The Pirates announced this morning that Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski passed away yesterday at age 89.
A career Pirate who played 17 seasons in the big leagues from 1956-72, Mazeroski is best-known for his legendary walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The Pirates had won their first National League pennant since 1927 on the strength of eight All-Star players, including Mazeroski. Still, they faced a challenge in overcoming a powerful Yankees roster featuring Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Whitey Ford, and others.
With the Series tied at three games apiece, it was Mazeroski who delivered the winning blow in the bottom of the 9th of a wild Game 7. On a 1-0 count against Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry, Mazeroski drilled a high fastball over the left-center field wall to win the game 10-9 and clinch the Series for Pittsburgh. It was their first World Series title since 1925 and the first time a World Series ended on a walk-off home run. To this day, Mazeroski’s blast stands as one of the most iconic home runs in the history of the sport.
Mazeroski joined the Pirates organization out of high school in 1954. After two years in the minors, he made his major-league debut in July 1956 at the age of 19. He played his first full season in 1957 and established himself as a contact-oriented second baseman, batting .283 with 149 hits and 59 runs scored. His 1958 season was arguably his best. Mazeroski batted .275/.308/.439 in 607 plate appearances with 156 hits and 19 home runs, the latter being a career high. He was an All-Star for the first time and also earned his first Gold Glove while finishing eighth in NL MVP voting.
In addition to being a contact hitter, Mazeroski’s career came to be defined by his defense. He won a total of eight Gold Gloves, including five straight from 1963-67. His defense alone was valued at 24.0 bWAR, which ties him for 23rd all-time. Mazeroski holds the record for most double plays turned as a second baseman with 1,709. He led the league in that category in every season from 1960-67. He also ranks fifth all-time with 6,685 assists as a second baseman. Indeed, his accomplishments make him one of the best defensive second basemen to ever play the game.
In an 11-year stretch from 1958-68, Mazeroski tallied 1,608 of his 2,016 career hits while batting .263/.300/.374 and accumulating 32.1 bWAR. He was remarkably durable, playing at least 130 games with 527 PA or more every year from 1957-68. He earned a total of seven All-Star nominations, the last of those coming in 1967 when he led the NL in games played and tallied a career-high 167 hits. He became more of a part-time player at the end of his career and won a second World Series in 1971 against the Orioles. He retired in 1972 at the age of 35.
Overall, Mazeroski batted .260/.299/.367 with a career 84 OPS+ with 2,016 hits, 138 home runs, and 853 runs batted in. He became eligible for Hall of Fame admission in 1978 but did not meet the required threshold before falling off the ballot in 1992. Most pointed to his lower-than-usual offensive output as a reason for exclusion. The Veterans Committee disagreed, admitting Mazeroski to the Hall in 2001 in recognition of his defensive excellence.
He was one of the greatest Pirates in history, one of baseball’s best fielders, and forever an icon for that home run. We at MLBTR extend our condolences to Mazeroski’s family, friends, loved ones, former teammates, and baseball fans around the world.
Me earliest memories are of Forbes Field with my dad, and of Maz and Gene Alley turning slick double plays. Over the years, Maz would turn up and talk and you were struck by what a good man he was. RIP.
Is it the only walk-off home run in Game 7 of a World Series ever ?
What was Joe Carter for the Jays
Game 6?
Great home run, but it was game 6. It wasn’t a winner take all scenario
I was a little kid when Maz hit the Grand Slam and was 90% sure it ended the World Series.
I double checked and it was Game 7. Your memory is faulty and you seem too lazy to check your “facts” but your name does fit your reply
Maz’ 9th inning homer was with no one on base with the score tied at 9
I was responding to Lefty, Darcy.
I have no idea what you’re talking about
Easy, Darcy31.
WashedUpOldTimer was answering Lefty_Orioles_Fan’s question about Joe Carter’s home run.
You seem too lazy to check how replies work in this thread.
he probably doesn’t either Washed
A legend. One of the best to play this game, has fallen. This is sad, very sad. I hope you find rest, after a fantastic career few can call their’s better.
Don’t forget his baseball book he released every year at the beginning of the season. For kids, it was educational.
I will never forget, Big Bad Booty Daddy.
Greatest ending to a World Series ever!!! RIP Bill!!
Ranks even better than last year and the Twins-Braves in 91. I was 8 when he hit it and got interested enough to work in baseball for 23 years. RIP Mr. Maz
I don’t think people understand what a mismatch that series was or at least, was supposed to be. That’s the point that’s often missed. This was truly David versus Goliath. The Yanks hammered the Bucs in their three wins. No one expected a seven game series and certainly didn’t expect the Pirates to win it That’s why the homer was even more monumental
@WashedUpOldTimer,
You make an excellent point. The Yankees outscored the Pirates by 28 runs over the seven games – Yankees scoring 55 runs and Pirates 27.
I’m sorry as I know this isn’t the most appropriate time nor place to say this, and I do also want to say RIP to a legend. However, I just happened to check out his stats and how is he in the hall of fame? I know his defense was his calling card but there are many great defensive stalwarts who were poor offensively that are not in the Hall. His career slash is .260/.299/.367. That’s not good at all. I realize he was part of history but come on. Again, I apologize for saying this here but I never realized how bad he was offensively.
Look at his defensive statistics.
I mentioned that he was great defensively. But is Devon White in the hall of fame? Is Keith Hernandez in the hall? Different positions, yes, but my point is that there have been many great defensive players but to make the Hall that isn’t enough. Or it shouldn’t be enough.
I hate KEITH HERNANDEZ – hate him.
Nice game pretty boy.
Your argument is essentially relying upon defensive statistics alone as justification. I get that. It’s a modern day approach that discounts so much that’s pertinent to his induction. The era in which he played. His contribution to the evolution of the game. His defensive prowess. And yes, the impact of that magical moment. To me at least, his induction was a no-brainer that transcends the symbolism of one at bat.
I’ll leave it there as I don’t wish to dominate this thread. But I simply think you’re mistaken in failing to take a great number of things into account
His double plays set a major league record in 1966 that stands today
In fact he and Gene Alley recorded 215 double plays that same year which is also a major league record
He won 8 Gold Gloves, 5 consecutively
He’s worthy of being a Hall of Famer
Kids of that era wanted to be 2nd basemen because of watching him. I know I did. That was my position. Even had my Rawlings Bill Mazeroski glove
10x all star, 8 Gold gloves, 1 POY, and 2 rings?
I mean what better time to question his worthiness of the HOF than hours after he dies.
Terrible time to try to make a point or to make yourself sound smart
Harold Baines? not a hofer, Maz, yes.
Get off your high horse.
He had no equal as a defensive second baseman. I don’t know if you had a chance to see him play but any ground ball down that way was an automatic out. And watching him turn two was textbook.
You’re right in saying the homer was a moment that catapulted both him and MLB but he was more than just that. I never remember him batting in the top two-thirds of the lineup but the Hall rightly had a place for such a tremendous defensive player and a guy who was a pretty decent hitter, to boot
As a # 8 hitter he drove in 82 runs in 1966 an unheard stat during that era
Read The Politics of Glory by Bill James. Maz is a big part of that book. Him and Rizzuto, among others. It’s a great book that complicates much of what we know about HOF entry and statistics.
Maz is borderline, sure, but so are a ton of other people in the Hall of Fame, such as Rizzuto.
Rizzuto lost three years of his prime due to military service. He would have likely finished had a career WAR of around 54 if not for the war. That is entirely different than Mazeroski’s 36.5 career WAR.
Again–read the book. I can’t summarize it in three sentences but James lays out a very good case for why Rizzuto and Maz’s HOF criteria are similar.
RIP Maz.
Was this the single greatest HR ever?
Was just talking with my dad about Maz last week after Elroy Face passed away. My dad was saying how much fun it was to watch Maz play and how happy he was for him when he finally got elected into the HOF.
Sad day for baseball and fans of the game everywhere. I remember Maz being in that Pirate lineup everyday and if it was hit anywhere near him you were out. This is not the day to question his qualifications for the hall but a day to mourn the passing of a legend who played nineteen years for the same team and will not be forgotten.
A Pittsburgh legend forever.
RIP wow what a career and life.
No one turned a double play as quickly as Maz did. That ’60 World Series may have been the biggest upset ever in a WS…Bucs were outscored 55-27 and still beat the Big Bad Yankees.
RIP Bill…..
Anyone who single-handedly crushes the yankees and their fans is okay in my book!
My second favorite team is the team playing the Yankees that day! I wasn’t born yet, but when I learned about the 1960 WS, Maz became an instant legend in my book!
Absolute legend. RIP.
This one hurts. Rest in Peace.
That ’60 World Series got Casey Stengel fired. Yankees told him he was too old(70 years old). Can’t do that today. Quote from Casey…’I’ll never make the mistake of turning 70 again.’
RIP to an all-time Pirate.
The more challenging half (after Clemente) to the trivia question of who played on both their 1960 and 1971 champions.
I was wondering if he was the last one left from the 1960 championship team, but it looks like Vern Law and Bob Skinner are still with us.
Maz will be remembered for as long as baseball lives.
My sympathy goes out to vintage Pirates fans for the two deaths in the past week. The 1959 and ’60 Pirates had some terrific battles with my Milwaukee Braves, and the National League in general was fiercely competitive during those years.
An excellent and very humble man. May Maz Rest In Peace
Best MLB clip of all time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to one of the greatest Pirates legends, Bill Mazeroski Family. Pittsburgh will always honor the man and fans will never get that famous home run in 1960. Fly high Bill Maz and rest in peace.
R.I.P
Ress in plush my n. Dat boy was so good I a bet even as of yesterday he could’ve went three for four with a couple RVs and a stolen pace in a major league game.
Rest in Paradise Mr Mazeroski.
Never got the chance to ask my Dad about the walk off homerun in that world series. Although he would’ve been only 12 years old at the time. Not sure if he would’ve remembered a lot of it.
Maz is not a HOFer…either is Stargell. Sorry Pirates fans.
Don’t belong I should say.