Influential area stations.

[FreddyE1977]

and we can't forget that the Pirates' big drug scandal in the mid-80's did much to tarnish their
popularity locally, even before 17 consecutive years of losing baseball.

 

[COPANUT]

Aside from having the Steelers on radio, remember that Channel 4, with whom they were co-owned at the time, had the strongest TV sports image in the market with Cope, Hillgrove, Steigerwald and Steve Zabriskie (Cope chirping "Love it, Big Z, Love it!!" in their "Front 4" promos). The Terrible Towel was created largely by Myron on TV (and who can forget "Deck the Broncos They're Just Yonkos"?).

And sorry, NOTHING could have made the ABA popular here. FYI the games were on WJAS.

I clearly remember a commercial with Hillgrove, Cope, Steigerwald, and Savarn on a golf course. That was quite the collection of talent. I believe the Big Z left to be a baseball announcer.

As to the Pipers: Some of my best high school memories were going to that first season when they won the championship. What a great league, who knows, if the league hadn't moved them the following year, they might have had more success. When they came back as the Condors, game over. But I saw some great players: Dr J, Rick Barry, Artis Gilmore, and the immortal Skeeter Swift. You can't buy memories like that!!! ;D