‘So much more than an usher’
Legendary Pittsburgh ballpark staple Phil Coyne dies at 102
Phil Coyne was known far and wide for his age, with the usher officially retiring after reaching the century mark a few seasons ago. But for anyone who knew Mr. Coyne, what made him special involved the opposite end of the numerical spectrum.
As much as PNC Park is known for its immaculate views, it was also the place where you could see his irreplaceable and effervescent smile.
The place where you could spend a mere 30 seconds chatting with the legendary usher and walk away in a better mood
“Phil was and always will be a true Pirates legend. He was a hard-working, passionate family man who proudly served our country. ... Phil was so much more than an usher to us and our fans.” — Bob Nutting,
because of his enthusiasm and rosy outlook on life that permeated three professional baseball parks in Pittsburgh, an incredible run of longevity that dated back to the Great Depression.
Mr. Coyne died Friday morning at age 102, his family and the Pirates announced. It was one day after the home opener, and 20 years after the first game in PNC Park’s history. His death was felt by the organization and fans alike. Phil Coyne was supposed to live forever — and damn if he didn’t try.
Everybody knew Phil. Everybody loved Phil. He spent more than eight decades working for the team, and it’s only a matter of time until there’s a bronze something or other honoring him at PNC Park. His joie de vivre and interactions with customers brightened the surliest of moods. His interactions with children hooked them on a sport for years to come.
“‘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,” Mr. Coyne’s nephew, Dan, said in a statement issued 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.”
When Mr. Coyne retired in 2018, the Pirates estimated that he worked more than 6,000 home games — pretty much every one since 1936, when he started as a teenager at Forbes Field, not far from where he was raised. His last full season was 2017.
His tenure as an usher was stopped for four years because he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His longtime day job was as a machinist, until he retired the first time in 1980.
“Phil was and always will be a true Pirates legend,” owner Bob Nutting said in a statement. “He was a hardworking, passionate family manwho proudly served our country. ... Phil was so much
owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates
more than an usher to us and our fans.”
In all, he worked an astounding 82 seasons for the team. At PNC Park, Mr. Coyne most often worked sections 26 and 27, which are located down the third-base line. He said on numerous occasions that he didn’t want to change sections because he grew close to the people sitting there. If he had, a trail of Pirates fans would’ve followed.
When he retired, the Pirates presented him with a plaque honoring his incredible tenure, naming those sections in his honor. For his 99th birthday, they gave the beloved usher a Pirates jersey with his name and the number “99” on the back.
“We could all sit back, whether it’s 80 years or 10 years that we’ve been going to the same job, and bring that type of joy and newness and freshness that he brings to the job every single day,” Pirates President Frank Coonelly said at the time.
Perhaps the ultimate honor, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum requested Mr. Coyne’s uniform and ID badge for display.They remain on permanent display in Cooperstown, N.Y.
A walking, talking baseball museum who was unfailingly nice to everyone he met, he watched live at Forbes Field in 1935 when a 40year-old Babe Ruth hit the last three of his 714 home runs.
The next year, he began his job as an usher. He was there when Bill Mazeroski hit his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. He obviously moved with the team to Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park.
A story he liked to tell involved the moment of mayhem after Mr. Mazeroski’s home run, when Mr. Coyne sort of hilariously threw his arms up in the air, and Pirates fans began to storm to the field.
“We were supposed to keep people off the field,” he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in April 2017. “I just turned around and went back. I let them go.”
Growing up in Oakland, Mr. Coyne — who was born April 27, 1918 — used to spend Saturdays playing right field during kids days at Forbes Field.
Not yet an usher whenever Ruth smacked his legendary three homers, he was one of many chasing after the final one.
“I think it’s still out there,” he joked.
In August 2017, a couple of months before he officially retired, Pittsburgh City Council declared Aug. 29 “Phil Coyne Day.”
Mr. Coyne’s childlike enthusiasm for life never dissipated, regardless of age or setting. There’s a very good chance he never had a bad day. His nightly tradition was two Oreos and a glass of milk, something the cookie company learned about and subsequently sent him a case of Oreos in 2016.
Balance issues forced him to retire. He also dealt with knee pain and used a cane. But despite some completely understandable health issues, he never really aged, at least not inside. He remained the nicest man in the ballpark, the happiest and luckiest guy you could ever want to meet.
The oldest of eight children, Mr. Coyne expertly blended that childhood wonder and happiness with fundamental decency that was impossible not to love.
“I try to be good to everybody,” he said a couple of years ago. “Everybody’s been good to me.”