# Forbes Field in Pittsburgh: what was the strip along the 3rd base line? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 13, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754 "2016-11-13T02:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754/1 "2016-11-13T02:18:23Z")
> **[Forbes Field 079CWC 568 copy](https://bradystewartcollection.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/the-oakland-neighborhood-of-pittsburgh/forbes-field-079cwc-568-copy/)** > > Forbes Field – 1970 > **[Forbes Field - history, photos and more of the Pittsburgh Pirates former...](https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/forbes-field/)** > > Information and pictures of Forbes Field, former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates In the two photographs of old Forbes Field, there is a strange strip of material running in foul territory parallel to the third base line. In the second linked photo, it connects with a larger patch of the same material right behind home plate. Does anybody remember what these were for? ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754/2 "2016-11-13T02:46:08Z")
Is this the auto-tarp? Fred Clarke patented a device to cover the infield quickly, and I _think_ that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754/3 "2016-11-13T02:52:36Z")
From [here](http://research.sabr.org/journals/forbes-field-praised-as-a-gem-when-it-opened): > [@](#): > > Rain would not stop a game unless it were heavy because of the good drainage system and a new type of canvas infield tarp. This tarp would rise from underneath the field in foul territory behind the home plate-third base area and could be rolled over the entire infield in one piece. The rolling out or rolling up of the tarp would be done mechanically, with groundskeepers required only to make sure it was going in or out straight. Ironically, this tarp system, which is now in use at Three Rivers Stadium, was patented by the 1909 Pirates’ manager, Fred Clarke. I’ve crossed [Forbes Field’s home plate](http://www.tour.pitt.edu/tour/wesley-w-posvar-hall) myself at least 100 times, but never touched it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754/4 "2016-11-13T02:58:17Z")
Sorry for the tri-post, but [here’s the patent itself](https://patents.google.com/patent/US983857A/en). Note the larger rectangle for the gear box/crank. It’s on the home plate side, and that’s the larger area you see near the umpire in your original pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754/5 "2016-11-13T19:06:06Z")
Thank you! I haven’t been wondering my whole life or anything, but I saw a picture a month or two ago and had no idea what it could be. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbes-field-in-pittsburgh-what-was-the-strip-along-the-3rd-base-line/771754/6 "2016-11-16T02:11:25Z")
It sounds really cool, but I can’t seem to Google up any photos of it in action (film would be really nice). Dennis