Bill Mazeroski, Pirates World Series hero, dead…
Bill Mazeroski, who hit the first ever walk-off home run to end a World Series and lead the Pirates over the Yankees in 1960, died Friday.
He was 89.
Mazeroski was an eight-time Gold Glove winner whose slick fielding at second base earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame from the Veterans Committee.
Bill Mazeroski celebrating with teammates after hitting the walk-off home run in the 1960 World Series. AP
But his spotlight that will live on endlessly is the ninth-inning leadoff home run to break a 9-9 tie in Game 7, turning the Pirates into inconceivable champions despite getting outscored, 55-27, during the collection.
There is a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue of Mazeroski rounding the bases with his arms in the air and one foot on the ground exterior of the right-field gate at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.
It was unveiled in 2010 as half of the fiftieth anniversary of the long-lasting home-run trot.
The ball sailed over the left-field wall as Yogi Berra pursued it.
“Bill Mazeroski was synonymous with one of the greatest home runs in baseball history for more than 65 years,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a assertion. “While his bat delivered the first walk-off, series-ending home run in the historical past of our Fall Classic in 1960, it was Bill’s glove that earned him recognition from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. The profession Pirate was an eight-time Gold Glove second baseman, a place he performed upon the steering of Hall of Fame government Branch Rickey. Bill understood that a run saved in the sphere was as important as a run pushed in.
“Bill’s lifetime of hard work and humility was a perfect illustration of the city he represented on the diamond. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Bill’s family, his friends across our game, and all the loyal fans of Pittsburgh.”
Mazeroski turned an MLB file 1,706 double performs and turned a 10-time All-Star.
He hit .260 with a .299 on-base proportion and 138 home runs and 27 stolen bases over 17 common seasons.
“Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said. “His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship, but I will remember him most for the person he was: humble, gracious and proud to be a Pirate.”
Bill Mazeroski in 2022. AP
Mazeroski is survived by his two sons and 4 grandchildren.
“Everyone across the Pirates organization is deeply saddened by the loss of Bill Mazeroski,” Nutting added.
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