Katy’s report to World Journal (世界日報): the sad closing of Honus Wagner Sporting Goods at Pittsburgh

 (Please click the following link to read the online version of Katy's dispatch)

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/wjnjpanews/11018830/article-%E7%99%BE%E5%B9%B4%E8%80%81%E5%BA%97-%E8%8F%AF%E6%A0%BC%E7%B4%8D%E6%AD%87%E6%A5%AD%E7%89%B9%E8%B3%A3?instance=panews

Today is indeed a sport day: Steelers vs. Ravens today (4:30 PM).  My letter-to-the-editor (“Reverse on verse?”) about this game was published at Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA) today.

Katy’s dispatch to the World Journal (世界日報) reporting the sad closing of a legendary sport store (at Pittsburgh) that was founded by the Pirates great, Honus Wagner, nearly one hundred years ago.  It was also published today (Jan. 15). (click the photo to enlarge it)

Honus Wagner Sporting Goods locates in Pittsburgh downtown was founded by the Pirates great, Honus Wagner, in 1919.  He was one of the first five members inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, along with Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.  One can see Wagner’s statue sitting on the North Gate of PNC Park.

The store used to be the place where sports fans hanged out on the game days and they might be lucky enough to get the autograph and have the picture taken with their sport heroes who might stop by from time to time.  His baseball card broke the record selling at $2.8 million in 2007; it was reported that the proceeds was donated to the charity.

The store is a victim of the economic downturn, the competitions from the sport chain store, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and vendors in the Strip District, let alone all the department stores or even grocery chains, all of which sell sporting goods.

Pittsburghers take pride in their sport teams.  Steelers, chasing the 7th Super Bowl Championship, is the only NFL team that has 6 Lombardis under their belt.  Pittsburgh Penguins is really hot; the NHL outdoor Winter Classic just took place at Heinz Field.  Do I have to mention the lowly Pirates? Being a devoted Pirates fan, I still have my faith, praying Pirates have seen their worst and better days are yet to come.  We believe!

And this makes it all the more sad that a sport city like Pittsburgh cannot save the legendary Honus Wagner Sporting Goods.  There went an era of family-owned sporting goods store; gone with the wind.

(The following is Katy’s dispatch to the World Journal, 世界日報)

百年老店 華格納歇業特賣 搶購鋼人球衣要快

【賓州匹茲堡訊】 世界新聞網 北美華文新聞、華商資訊

January 15, 2011 06:00 AM

職 業美式足球聯盟(NFL)外卡賽巴爾的摩烏鴉足球隊(Ravens)戰勝堪薩斯市酋長隊(Chiefs)後，今天(15日)分區季後賽，將與匹茲堡鋼人足 球隊 (Steelers) 爭勝負。不少匹茲堡華人是鋼人足球隊迷，已經相約要穿鋼人黃黑色球衣觀賽。而匹茲堡市區位於富比街(320 Forbes Ave.)、有近百年歷史的洪那斯華格納體育用品店(Honus Wagner Sporting Goods)近日宣布，該店已賣給波印帕克大學(Point Park University)，店裡有著名球員親筆簽名的球衣待售，有意採購折價品者可趁機前往.

匹茲堡是美國總統歐巴馬口中由鋼鐵業轉型到電子與生物科技業極為成功的城市，因此他於2009年選擇到匹茲堡召開G20經濟高峰會議。然而，正因為經濟轉型，加上全球不景氣，匹茲堡市區有不少商店周轉欠靈，悄然歇業。

雖 然匹茲堡的「海盜棒球隊」近年來盛況不再，但匹茲堡的「企鵝冰上曲棍球隊」卻是全美冰場翹楚。至於「鋼人足球隊」更是常勝軍，是全國唯一六度在「全美足球 超級盃」奪冠的球隊。大抵說來，匹茲堡的運動很興盛，球迷很多，華格納體育用品店因而生意鼎盛，但年邁店主後繼無人，這家1919年由著名的海盜棒球隊大 將洪那斯華格納(Honus Wagner)和友人全諾(Pie Traynor) 開創的店，只好關門大吉，今後將充當波印帕克大學的學生活動中心。

該 店店內掛有「您在鋼人國」(You Are in Steelers Country) 橫幅，常有70年代著名球員蒞臨，在球衣上簽名作為慈善活動贈品等。住匹茲堡的許多華人球迷都曾是該店常客，很多大學生也喜歡到該店流連，希望巧遇心儀的 偶像球員，可以要求簽名或合照。

住在卡內基的華格納(Wagner)，曾縱橫大聯盟棒球，是第一批受邀列入美國棒球名人堂 的球員之一。他的銅像至今仍矗立在PNC Park 海盜棒球隊「北岸球場」門口，他早年發行的棒球卡，2007年曾賣出一張棒球卡最高天價280萬美元。該運動用品店用他的名字作號召，今年終於畫 下休止符，令匹城華人球迷為之扼腕。(張瓊月)