At the age of 89, Bill Mazeroski, a seven-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and a longtime Pittsburgh Pirate, passed away.
The Pirates declared early on Saturday:
“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,”. “Maz was a seven-time All-Star who hit the greatest home run in baseball history. He was a beloved member of the Pirates family and he will be deeply missed.”
Mazeroski’s walk-off home run off Ralph Terry, which broke a 9-9 deadlock in the bottom of the ninth inning and won the 1960 World Series against the formidable Yankees, is one of the most famous home runs in baseball history. Mazeroski’s home run was the icing on the cake for an incredible accomplishment. Even though the Mickey Mantle-led dynastic Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27, the Pirates had defeated a baseball powerhouse.
However, Mazeroski left his stamp on the game in a variety of other ways. In 1956, at the age of 19, the Wheeling, West Virginia native made his Major League Baseball debut with the Pirates. The following season, Mazeroski started at second base full-time, and by 1958, the slick-fielding player had earned his first Gold Glove. He is recognized as one of the greatest defensive players in MLB history and would go on to win seven more during his career. Mazeroski, who turned two very quickly, continues to retain the record for the most double plays a second baseman has turned.
Mazeroski never struck out more than 71 times in a season, hit.260 over 17 seasons, and hit double-digit home runs six times while at the plate.
