Feb. 22, 1978
The annual City Game between Pitt and Duquesne is a basketball rivalry that has gone on for decades. And it has been, at times, pretty raucous. Like on this day, according to the book, Tales From the Pitt Panthers, by Sam Sciullo. Pitt would win the game 72-65, but the most excitement came when Dukes coach John Cinicola complained to the referee that Pitt’s pep band was playing “at what he believed were inappropriate times.” Taking exception to the complaint, Pitt coach Tim Grgurich walked over to the band and asked them to play even louder.
Feb. 23, 1979
The Pittsburgh Pirates hold open tryouts at Three Rivers Stadium for their new mascot, the Pirate Parrot. He would debut on April 1, 1979.
Feb. 23, 1989
Pittsburgh Steelers’ legendary center Mike Webster officially retires. Always an impact on the field, Webster also made an impact following his death, in 2002, when Dr. Bennet Omalu diagnosed Webster with the brain-impact disorder, CTE.
Feb. 25, 2012
Pittsburgh Penguin Evgeni Malkin scores a hat trick in an 8-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Feb. 26, 1984
The USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers play their first professional game, a 7-3 loss to Oklahoma.
Feb. 27, 1948
Legendary Pirates third baseman Pie Traynor is elected to the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. He was with the team first as a player, then as a manager from 1920-1939. Traynor made it on his fifth ballot.
Feb. 27, 1980
Apparently hoping to capitalize on his Super Bowl MVP win, Terry Bradshaw holds a press conference announcing that he is launching a product called Terry’s Creamy Peanut Butter. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported about the event: “Bradshaw dipped a knife into a jar of Terry’s Creamy Peanut Butter and wiped a gob of the stuff on a Ritz Cracker. He popped the morsel into his mouth, chewed slowly and uttered a profound sigh of satisfaction, ‘Ummm-uh,’ grunted Terry. ‘Smooth as silk.’”
