{"product_id":"when-rooney-sold-the-steelers-an-offbeat-history-of-pittsburghs-beloved-team-9798896494256","title":"When Rooney Sold the Steelers: An Offbeat History of Pittsburgh's Beloved Team","description":"\u003cp\u003eSteelers linebacker Leo Nobile once nearly drowned-during a game. Placekicker Booth Lusteg routinely warmed up by kicking paper cups instead of footballs. Buff Donelli served as head coach of the Steelers and the Duquesne University gridders-at the same time. Quarterback Cliff Stoudt earned two Super Bowl rings without once stepping onto the field. And Frank Sinatra and Franco Harris sipped wine together-at a Steelers practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese and many other unusual stories are featured in When Rooney Sold the Steelers: An Offbeat History of Pittsburgh's Beloved Team. You'll read about the Steelers linebacker who went on to fame ... as Tarzan; the team's male cheerleaders, who were terminated not long after a cannon mishap; the only individual to suit up for both the Steelers and the Pirates; and the time owner Art Rooney, a former boxing champion, punched out his head coach.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Rooney Sold the Steelers (yes, he actually did) covers key moments (and some little-known ones) in franchise history: how the Steagles, a team formed by a wartime merger of the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, finished with a winning record despite dealing with two constantly bickering head coaches; how a spelling lesson inspired Terry Bradshaw to become a Super Bowl hero; how Joe Greene drained 27 16-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola during filming of an iconic television commercial; how a lopsided Steelers victory might have prevented casualties from a plane crash; and how head coach John \"Blood\" McNally missed a game because, incredibly, he didn't realize the Steelers were playing that weekend.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Rooney Sold the Steelers also shines a spotlight on the O.J. Bowl; the Steelers standout who went on to become a Supreme Court justice; a game that featured a mind-numbing total of 31 punts; the birth of the Terrible Towel; the die-hard fan who rooted for the Steelers even after death; and how the Immaculate Reception-a play that altered the trajectory of a franchise-got its name.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Dorrance Publishing Co.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/30\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798896494256\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 204\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.62lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.43d","brand":"Bob Fulton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52491469848757,"sku":"9798896494256","price":15.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_75eabb2f-b2a0-4748-938b-3b78bfcb350d.jpg?v=1777996536","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/when-rooney-sold-the-steelers-an-offbeat-history-of-pittsburghs-beloved-team-9798896494256","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}