Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski died at the age of 89, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday. He passed away on Friday, according to the team.
Mazeroski is best known for arguably the most legendary home run in baseball history, hitting a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees. Leading off the ninth inning, the homer came off reliever Ralph Terry, breaking a 9-9 tie, at Forbes Field.
As Mazeroski rounded the bases, fans ran out of the stands to congratulate Mazeroski and round the bases with him in celebration. He was 24 years old at the time, in his fifth year with Pittsburgh. No other player has ended a World Series with a Game 7 home run.
Responsible for an iconic moment in the sport, Mazeroski was remarkably modest about his accomplishment.
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"I just thought it was another home run to win a ballgame and would never last 40 years," he said in 2000,via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
"I didn't expect that much attention, just hitting a home run to win a game," he continued. "I don't know. I just kind of wish maybe somebody else had hit it, or explained it better than I did. I just never came up with a good way."
Mazeroski later explained that he wasn't certain that he hit a home run because the left-field wall at Forbes Field was 406 feet away from home plate in the alley.
"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 said in 2015,via MLB.com. "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."
Mazeroski won two World Series titles with the Pirates, also playing on the 1971 champions that defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games. The team retired his No. 9 in 1987 and honored him with a 14-foot bronze statue outside PNC Park,unveiled in 2010.
"Maz was one of a kind — a true Pirates legend, a National Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the finest defensive second basemen the game has ever seen," said Pirates chairman Bob Nuttingin a statement.
"His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship," he added. "But I will remember him most for the person he was: humble, gracious and proud to be a Pirate."
Despite being associated with one of baseball's most famous home runs, Mazeroski became a Hall of Famerbecause of his defenseat second base. He was awarded eight Gold Gloves during his career.
"I think defense belongs in the Hall of Fame," Mazeroski said duringhis Hall of Fame induction speech. "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."
In his 17 seasons with the Pirates, Mazeroski compiled a career average of .260/.299/.367 with 294 doubles, 138 home runs and 853 RBI. In addition to his two World Series championships, Mazeroski was an 10-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, elected by the Veterans Committee.
Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski died at the age of 89, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Saturday. He passe...
