Forbes
Field
copyright © CMU/Douglas Cooper
The University Center
Mural
Douglas
Cooper, Artist
School of Architecture
Carnegie Mellon University
E-mail Douglas Cooper at dcooper+@andrew.cmu.edu
Jonathan Kline, Artist
Assistant
John Trivelli, Artist Assistant
Michael Dennis Associates, Architect
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About Douglas Cooper
The Eastwall Mural
The Westwall Mural
The Northwall Mural
Frequently asked questions
How was the mural made?
Forbes Field and a lost opportunity
When Meg and I were first married, we lived on Bouquet St. just opposite to the players' entrance to the ball park. We were so close that foul balls used to land on our porch.
In the spring of 1968, the management of the Pirates decided that the players had to wear green sports jackets in order to improve the team's image about town. It just so happened that I had a green sports jacket just like theirs.
One late afternoon when I was coming back home from a jury at school, I was wearing this green jacket. I was 21. I could have passed for a ball player; and it was just about the time the players used to arrive. I was walking along Sennot St. next to the park when this young kid comes up to me holding out a ball and shyly asks for my autograph.
Here was this moment of truth, and I blew it. I admitted that I was not on the team. Just imagine if I had lied. This kid now middle-aged might still be calling up talk shows wondering who was this player named Douglas Cooper on the '68 Pirates whom he'd never been able to find in any register.