"Unlucky 21" Chronicles Pittsburgh's Darkest Sports Moments

PITTSBURGH, PA - Pittsburgh historically has experienced almost unparalleled excellence when it comes to its sports teams, but the city also has known its share of sports-related heartbreak.

There was, of course, the death of Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente in a plane crash. The Penguins lost budding star Michel Briere to an automobile accident and coach “Badger” Bob Johnson. There also were spirit-crushing games such as the Pirates Game 7 loss in the 1992 National League Championship Series and the Steelers losing to the underdog San Diego Chargers at home in the 1994 AFC Championship Game.

The city’s darkest sports moments are chronicled in a new book, “Unlucky 21,” a project spearheaded by local sports author David Finoli of Monroeville and credited to a collection of writers calling themselves The Association of Gentlemen Pittsburgh Journalists.

The primary question regarding the book is why its authors presume that people want to relive some of the city’s most awful sports moments.

“While those games were painful, they are a part of our sports history and the stories should be told,” Finoli said. Those stories “are told in unique angles, (they explain) why they happened, what was the long-reaching effect. I do think people will really enjoy the way the authors told the stories and will enjoy the book very much.”

Finoli has written 26 sports books that have highlighted the Pirates, Penguins, Steelers, Duquesne University basketball, University of Pittsburgh and others. The Monroeville resident won this year’s Pittsburgh magazine Best of the ‘Burgh local author award.

For this project, he recruited a stable of contributors that included KDKA-TV sports anchor Josh Taylor, Rooney Sports & Entertainment Group president Tom Rooney, former Pittsburgh magazine publisher Chris Fletcher, Duquesne University media professor Robert Healy, Pittsburgh Catholic staffer John Franko, Pittsburgh Pirates game day magazine editor Jim Lachimia and Sean Gibson, executive director of the Josh Gibson Foundation.

Proceeds from the book benefit the foundation, whose goal is to provide academic and athletic programs that foster leadership and scholarship. The organization is named after the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame player who played for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords locally.

Finding the book doesn’t require a trip to Barnes & Noble. Giant Eagle is selling it exclusively for the first five months and is donating $2.50 to the foundation for every book sold there when a customer uses their advantage card. “Unlucky 21” retails for $24.99.

Photo of David Finoli, Chris Fletcher and Josh Taylor via Finoli. Used with permission.

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