Legendary Pirates usher Phil Coyne, whose career spanned from Forbes Field to PNC Park, dies at age 102

Apr. 9—Phil Coyne spent eight decades as an usher for Pittsburgh Pirates games, spanning from Forbes Field to Three Rivers Stadium to PNC Park, and only one tradition lasted longer.

Known as "Philly" to family and friends, Coyne ate two Oreo cookies with a glass of milk before going to bed every night. That tradition, too, came to pass when Coyne, of Oakland, died Friday morning at age 102, just weeks before his 103rd birthday. His death came the day after the home opener and on the 20th anniversary of the first official game at PNC Park and the passing of another Pirates legend, Hall of Famer Willie Stargell.

"Phil was and always will be a true Pirates legend," Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement released by the team. "He was a hard-working, passionate family man who proudly served our country as a member of the United States Army during World War II. He worked his first Pirates game at Forbes Field at the age of 18 in 1936. For the next 82 years and more than 6,000 games until his official retirement ceremony on his 100th birthday, Phil was so much more than an usher to us and our fans. As a testament to his life of service to the game of baseball, his Pirates uniform and identification badge remain on permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. As we celebrate his life and the many fond memories we all have of Phil, our thoughts are with the entire Coyne family and his many, many friends. He was and will forever be a member of our Pirates family."

Coyne's association with the Pirates began before he started as an usher. He witnessed a 40-year-old Babe Ruth hit the final three home runs of his record-setting career for the Boston Braves on May 25, 1935 at Forbes Field. The following season, at age 18, he became an usher.

Coyne was there to witness not only the Babe's No. 714 — which would stand for nearly 39 years, before Hank Aaron broke it on April 8, 1974 — but also Bill Mazeroski's heroic home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees to win the 1960 World Series.

"All the ushers at that time, and even now, are to keep the people off the field," Coyne told the Tribune-Review in 2017. "We were down in the front and when Maz hit the home run, I just turned around and went back. I didn't want to get killed."

Coyne followed the Pirates from Forbes Field to Three Rivers Stadium, enjoying teams that won the World Series in 1971 and '79. He continued as an usher when PNC Park opened in 2001, enduring the Pirates' 20-year losing streak that ended in 2013 with the first of three consecutive wild-card berths.

"I get to pick my spot, and I'm down along third base, where I've been for years," Coyne told the Tribune-Review at the 2008 home opener. "I don't change because the people there are the same people over the years. Some of the people, I used to babysit their kids at Forbes Field and Three Rivers (Stadium), and now those kids are here with their kids."

The City of Pittsburgh honored Coyne on Aug. 29, 2017, as City Councilman Dan Gilman of Squirrel Hill presented a proclamation of Phil Coyne Day for "his remarkable commitment to the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and the Pittsburgh community and for demonstrating passion for the game of baseball."

Former Pirates president Frank Coonelly presented Coyne, who ranked No. 1 on the organization's seniority list, with two packs of Oreos. Coyne retired before the 2018 season.

"Legends never really retire," Coonelly said at the time. "If Phil has indeed worked his last Pirates game, he has served our fans with incredible grace and distinction and he certainly has earned the right to watch Pirates games with his feet up from the comfort of his easy chair."

The Pirates also celebrated Coyne's 100th birthday on April 27, 2018, with a special pre-game ceremony attended by his family and friends. The National Baseball Hall of Fame issued a proclamation and the Pirates placed a plaque in his honor in Sections 26 and 27, where he greeted fans and wiped chairs, and the grounds crew at PNC Park had "Phil 100" stenciled into the playing field. The crowd even serenaded him by singing "Happy Birthday."

"It's really been something, and I can't imagine why, but I'm thankful for it happening," Coyne said. "I'm a little old usher for 81 years and going through this great thing that they put on for me."

Pirates fans remembered Coyne on Friday for his lovable nature, with Pirates broadcaster Joe Block on Twitter calling him a "kind, kind, gentle soul who brightened the days of probably a million people in his accomplished lifetime." Coyne's nephew, Dan Coyne, said the feeling was mutual.

"Philly really was truly grateful for every Pirates fan who ever came up to him and shook his hand, gave him a hug or even asked for an autograph," Dan Coyne said in a statement released by the Pirates. "He really loved interacting with the fans and felt the kindness from everyone at the Pirates family over the decades. On behalf of the entire Coyne family, we are thankful for everyone's support during this time."

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin by email at kgorman@triblive.com or via Twitter .