Iron City Beer 12 Oz Tab Top Can

1971 World Series Pirates Tribute

This 12-ounce straight steel tab top can was issued by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to celebrate the Pittsburgh Pirates' triumph in the 1971 World Series. While the primary face of the can presents the standard brand labeling, the reverse side is dedicated entirely to the championship run. The commemorative artwork features the heading "1971 World Series" followed by full line scores detailing each of the seven games played between Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Orioles. Beneath the scores, a detailed illustration captures two Pirates players leaping into an embrace on the field, anchored at the base by the team cheer, "Pour it on, Pirates".

The Brand

Iron City Beer has served as the quintessential working-class lager of Western Pennsylvania since the 1860s. Named after Pittsburgh's industrial moniker, the brand built a deeply loyal following throughout the twentieth century by inextricably linking its identity to regional pride and civic traditions. During the 1960s and 1970s, Iron City cemented this loyalty through extensive sports marketing, sponsoring game broadcasts and celebrating local team triumphs across baseball, football, and hockey.

The Brewery

The Pittsburgh Brewing Company traces its beginnings to 1861, when German immigrant Edward Frauenheim founded the Iron City Brewery in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood. In 1899, it merged with roughly a score of regional competitors to form the Pittsburgh Brewing Company. The operation weathered Prohibition by manufacturing soft drinks, ice, and near-beer. Pittsburgh Brewing became a packaging pioneer, famously partnering with Alcoa to introduce the first commercial pull-tab beer cans in 1962. Despite broader industry consolidation, the brewery remained a proud fixture of the Pittsburgh brewing landscape for generations before eventually relocating operations within Western Pennsylvania.

Collecting Context

Commemorative steel sports cans from the Pittsburgh Brewing Company represent a crossover collecting category that appeals equally to breweriana hobbyists and vintage baseball memorabilia enthusiasts. Cans commemorating landmark franchise moments—especially the historic seven-game 1971 championship—remain highly prized display pieces within thematic regional collections.