08/29/2026
On this date in history – August 29, 1948…
After three weeks of drills on the Alliance College campus in Cambridge Springs, the Pittsburgh Steelers had their first exhibition game in August of 1948 against the Chicago Bears before 34,000 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
When the team returned to their training camp in Cambridge Springs, tackle Ralph Calcagni complained of not feeling well. By the next Friday morning, there was no improvement, and Calcagni was in severe pain. According to AP reports, Dr. C.E. Mullen, a local Cambridge Springs physician was summoned to the college.
After examining Calcagni, Dr. Mullen became alarmed, and the player was transported to Meadville Hospital. Calcagni had an an emergency appendicitis operation. Several hours later, at 3:30 a.m. Calcagni passed away. The Post-Gazette reported on the impact of Calcagni’s death:
“His sudden passing hung a thick gloom over the Steeler training camp in Cambridge Springs. The coaching staff and players were numbed by the great shock.”
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