Explore every episode of the podcast Pittsburgh Sports Memories
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Rooney Stories | 17 Feb 2025 | 00:45:40 | |
There is no figure in Pittsburgh sports history who is more beloved than The Chief, and over the course of doing this podcast, we have uncovered a bunch of stories that show why that is. In this episode, we will share those stories as we remember Steelers legend Art Rooney, the founder of the greatest football team ever! | |||
| REWIND: Defunct Pittsburgh Sports Venues | 10 Feb 2025 | 01:13:36 | |
There were places where some of the most cherished and legendary Pittsburgh sports moments happened. Unfortunately they all saw there prime come and go, and they now only exist in the memories of the fans who attended those famous games. On this episode we will cover the many sports venues throughout the history of Pittsburgh and recall some of the iconic moments that happened at them. | |||
| REWIND: Guys You Forgot Played for Pittsburgh | 16 Dec 2024 | 01:03:15 | |
What do the guy who made the greatest tackle in Super Bowl history, the guy who hit the most famous homerun of the past 40 years, and the guy who Mike Tomlin tried to trip on his way to the endzone all have in common? They all played for a Pittsburgh team at one point in their careers. In this episode we will look back at some famous sports names who you may have forgotten spent part of their career as a member of a Pittsburgh team. How many of these guys will you remember? | |||
| REWIND: Most Reviled Pittsburgh Sports Figures | 27 Mar 2023 | 01:12:05 | |
As fans, there are Pittsburgh sports personalities who we love, but there are also people who we love to hate! In this episode, we will remember some of the folks who drew the ire of the Pittsburgh fan base for actions both on and off the field. | |||
| A Tale of Two Seasons | 20 Mar 2023 | 01:03:57 | |
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of being favored to win the Big East championship, it was the age probably finishing fifth in the ACC Coastal. In this episode, we compare two different seasons of Pitt football: the 2010 and the 2018 seasons. We will look at the expectations and subsequent outcomes of these seasons. The consequences of these pivotal seasons changed the course and trajectory of the program in two opposite directions. | |||
| REWIND: The Penguins Turn to the Dark Side | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:45:40 | |
The Crosby/Malkin/Letang era got off to a hot start, as the Penguins won a Stanley Cup in 2009 and seemed destined for more championships. However, a combination of bad luck, injuries, and an inability to cope with adversity soon sent the franchise into a tailspin. It all culminated in a first round playoff series against the archrival/scumbag Flyers which quickly dissolved into the ugliest display of defense and sportsmanship in franchise history. We'll recap a truly ugly point in this rivalry and also talk about how it served as the springboard to a Pittsburgh championship revival several years later. | |||
| Rants and Meltdowns | 06 Mar 2023 | 01:04:44 | |
Look, we’ve all had our moments when we are upset and say or do things that we regret later. Sports figures are no different, and throughout the history of Pittsburgh sports, many players and coaches have lost their cool - sometimes via breakdowns of epic proportions. In this episode, we will revisit some of the more memorable instances of this phenomenon. | |||
| REWIND: 13 to 9 | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:55:15 | |
On the evening of December 1, 2007, West Virginia University and its fans prepared to celebrate the greatest athletics achievement in school history. They were about to play for the college football national championship and with arguably their most talented team ever, they were in good position to win it too. All they had to do first was dispose of a 4-7 Pitt team who they were favored to beat by 28 points at home. What happened next stunned an entire state, brought down a conference, and sent shockwaves throughout the college football world. | |||
| The Obscure Championship | 20 Feb 2023 | 01:03:24 | |
The 1925 World Series title is often forgotten in Pirates history. Heck, it's not even covered in Kens Burns Baseball documentary. We will look at the key players and events surrounding yet another 7th game win in the Series by the Pirates. | |||
| REWIND: Steelers of the 1980's | 13 Feb 2023 | 01:12:45 | |
Coming off of a decade of dominance, the Steelers fizzled as they tried to transition into the 1980's. Although this era didn't see a lot of winning, it did feature a lot of colorful characters and memorable moments. So break out your Walkmans and your leg warmers as we dive into 1980's Pittsburgh football! | |||
| 47 More Fun Facts About Pittsburgh Sports | 06 Feb 2023 | 01:08:11 | |
It’s a sequel to one of our most popular episodes! We will once again delve into a list of interesting and little known facts about Pittsburgh sports history. Impress your friends with the vast wealth of trivia that you will glean from this second enlightening fun facts episode! | |||
| REWIND: The Johnny Cueto Game | 30 Jan 2023 | 00:50:28 | |
After suffering through the longest losing season streak in the history of professional sports, the 2013 Pirates finally turned things around, resulting in one of the most unforgettable moments ever against the Reds in the Wild Card Game. | |||
| The 2008 Steelers (Part 2) | 23 Jan 2023 | 01:18:49 | |
After a dream season brought the Steelers to the Super Bowl, they were poised to get their 6th Lombardi after taking a big lead late into the game thanks to some James Harrison heroics. But Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald had different ideas. When it was all said and done, Super Bowl XLIII went down as arguably the greatest football game ever played. We'll do a deep dive into that game and relive the amazing memories from that magical night. | |||
| Acts of Kindness | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:52:34 | |
Pittsburgh is a town where people have each other’s back, and that spirit has been embodied by the sports figures who have played here. In this episode, we will celebrate some of the most beautiful acts of kindness in Pittsburgh sports history. | |||
| The 2008 Steelers (Part 1) | 09 Jan 2023 | 00:58:36 | |
In 2008, the Steelers put together a run for the ages. Led by a superstar QB, a ferocious defense, and a receiver who played hero week after week, the Steelers made their way to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII. In this two-part episode, we will remember all of the great moments from that championship season. | |||
| Steelers Stories | 26 Dec 2022 | 00:57:01 | |
During the course of doing this podcast, we have delved into some memorable stories about our beloved football team - the time the team nearly moved to Boston, the secret feud between two of the greatest Steelers ever, the cornerback who ignited furor by asking the Heinz Field faithful to behave themselves, the drama around Big Ben's first career start, and more. We'll wrap up 2022 by recounting some of our favorite Steelers stories. | |||
| The Immaculate Reception | 12 Dec 2022 | 00:44:51 | |
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the most famous play in sports history. Since everyone in the media will be covering this moment ad nauseam, we will attempt to put a little different spin on it. We’ll cover more of the forgotten aspects of the play and because this is a podcast where we tell stories from a fan’s perspective, we will have a special guest – a fan who was actually at the game that day! | |||
| Roller Coaster Steelers | 28 Nov 2022 | 01:04:56 | |
In this episode we’ll look back on a Steelers season in which they often vacillated between greatness and disaster. One week they would dominate an elite NFL team, suffocating them with a ferocious defense and an innovative offense. The next week they would lose to a terrible team, committing turnovers and making unbelievable special teams blunders. This unpredictable path would lead them to a point where the greatness/disaster theme would play itself out in a wild and memorable playoff game. | |||
| The X Force | 14 Nov 2022 | 00:57:12 | |
In 2005, the Penguins assembled a team of veteran superstars, young talent, and a can’t miss rookie phenom named Sidney Crosby. They called this elite group the "X Force", and their mission was to lay waste to the rest of the NHL and capture the franchise’s third Stanley Cup. However, things did not exactly go according to plan, and the X Force quickly became one of the biggest disasters in Pittsburgh sports history. Yet out of the ashes of this failed experiment, the franchise was able to build something special. | |||
| Pitt QB's in the NFL | 31 Oct 2022 | 01:00:11 | |
Fun fact: the University of Pittsburgh has sent a dozen QB's to the NFL since 1978, many of whom became starters. Some of them had legendary pro careers, some were total disasters, and some still don't have their full pro stories written yet. In this episode we will recap all of the Pitt quarterbacks who made it to the NFL. | |||
| The Pittsburgh-Detroit Connection | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:48:28 | |
Pittsburgh and Detroit are both blue collar, rust belt towns who had to reinvent themselves in recent years, but the sports histories of these two cities are more entwined than you may realize. Over the years there have been rivalries, allegiance switching, scandals, and multiple championships won on the other city’s soil. We’ll take a close look at the rich Pittsburgh-Detroit sports history which involves everyone from Ty Cobb to Marian Hossa to Groucho Marx! | |||
| Messy Exits | 03 Oct 2022 | 01:18:08 | |
There is an art to making a graceful exit. Some Pittsburgh sports figures have mastered that art - people like Jerome Bettis, Mario Lemieux, and Ben Roethlisberger. But others have had problematic exits. On this episode we will focus on the sports personalities who have had very messy exits from Pittsburgh and from the public in general. | |||
| Forgotten Controversies | 19 Sep 2022 | 00:51:18 | |
Remember the time that the NFL refused to play the National Anthem at a Steelers game? Or the time Mario Lemieux said he would rather play for someone else other than the team he owned? Or the time the Browns endangered the life of their QB in an attempt to beat the Steelers? Or the time Roberto Clemente was accused of disrespecting the city decades after his death? These were all controversies which generated a lot of outrage at the time but have since been largely lost to history. In this episode, we will re-examine the forgotten controversies of Pittsburgh sports. How many will you remember? | |||
| Most Respected Opponents | 05 Sep 2022 | 01:03:42 | |
A good adversary will bring out the best in yourself, and rivals tend to do this when our favorites teams play them. So who do Pittsburgh fans respect as opponents? In this episode, we will present a list of teams and persons that Pittsburgh sports fans respect. Let’s take some time out to show some love for the rivals who made us better. | |||
| REWIND: Greatest Overtime Games | 02 Dec 2024 | 01:11:40 | |
There is nothing more exciting in sports than overtime. The game is all on the line and in sudden death, the end can come out of nowhere. In this episode, we dive into the heart-pounding world of overtime games to recount the greatest wins and most heartbreaking moments in Pittsburgh sports history. | |||
| Kevin Colbert's Drafts | 22 Aug 2022 | 01:11:25 | |
As longtime Steelers GM Kevin Colbert heads into retirement, we will review each of the NFL drafts that he oversaw. Which picks did he hit on, which ones did he miss on, and how did they contribute to his overall legacy as Steelers general manager? | |||
| Top 10 Ben Roethlisberger Games | 08 Aug 2022 | 00:48:57 | |
After 18 seasons and many legendry moments, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement from the Steelers. We will celebrate the career of Big Ben with a countdown of his ten greatest games. Which games made the list, and will you agree with our surprise pick for #1? Tune in to find out! | |||
| The Penguins Tank for Mario | 25 Jul 2022 | 00:59:24 | |
In 1984, the Penguins were a floundering and largely unpopular franchise with an uncertain future. That’s when they were presented with a golden opportunity to turn things around. If they could somehow procure the top overall pick in the draft, they could select a teen phenom by the name of Mario Lemieux. However, getting there would require something totally unorthodox: doing everything possible to NOT WIN games. | |||
| What Grinds My Gears | 11 Jul 2022 | 01:07:15 | |
There are things that are annoying in sports which fans like to complain about, and Pittsburgh sports history has plenty of them. For better or worse, here some things that are annoying about Pittsburgh sports. | |||
| His Mind is Thought to be Deranged | 27 Jun 2022 | 01:09:23 | |
As the Pirates were enjoying arguably their greatest ever season, one of their best pitchers was struggling. Those around him were concerned, but no one expected the horrifying psychotic break that came next. It would not only threaten Pittsburgh’s opportunity to win a championship, but would also tear apart the life of a rising baseball superstar forever. In this episode we will tell the sad and often forgotten story of a Pirates pitcher whose descent into darkness had huge ramifications both on and off the field. | |||
| The 2004 Draft | 13 Jun 2022 | 00:53:06 | |
Selecting a top draft pick is always tricky but in 2004 the Steelers had a decision to make - draft a QB or go with another player. What would play out in the draft that year would affect the fortunes of three different players and franchises for years to follow. | |||
| The Lost Audio - Volume 1 | 30 May 2022 | 01:08:02 | |
This episode features a fascinating collection of forgotten audio that we dug up related to Pittsburgh sports - rare interviews, crazy soundbites, unique music, and more. Take a journey down memory lane with this compilation of sound from your favorite Pittsburgh sports stars and teams. | |||
| The Man Who Made Pitt Basketball Relevant | 16 May 2022 | 00:52:24 | |
In this episode we will cover a childhood actor who unlike Todd Bridges or Danny Bonaduce made a career for himself – not as an actor but as a basketball coach. Jamie Dixon came out of nowhere as a unknown assistant to become one of the best basketball coaches in the country. We will detail his success and eventual exit from Pitt basketball. | |||
| Top 15 Penguins Playoff Moments | 02 May 2022 | 01:01:45 | |
It’s NHL playoff time and there may be no better spectacle in sports than playoff hockey. We Penguins fans have been blessed to witness many amazing moments over the years including 5 Stanley Cup runs. In this episode, we will countdown the top 15 (because top 10 just wasn't enough) greatest playoff moments in Pens history! | |||
| The Biggest Moment in Pittsburgh Sports History | 18 Apr 2022 | 01:02:17 | |
In this episode, we will cover possibly the biggest moment in sports history. It was moment that gave the city its most improbable championship win in its history, and it's still celebrated annually to this day: the 1960 World Series and Bill Mazeroski's home run. | |||
| The Immaculate Franco Harris | 25 Nov 2024 | 00:45:05 | |
In this episode, we celebrate the legendary life and career of Steelers Hall of Famer Franco Harris. Franco made a huge impact on the field, and his influence on the Pittsburgh community along with his enduring legacy as a philanthropist made him one of the most respected figures in Pittsburgh sports history. | |||
| False Narratives in Pittsburgh Sports | 04 Apr 2022 | 01:15:18 | |
Did the Steelers really get handed Super Bowl XL by the refs? Were the Pirates really handicapped by MLB’s lack of a salary cap? Did AB only go nuts after that Vontaze Burfict hit? In this episode, we’ll attempt to debunk some of the false narratives from throughout Pittsburgh sports history. Will you agree with our assessment of these narratives being false, and will we even agree with each other? Tune it to find out! | |||
| Defunct Pittsburgh Sports Venues | 21 Mar 2022 | 01:12:57 | |
There were places where some of the most cherished and legendary Pittsburgh sports moments happened. Unfortunately they all saw there prime come and go, and they now only exist in the memories of the fans who attended those famous games. On this episode we will cover the many sports venues throughout the history of Pittsburgh and recall some of the iconic moments that happened at them. | |||
| The Great QB Dilemma | 07 Mar 2022 | 01:16:27 | |
The Steelers just lost their Super Bowl quarterback and they have no definitive choice to replace him. Sound familiar? The Steelers of course face this dilemma today, but they actually faced the same dilemma once before back in 1996. The questions were very similar: do they go with an unproven guy on the roster, do they go with a guy who had high pedigree in college, do they go with a veteran, or do they draft someone? In this episode, we will revisit that 1996 season and talk about the decisions that were made and the outcomes of those choices. And we’ll do it with an eye on what it may entail for the decisions that the team must make heading into the 2022 season. | |||
| Rise and Fall Stories with Uncle Steve | 21 Feb 2022 | 01:15:38 | |
"I like a good story well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself." - Mark Twain | |||
| Guys You Forgot Played for Pittsburgh | 07 Feb 2022 | 01:02:41 | |
What do the guy who made the greatest tackle in Super Bowl history, the guy who hit the most famous homerun of the past 40 years, and the guy who Mike Tomlin tried to trip on his way to the endzone all have in common? They all played for a Pittsburgh team at one point in their careers. In this episode we will look back at some famous sports names who you may have forgotten spent part of their career as a member of a Pittsburgh team. How many of these guys will you remember? | |||
| Overtime! | 24 Jan 2022 | 01:10:58 | |
There is nothing more exciting than overtime. It's all on the line and in sudden death, the end can come out of nowhere. On this episode we will examine the good and the heartbreaking overtime games in Pittsburgh sports history. | |||
| The Steelers Go All In For a Championship | 10 Jan 2022 | 01:09:21 | |
The Steelers are known today for building consistently competitive teams through the draft and measured free agent signings, but it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when the Steelers decided to go for broke in an effort to win a championship. The man they picked to lead this effort was a brilliant tactician who had won two championships elsewhere, but he was also a chain-smoking alcoholic whose impulsivity threatened to bring the whole thing down. The ramifications of this experiment would ultimately shape the “Steeler Way” for years to come. | |||
| Pittsburgh’s Second Golden Age | 27 Dec 2021 | 00:52:41 | |
When a great sports moments are happening, one does not always think to pause to see the bigger picture. Every so often a run of iconic players, moments, and championships all happen in a compact space of time simultaneously. In Pittsburgh the 1970’s saw that kind of a run, and then the current Pittsburgh sports era brought a second wave. We will look at how we may have just experienced one of Pittsburgh's greatest sports ages and how, sadly, it appears to be coming to an end. | |||
| Biggest Personalities in Pittsburgh Sports History | 13 Dec 2021 | 01:00:41 | |
In this episode we will look at the Pittsburgh sports characters who were larger than life. Some of these players were hall of famers and some saw their careers here flame out quickly, but all of them captivated fans with their unique disposition. | |||
| Winter Classic 2008: The Penguins Coming Out Party | 29 Nov 2021 | 00:46:02 | |
The NHL takes the party outside and the Penguins and Sabres play a classic game for the ages. We will look back at the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008 - a game that was not only a coming out party for the league and its young stars Crosby, Letang, and Malkin, but also a moment that would set a new tradition for the NHL as well. | |||
| REWIND: The Steelers Go All In For a Championship | 18 Nov 2024 | 01:09:54 | |
The Steelers are known today for building consistently competitive teams through the draft and measured free agent signings, but it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when the Steelers decided to go for broke in an effort to win a championship. The man they picked to lead this effort was a brilliant tactician who had won two championships elsewhere, but he was also a chain-smoking alcoholic whose impulsivity threatened to bring the whole thing down. The ramifications of this experiment would ultimately shape the “Steeler Way” for years to come. | |||
| When the Penguins Joined the Red Army | 15 Nov 2021 | 00:59:39 | |
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the famed Russian Red Army hockey team needed financial help to stay afloat. The help came from an unlikely partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins. What followed was an incredibly strange journey as Pittsburgh capitalism tried to entrench itself in the new “wild west” Russia with a cast of characters which included actor Michael J. Fox, vice president Al Gore, the Russian mafia, and the Walt Disney company! | |||
| The Three Coaches | 01 Nov 2021 | 01:05:48 | |
Some organizations have lots of turnover. Since the start of the Super Bowl era the Steelers have had three head coaches. We will compare the success that each head coach has had over their tenure and determine which coach had the greatest impact on the franchise. | |||
| 58 Fun Facts About Pittsburgh Sports | 18 Oct 2021 | 01:15:27 | |
We will (attempt to) regale you with many fascinating and little known facts about Pittsburgh sports history. Impress your friends with the vast wealth of trivia that you will glean from this enlightening episode! | |||