Why are the colors of Pittsburgh pro teams black and gold?

[brush]

Just wondering.

[LakeArenal]

1. I suppose the same reason there are Cubs and Bears in Chicago

[brush]

3. Good answer. Like Tigers and Lions in Detroit.

There's got to be a reason why all the black and gold though.

[Funtatlaguy]

2. My guess would be they are the colors of U S Steel?

[qazplm135]

4. probably the original owner just liked those colors

or had some special significance to them.

[BBG]

5. From the inter web...

It's pretty simple - they are the colors of Pittsburgh's flag, which in turn, is based on the coat of arms of William Pitt, the 18th century British prime minister for whom the city is named.

[brush]

7. Thank you. That sounds like the real deal.

[GeorgeGist]

8. For the curious ...

?c=1

[brush]

12. Is that the city flag?

[unblock]

6. because razzmatazz and feldspar didn't do as well in the focus group.

[rsdsharp]

9. Up until 1948 the Pirates colors were usually red and blue.

Last edited Thu Oct 15, 2020, 05:41 PM - Edit history (1)

A few years they were just blue. Why the switched to black and gold I don’t know.

[doc03]

10. Maybe for coal and steel. nt

[El Supremo]

11. Educational:

&ab_channel=FOXSports

[caraher]

13. The Penguins originally wore blue and white

In 1980 they changed to match the other teams (the Steelers, of course, had Super Bowl wins in the late 1970s, and the Pirates had a 1979 pennant run, so I think they were hoping success - or at least fans - would come with the colors).