercise by running around the wall but made sure to return by 3:36 p.m., when Mazeroski took Ralph Terry deep.
“I didn’t think there would be this many people,” Staats said. “We saw a lady handing out I.C. Light like it’s a real ballpark. I wish I would have popped some popcorn. It’s just incredible.”
Mike Imperiale of Jeannette has always wanted to experience the Game 7 listening party. His friends talked it up, the camaraderie, the memories and passion for Pirates baseball on display.
As Imperiale took a break from listening, he couldn’t help but gaze across the street to Posvar Hall, cars lining Roberto & Vera Clemente Drive and busy Oakland has become.
It’s wild to Imperiale that there was once a ballpark here, where Maz hit the only walk-off, Game 7 homer in World Series history.
“I was only 6 when it happened, but I just remember the city going crazy,” Imperiale said. “It’s a 66-year-old game and we’re basically in the outfield where the game was being played … it’s just fantastic.”
Which is why Peck was so excited to FaceTime his grandma and share with family members what he learned. He loved the vibes created by the radio broadcast. The shown by fans after all these years, too.
It’s why Oct. 13 will always serve multiple purposes in Pittsburgh, to celebrate an historic moment and to educate younger generations about Mazeroski and the Pirates’ rich history.
“It doesn’t surprise me that people still love it,” Gary Mazeroski said. “This place has always been a sports town. It’s really just one big family.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.