Top 10 Images in Pittsburgh Sports History

10.) Jerome Lane

"Send it in, Jerome."

9.) Jack Lambert

Jack Lambert was a 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a key component to the greatest defense the NFL has ever seen, the Steel Curtain of the 70's.  This picture personified the toughness that Lambert played with and the fear that the Steel Curtain instilled in every team they played.

8.) Lynn Swann

Talk about hand-eye coordination. With a name like Swann, it was only fitting for him to make this catch.  It remains one of the most acrobatic, graceful catches in Super Bowl history. Swann became known for this catch over the years and I can't see him complaining about that.  He caught four passes for a then Super Bowl record 161 yards and one touchdown pulling in the MVP of Super Bowl X. 

7.) Talbot Ices It

When you think of the current Penguins you think of Crosby, Malkin, or Staal, but Max Talbot is forever part of Penguins history with his clutch 2 goal performance in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals against the Red Wings.  The Penguins wound up winning 2-1 with Talbot scoring both goals.  His second one being an absolute snipe of the top right corner on Wings goalie Chris Osgood.  Osgood is still trying to figure out how that puck slipped past him.  The Penguins got revenge on the Red Wings for beating them in the previous Stanley Cup Finals and this marked the 3rd Stanley Cup in Pens history.

6.) The Immaculate Redemption

The Colts came into this game as heavy favorites against the 6th seeded Steelers, having already smacked them 26-7 earlier that year.  No-one expected the Steelers to hold up against against the Colts lethal offensive attack led by their maestro Peyton Manning.  The Steelers had others plans in mind and thoroughly dominated the game with their defense.  Manning was rattled from start to finish and this game should have been over with a late Troy Polamalu interception, but the refs blew the call and left the door open for one of the craziest endings in sports.  Up 21-18 with a little over a minute to play, all the Steelers had to do was run the clock out.  Jerome Bettis was called in to ice the game, but ended up fumbling the ball on the Colts 2 yards line and Nick Harper scooped it up and looked like he was going to take it all the way for the game clinching touchdown.  The only man back for the Steelers was Roethlisberger and somehow he managed to make the most crucial tackle in recent Steeler history.  The Colts went on to miss the game tying field goal, making Roethlisberger the hero for his remarkable defensive effort. The Steelers would go on to win the franchise's 5th Super Bowl against the Seahawks later that year.

5.) Clemente's 3000th

This picture epitomizes Roberto Clemente and his ever lasting humility.  His last and final hit in baseball was the historical milestone of 3000.  Clemente died the next off season when his plane crashed en route to  the country of Nicaragua where he was racing to aid earthquake victims.  My dad always claims Roberto Clemente was the greatest baseball player of all-time, I can't disagree.

4.) Le Magnifique raising the Stanley Cup

In 1984, Mario Lemieux wanted a seven figure contract from the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Eddie Johnson, the team's General Manager, was hesitant on giving him one.  The Penguins drafted Lemieux with no promise of this contract and Lemieux refused to walk on stage when his name was called.  A few weeks later, Johnson gave him that contract and what ensued was extraordinary.  Lemieux was the greatest and most talented hockey player in NHL history and in 1991, he carried the Penguins to winning the franchise's first Stanley Cup.  Simply the best.

3.) The Catch

With perfect dexterity, Santonio Holmes made this corner end-zone catch to help the Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.  To this day, I still have no idea how Holmes managed to get both feet in bounds and maintain control of the football.  The biggest players always show up on the biggest stages. With 35 seconds remaining, Holmes did just that.  Clutch.

2.) The Immaculate Reception

Arguably the greatest play in NFL history, the "Immaculate Reception" still seems magical to this day.  The play will be forever immortalized in Steeler lure for it marked the turning point in the franchise.  This play led to the Steelers defeating the Raiders 12-7 that day and gave the franchise its first playoff victory in its history.  The Steelers were beat in the AFC Championship by those historical 1972 Dolphins, but the foundation for winning was laid for  years to come.  Six Super Bowl's later, the Steelers are regarded as the greatest franchise in NFL history.

1.) Mazeroski

The only game 7 walk off home run in MLB history lands at the top spot.  With the score tied at 9-9, Bill Mazeroski finished off the vaunted Yankees, with a solo shot, in the bottom of the 9th of the seventh game to lead the Pirates to their first World Series title since 1925.  The 1960 World Series was one of the strangest series ever played.  The Bronx Bombers outscored the Buccos 55-27 in the series and won their 3 games by scores of 10-0, 16-3, and 12-0, but somehow the Pirates still managed to take the series in 7 games.  The MVP of the series was Bobby Richardson, the 2nd baseman for the Yankees, and he was the only World Series MVP to ever be selected from the losing team.  The Pirates were the epitome of a team with Maz leading them to victory.  He will be forever rounding those bases at Forbes Field, spinning his arms, floating to home plate to finish one of the most magical moments in sports history.