Jim O'Brien Releasing New Book on '60 Bucs

By Mike Dudurich
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 13, 2005

Forty-five years ago today, arguably the greatest moment in Pittsburgh sports took place in Oakland.

Late in the afternoon of Oct. 13, 1960, Bill Mazeroski launched a Ralph Terry pitch over the left field wall at Forbes Field. When that ball disappeared into Schenley Park, the heavily-underdog Pirates had defeated the New York Yankees, 10-9, and won the World Series.

As has been the case since 1985 when a regular Pittsburgh guy named Saul Finkelstein began a one-man vigil at what remains of the Forbes Field wall, hundreds of Pirates fans will gather this afternoon at that spot.

Among those who'll be listening to the broadcast of that game will be Jim O'Brien, the Pittsburgh author who'll celebrate the day by releasing his newest book, "Fantasy Camp -- Living the Dream With Maz and the '60 Bucs."

O'Brien started making the visit to the wall in 1993, the year his book, "Maz and the '60 Bucs" came out.

"It's been an amazing scene over the years," O'Brien said. "We've had people meet at these things and then get married the next year on that date. Men have brought their sons and now are bringing their grandsons. I truly believe that day in 1960 was one of the most magical in Pittsburgh sports history and we see just how much so each year."

O'Brien's latest book -- the 21st he's written -- is based on a week in January he spent at the Pirates' Fantasy Camp, which allows fans to work out in Bradenton, Fla., with members of that 1960 team.

Ten members of that team -- Elroy Face, Bob Friend, Vernon Law, Bob Skinner, Gino Cimoli, Joe Gibbon, Dick Schofield, Hal Smith, Bill Virdon and Bob Oldis, camp director Nellie Briles and Chuck Tanner and Steve Blass -- put the campers through their paces daily.

"Nellie Briles gave me complete access that week and never said no to anything I asked," O'Brien said. "It was something special to be in that locker room with those guys and be able to hear the things they talked about. You just never get that today."

O'Brien described the book as one about baseball, but said it's also about life and death, especially on the death of Briles, who died two weeks after the camp.

"I'm excited and nervous about this book. I really am," he said. "Some people tell me their children might not be interested in the 1960 Pirates because that was so long ago. But this is history. I don't talk about the games that much. I try to give the fans information they don't know."

O'Brien said those who spend the afternoon at the wall will cheer at appropriate times and react with despair at others. He said it's amazing to watch the crowd, many of whom will stare at the tape player as the game is played, obviously re-living the events of that day in their minds.

The broadcast of that seventh game gets underway along Clemente Drive at 1 p.m. and end at approximately 3:36 p.m. There will be a moment of silence to honor the memories of Finkelstein and Briles, both of whom died since the last observance of this day.

Mike Dudurich can be reached at mdudurich@tribweb.com or (724) 836-5095.