Bill Mazeroski, a defensive-minded second baseman whose home run ended the 1960 World Seres, died at age 89.
The Hall of Famer’s death was announced Saturday by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the only team he played for in his 17 seasons in the major leagues. Mazeroski died Friday, but the Pirates did not reveal the cause.
“It is with a heavy heart that we relay the news of the passing of legendary Pirates and National Baseball Hall of Famer, Bill Mazeroski,” the team statement said, calling his 1960 blast “the greatest home run in baseball history.”
“He was a beloved member of the Pirates family and he will be deeply missed.”
Grainy video footage from Oct. 13, 1960, shows Mazeroski launching a Ralph Terry shot over the fence in left field in the bottom of the ninth at old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, giving the Pirates a 10-9 win in Game 7 of the World Series against the New York Yankees. The fans mobbed him on the field as he crossed home plate.
“I don’t know it’s out. I don’t know it’s a home run. But I know I’m going to end up on third if he misplays that ball off the wall,” Mazeroski recalled during a Pirates telecast in 2015 about the solo home run. “So I’m busting my tail getting around there, and by the time I hit second base, I looked down the line and the fans went crazy. From second base, I didn’t touch the ground all the way in.”
It remains the only Game 7 walk-off homer in World Series history.
Mazeroski won eight Gold Glove awards at second base and was an All-Star 10 times. He won two World Series with the Pirates, the other coming in 1971 when the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games.
The West Virginia native had a career average of .260. In 2,163 games, he recorded 138 home runs, 2,016 hits and 853 RBIs.
His career fielding percentage was .983, and he had his finest defensive season in 1966. He made just eight errors in 957 chances over 162 games for a .992 fielding rate.
The Veterans Committee elected him into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2001.
“I think defense belongs in the Hall of Fame,” Mazeroski said during his induction ceremony. “Defense deserves as much credit as pitching and hitting, and I’m proud and honored to be going into the Hall of Fame on the defensive side and mostly for my defensive abilities.”
