Bill Mazeroski, the National Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman who won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, has died at the age of 89.
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, “Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend. 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.”
Former Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski prepares to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The Associated Press
kAm|2K6C@D<: 5:65 uC:52J[ E96 !:C2E6D D2:5] }@ 42FD6 @7 562E9 H2D 8:G6?]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m‘s676?D:G6 H:K2C5’k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmt=64E65 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= q2D632== w2== @7 u2>6 3J E96 ‘6E6C2?D r@>>:EE66 😕 a__`[ 96 H2D[ 3J D@>6 >62DFC6D[ ?@ DFA6CDE2C] |2K6C@D<: 925 E96 =@H6DE 32EE:?8 2G6C286[ @?\32D6 A6C46?E286 2?5 DE@=6? 32D6 E@E2= @7 2?J D64@?5 32D6>2? 😕 r@@A6CDE@H?]k^Am
kAmw6 9:E ;FDE ]ae_ =:76E:>6[ H:E9 `bg 9@>6CD 2?5 af DE@=6? 32D6D 😕 `f J62CD[ 2?5 925 2? @?\32D6 A6C46?E286 @7 ]ahh] w6 ?6G6C 32EE65 ]b__[ ?6G6C 2AAC@24965 `__ CF?D 32EE65 @C `__ CF?D D4@C65 2?5 @?=J @?46 7:?:D965 😕 E96 E@A `_ 7@C >@DE G2=F23=6 A=2J6C]k^Am
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Bill Mazeroski is pictured in 1967. (AP Photo)
STF
kAmw:D 36DE BF2=:E:6D H6C6 3@E9 E2?8:3=6 2?5 36J@?5 E96 3@I D4@C6] w:D 92== @7 72>6 A=2BF6 AC2:D6D 9:> 2D 2 “5676?D:G6 H:K2C5” H:E9 “92C5\?@D65 9FDE=6” 2?5 2 “BF:6E H@C< 6E9:4]”k^Am
kAmp `_\E:>6 p==\$E2C[ 96 EFC?65 2 >2;@C =628F6 C64@C5 `[f_e 5@F3=6 A=2JD[ 62C?:?8 E96 ?:42>6 “}@ w2?5D” 7@C 9@H BF:4<=J 96 7:6=565 8C@F?56CD 2?5 C6=2J65 E96>]k^Am
kAmw6 =65 E96 }2E:@?2= {628F6 ?:?6 E:>6D 😕 2DD:DED 7@C D64@?5 32D6>6? 2?5 92D 366? 4:E65 3J DE2E:DE:4:2? q:== y2>6D 2D E96 82>6’D 8C62E6DE 5676?D:G6 A=2J6C 2E 9:D A@D:E:@? – 3J 72C]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< 5676?D6 36=@?8D 😕 E96 92== @7 72>6[” |2K6C@D<: D2:5[ 5676?D:G6=J[ 5FC:?8 9:D 92== @7 72>6 :?5F4E:@? DA6649] “s676?D6 56D6CG6D 2D >F49 4C65:E 2D A:E49:?8 2?5 x’> AC@F5 E@ 36 8@:?8 😕 2D 2 5676?D:G6 A=2J6C]”k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mp 9@>6 CF? 7@C E96 286Dk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmw:D 42C66C’D D:8?2EFC6 >@>6?E E@@< A=246 😕 E96 32EE6C’D 3@I[ 2D E96 DBF2C6\;2H65[ E@3244@\496H:?8 |2K6C@D<:[ 2 4@2= >:?6C’D D@? 7C@> (6DE ‘:C8:?:2[ =:G65 @FE E96 5C62> @7 D@ >2?J <:5D H9@ E9@F89E @7 A=2J:?8 AC@76DD:@?2= 32==]k^Am
Infielder Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates keeps his eye on the bouncing ball during a workout at spring training camp in Lakeland, Fla., March 14, 1968.
Preston Stroup
kAm%96 !:C2E6D 925 ?@E C624965 E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D D:?46 `haf[ H96? E96J H6C6 DH6AE 3J E96 }6H *@C< *2?<66D[ 2?5 282:? 72465 E96 *2?<66D 😕 `he_]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 }6H *@C< H2D =65 3J |:4<6J |2?E=6 2?5 #@86C |2C:D[ !:EED3FC89 925 76H AC@>:?6?E ?2>6D 36J@?5 2 J@F?8 #@36CE@ r=6>6?E6] %96J C6=:65 @? 9:EE6CD C2?8:?8 7C@> D9@CEDE@A 2?5 =628F6 |’! s:4< vC@2E E@ @FE7:6=56C q@3 $<:??6C[ 2?5 DE2CE:?8 A:E496CD ‘6C?@? {2H 2?5 q@3 uC:6?5]k^Am
kAm|2K6C@D<:[ H9@ EFC?65 ac E92E $6AE6>36C[ 7:?:D965 E96 D62D@? H:E9 2 ]afb 2G6C286 2?5 FDF2==J 32EE65 6:89E9]k^Am
kAm%96 D6C:6D E@=5 @?6 DE@CJ 😕 E96 CF?D 4@=F>? 2?5 2?@E96C 😕 H:?D 2?5 =@DD6D] %96 *2?<66D @FED4@C65 E96 !:C2E6D dd\af[ 2?5 bg\b 😕 E96 E9C66 82>6D E96J H@?]k^Am
kAm|2K6C@D<:’D 4@F?E6CA2CE @? }6H *@C<[ q@33J #:492C5D@?[ 5C@G6 😕 2 C64@C5 `a CF?D 2?5 H2D ?2>65 E96 D6C:6D’ |’! – 6G6? E9@F89 96 H2D @? E96 =@D:?8 E62>] (9:E6J u@C5 D9FE @FE E96 !:C2E6D EH:46[ @? 9:D H2J E@ 2 E96?\C64@C5 bb a^b DEC2:89E D4@C6=6DD (@C=5 $6C:6D :??:?8D 7@C E96 *2?<66D 246]k^Am
kAm%96 !:C2E6D’ 7:CDE E9C66 H:?D H6C6?’E ?62C=J D@ DA64E24F=2C[ 3FE E96J H6C6 G:4E@C:6D – 2?5 |2K6C@D<: 96=A65] w6 9:E 2 EH@\CF? 9@>6C 😕 E96 7@FCE9 :??:?8 @77 E96 *2?<66D’ y:> r@2E6D 😕 v2>6 `[ 2 e\c !:C2E6 G:4E@CJ[ 2?5 2 EH@\CF? 5@F3=6 😕 E96 D64@?5 :??:?8 @77 pCE s:E>2C 😕 v2>6 d[ 2 d\a !:EED3FC89 H:?]k^Am
kAmx? v2>6 f[ 96 D2G65 9:D 3:8 9:E 7@C E96 6?5]k^Am
kAm$@>6 be[___ 72?D 2E !:EED3FC89’D u@C36D u:6=5[ 2?5 >2?J >@C6 EF?:?8 😕 @? C25:@ 2?5 E6=6G:D:@?[ 28@?:K65 E9C@F89 @?6 @7 E96 72== 4=2DD:4’D H:=56DE 2?5 >@DE 6>@E:@?2= 4@?4=FD:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 =625 492?865 324< 2?5 7@CE9 2D !:EED3FC89 D4@C65 E96 82>6’D 7:CDE 7@FC CF?D[ @?=J E@ 72== 369:?5 2D E96 *2?<66D C2==:65 😕 E96 >:55=6 :??:?8D 2?5 H6?E 29625 f\c 😕 E96 E@A @7 E96 6:89E9]k^Am
kAm!:EED3FC89 C6E@@< E96 =625 H:E9 7:G6 CF?D 😕 E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 6:89E9[ 96=A65 😕 A2CE 3J 2 A@E6?E:2= 5@F3=6\A=2J 8C@F?56C E92E E@@< 2 325 9@A 2?5 DECF4< *2?<66D D9@CEDE@A %@?J zF36< 😕 E96 E9C@2E] %96 *2?<66D 42>6 C:89E 324< 2?5 E:65 E96 D4@C6 2E h\2== 😕 E96 E@A @7 E96 ?:?E9]k^Am
kAm%96 3@EE@> @7 E96 ?:?E9 92D 366? C6=:G65[ ?@E 2=H2JD 3J 49@:46[ 3J E96 EH@ E62>D 2?5 3J 86?6C2E:@?D @7 72?D] %96 }6H *@C< A:E496C H2D #2=A9 %6CCJ[ 2 C:89E\92?56C H9@> >2?286C r2D6J $E6?86= 925 3C@F89E 😕 5FC:?8 E96 AC6G:@FD :??:?8 2?5 H@F=5 =2E6C 24@H=6586 E92E 96 925 2 E:C65 2C>]k^Am
kAm%96 C:89E\92?565 9:EE:?8 |2K6C@D<:[ H9@ 925 8C@F?565 :?E@ 2 5@F3=6 A=2J 😕 9:D AC6G:@FD 2AA62C2?46[ H2D FA 7:CDE]k^Am
kAm%6CCJ DE2CE65 H:E9 2 72DE32==[ 42==65 9:89 7@C 2 32==] p7E6C 4@?76CC:?8 3C:67=J H:E9 42E496C y@9??J q=2?492C5[ H9@ C6>:?565 9:> E@ <66A 9:D A:E496D 5@H?[ 96 E9C6H H92E |2K6C@D<: H@F=5 42== 2 D=:56C E92E 5:5?’E D=:56]k^Am
kAm|2K6C@D<: 8@E F?56C :E 2?5 36=E65 :E E@ =67E[ E96 32== C:D:?8 2?5 C:D:?8 2D :E 4=62C65 E96 9:89[ :GJ\4@G6C65 3C:4< H2==[ H:E9 *2?<66D =67E 7:6=56C *@8: q6CC2 4:C4=:?8 F?56C :E[ E96? EFC?:?8 2H2J 😕 56762E]k^Am
FILE – In this Oct. 13, 1960, file photo, fans rush onto the field toward Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bill Mazeroski as he comes home on his Game 7-ending home run in the ninth inning to win the World Series against the New York Yankees in Pittsburgh. New York was victimized in 1960, when Mazeroski led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer that gave Pittsburgh a 10-9 win. That slugfest was a wild one, with 10 runs scored in the final two innings. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
The Associated Press
kAm%96 H9@=6 4:EJ D66>65 E@ 6CFAE[ 2D :7 2== 925 DHF?8 E96 32E H:E9 9:>[ 2D :7 96 H6C6 6G6CJ F?56C5@8 H9@ =@?865 E@ 362E E96 92E65 *2?<66D]k^Am
kAm|2K6C@D<: 52D965 2C@F?5 E96 32D6D[ 8C:??:?8 2?5 H2G:?8 9:D 42A[ ;@:?65 3J 46=63C2?ED 7C@> E96 DE2?5D H9@ 925 CFD965 @? E@ E96 7:6=5 2?5 7@==@H65 9:> E@ 9@>6 A=2E6[ H96C6 9:D E62>>2E6D 6>3C2465 9:>]k^Am
kAm“x H2D ;FDE =@@<:?8 E@ 86E @? 32D6[″ 96 E@=5 %96 }6H *@C< %:>6D 😕 `hgd] ″}@E9:?8 72?4J[ ;FDE =@@<:?8 7@C 2 72DE32== F?E:= 96 8@E 2 DEC:<6 @? >6] x E9@F89E :E H@F=5 36 @77 E96 H2==[ 2?5 x H2?E65 E@ >2<6 E9:C5 :7 E96 32== C:4@496E65 2H2J 7C@> q6CC2] (96? x 8@E 2C@F?5 7:CDE 2?5 H2D 5:88:?8 7@C D64@?5[ x D2H E96 F>A:C6 H2G:?8 4:C4=6D 23@G6 9:D 9625 2?5 x 6H :E H2D @G6C]”k^Am
kAmt$!} 92D 42==65 :E E96 8C62E6DE 9@>6 CF? 😕 >2;@C =628F6 9:DE@CJ] xE H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 2 (@C=5 $6C:6D 925 6?565 @? 2 9@>6C[ =625:?8 E@ 6?5FC:?8 H2G6D @7 46=63C2E:@? 2?5 56DA2:C]k^Am
kAm!:C2E6D 7@==@H6CD >6>@C:K65 E96 52E6[ $2EFC52J[ ~4E] `b[ `he_[ 2?5 E96 =@42= E:>6 @7 |2K6C@D<:’D 9:E[ bibe A]>] u@C36D u:6=5 H2D E@C? 5@H? 😕 E96 `hf_D[ 3FE 2 564256 =2E6C[ 72?D 3682? 82E96C:?8 6G6CJ ~4E] `b 2E E96 A2C<’D =@?6 C6>?2?E[ E96 46?E6C 7:6=5 H2== 😕 ~2<=2?5 @? E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 !:EED3FC89VD 42>AFD[ 2?5 =:DE6?65 E@ E96 @C:8:?2= 3C@2542DE]k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ |2?E=6 H@F=5 D@3 @? E96 A=2?6 C:56 9@>6 😕 `he_[ :?D:DE:?8 E96 36EE6C E62> 925 =@DE] u@C5 H@F=5 7@C J62CD C6>2:? 2?8CJ 2E $E6?86= – 7:C65 7:G6 52JD 27E6C E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D – 7@C FD:?8 9:> 😕 82>6D b 2?5 e 2?5 >2<:?8 9:> F?2G2:=23=6 E@ DE2CE 2 E9:C5 E:>6]k^Am
kAm$:?86C q:?8 rC@D3J[ 2 4@\@H?6C @7 E96 !:C2E6D[ H2D D@ 27C2:5 96’5 ;:?I 9:D E62> E92E 96 =:DE6?65 E@ E96 82>6 H:E9 7C:6?5D 24C@DD E96 pE=2?E:4 ~462?[ 😕 !2C:D]k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6 😕 E9:D 362FE:7F= 2A2CE>6?E[ =:DE6?:?8 @? D9@CEH2G6[ 2?5 H96? :E 8@E 4=@D6[ q:?8 @A6?65 2 3@EE=6 @7 $4@E49 2?5 H2D E2AA:?8 :E 282:?DE E96 >2?E6=[” 9:D H:5@H[ z2E9CJ? rC@D3J[ E@=5 E96 %:>6D 😕 a_`_] “(96? |2K6C@D<: 9:E E96 9@>6 CF?[ 96 E2AA65 :E 92C5] %96 $4@E49 7=6H :?E@ E96 7:C6A=246 2?5 DE2CE65 2 4@?7=28C2E:@?]”k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mp E62> A=2J6Ck^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm|2K6C@D<: H2D 2 !:C2E6 7@C 9:D 6?E:C6 E:>6 😕 E96 >2;@CD 2?5 H2D 2 E62> >2? @77 E96 7:6=5] w:D H:76[ |:=6?6 }:49@=D@?[ H2D 2 7C@?E @77:46 6>A=@J66 H9@> 96 >6E E9C@F89 !:EED3FC89 >2?286C s2??J |FCE2F89] %96J H6C6 >2CC:65 😕 `hdg[ 925 EH@ D@?D 2?5 C6>2:?65 E@86E96C F?E:= 96C 562E9 😕 a_ac]k^Am
kAm(:==:2> $E2?=6J |2K6C@D<: H2D 3@C? 😕 (966=:?8[ (6DE ‘:C8:?:2[ 5FC:?8 E96 vC62E s6AC6DD:@?[ 8C6H FA 😕 62DE6C? ~9:@[ 2?5 =:G65 7@C 2 E:>6 😕 2 @?6\C@@> 9@FD6 H:E9@FE 6=64EC:4:EJ @C :?5@@C A=F>3:?8] w:D 72E96C[ {@F:D |2K6C@D<:[ 925 9@A65 9:>D6=7 E@ 36 2 32==A=2J6C 2?5 6?4@FC2865 9:D D@?’D =@G6 7@C DA@CED[ 6G6? AC24E:4:?8 H:E9 9:> 3J 92G:?8 q:== 7:6=5 E6??:D 32==D E9C@H? 282:?DE 2 3C:4< H2==]k^Am
The city skyinle rises above a bronze statue along the Allegheny River outside PNC Park on a rainy Friday, March 31, 2017, in Pittsburgh. The statue depicts Pittsburgh Pirates Hall-of-Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski rounding the bases after hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the New York Yankees in the bottom of the ninth inning in game seven and win the 1960 Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Keith Srakocic
kAmp=E9@F89 2 DE2C 😕 32D<6E32== 2?5 7@@E32==[ 96 72G@C65 32D632== 2?5 H2D 8@@5 6?@F89 E@ 36 5C27E65 3J E96 !:C2E6D 2E 286 `f[ 😕 `hdc] |2K6C@D<: H2D 2 D9@CEDE@A 7@C 2 E62> H:E9 ?F>6C@FD AC@DA64ED 2E E92E A@D:E:@?[ 2?5 925 DH:E4965 E@ D64@?5 3J 9:D C@@<:6 J62C[ `hde] tG6? 2D 2 A2CE\E:>6 A=2J6C 2E E96 6?5 @7 9:D 42C66C[ 96 H2D 2 =6256C 2?5 DE625J AC6D6?46 @? E96 `hf` E62> E92E 762EFC65 r=6>6?E6 2?5 (:==:6 $E2C86== 2?5 56762E65 E96 q2=E:>@C6 ~C:@=6D 😕 E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 9:D 7:?2= D62D@?[ `hfa[ |2K6C@D<: 4@24965 3C:67=J 7@C E96 !:C2E6D 2?5 E96 $62EE=6 |2C:?6CD 2?5 H2D 2? :?7:6=5 :?DECF4E@C 7@C !:EED3FC89 5FC:?8 DAC:?8 EC2:?:?8] x? `hgf[ E96 !:C2E6D C6E:C65 9:D F?:7@C> ?F>36C[ h]k^Am
kAm%96 d_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 9:D v2>6 f 96C@:4D H2D >2C<65 😕 a_`_ 3J E96 F?G6:=:?8 – @? q:== |2K6C@D<: (2J 2=@?8 E96 7:CDE\32D6 D:56 @7 !}r !2C< – @7 2 `c\7@@E[ a[___\A@F?5 DE2EF6 @7 @?6 @7 !:EED3FC89’D 8C62E6DE 6G6CJ>2?[ C@F?5:?8 E96 32D6D[ @? E@A @7 E96 H@C=5]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmp! |{qi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^>=3Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^|{qk^2mk^Am