Two Oreos and a glass of milk going to bed
October 5, 2016 7:02 PM Subscribe
Phil Coyne is an usher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He first started working that job in the 1936 season.
This is amazing -- thanks for posting!
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:32 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:32 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
"To what do you attribute your longevity, Mr. Coyne?"
"It's partly favorable genetics, but mostly it's just pure chance. I'm a statistical outlier, you see. In any sufficiently large population there will be-"
"This is a puff piece for the Style section."
"Ah, OK. Just say cookies."
posted by leotrotsky at 7:46 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
"It's partly favorable genetics, but mostly it's just pure chance. I'm a statistical outlier, you see. In any sufficiently large population there will be-"
"This is a puff piece for the Style section."
"Ah, OK. Just say cookies."
posted by leotrotsky at 7:46 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I can't get enough of this kind of thing. Radio Diaries is playing recordings Studs Terkel made in the early 70s for his book Working. Same kind of stuff, like super niche ethnography.
posted by putzface_dickman at 8:31 PM on October 5, 2016
posted by putzface_dickman at 8:31 PM on October 5, 2016
The Pirates play in the most beautiful stadium in all of the big-league sports. Fitting they have the most beautiful usher in all of the big-league sports patrolling its aisles.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:50 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:50 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Thanks for posting this. I really appreciated reading about Mr. Coyne.
When I was young, my family had season tickets to the NY Rangers. Got to a point that my parents trusted the ushers enough that they would put me and my brothers, about 12-14 years old, on the LIRR to Penn Station by ourselves and we would go to our seats and the usher (whose name I am painfully forgetting) would be there to greet us and seat us. He would report back to my father at the next game or the next time he saw him how well behaved (or NOT) we were.
Edit: Just remembered that when we were misbehaving, the usher would report back, "Mr. West, the boys were spirited last game."
posted by AugustWest at 10:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
When I was young, my family had season tickets to the NY Rangers. Got to a point that my parents trusted the ushers enough that they would put me and my brothers, about 12-14 years old, on the LIRR to Penn Station by ourselves and we would go to our seats and the usher (whose name I am painfully forgetting) would be there to greet us and seat us. He would report back to my father at the next game or the next time he saw him how well behaved (or NOT) we were.
Edit: Just remembered that when we were misbehaving, the usher would report back, "Mr. West, the boys were spirited last game."
posted by AugustWest at 10:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
The Pirates play in the most beautiful stadium in all of the big-league sports. Fitting they have the most beautiful usher in all of the big-league sports patrolling its aisles.
When he started he would have been working at Forbes Field, which is definitely one of the most beautiful stadiums of its time (and would be easily the beautifulest if it were still around today).
posted by clorox at 11:16 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
When he started he would have been working at Forbes Field, which is definitely one of the most beautiful stadiums of its time (and would be easily the beautifulest if it were still around today).
posted by clorox at 11:16 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
After having my Mets break my heart tonight yet again, this was just the feelgood baseball story I needed. Thanks.
posted by old_growler at 11:30 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by old_growler at 11:30 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Another Forbes Field fan here. That thing was situated on a hillside and parking for it was miserable, but I'll never forget what it felt like to emerge from the tunnels into the stadium proper, with the stands filled with men all wearing hats, mostly in white shirts and ties. It gave me a tingle to think that when my Dad bought me my "official" Pirates Button in 1962 that Mr. Coyne was probably nearby.
posted by kinnakeet at 6:06 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by kinnakeet at 6:06 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
This photo of Forbes Field during the '60 World Series from the Cathedral of Learning is one of my favorite images today.
posted by octothorpe at 6:18 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 6:18 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Eat your heart out Cal Ripken, Jr.
posted by prepmonkey at 8:06 AM on October 6, 2016
posted by prepmonkey at 8:06 AM on October 6, 2016
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posted by leesh at 7:19 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]