Greg Fulton: The magic of Three Rivers Stadium and Willie Stargell

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Pirates’ last game in Three Rivers Stadium — Oct. 1, 2000. It would also be the last time the fans would see Pirate great Willie Stargell. The ballpark and Stargell were intertwined, and their time together represented some of the most remarkable years in franchise history. The Pirates would move into their new stadium, PNC Park, the next year.

In honor of his many achievements with the Pirates, Stargell was asked to throw out a ceremonial pitch at the end of the final game in the ballpark. It was a touching but sad moment for Pirates fans who loved Stargell for his many contributions on the field and his dedication to the city and the team where he played his entire career of 21 seasons.

At the time, Stargell was in declining health due to a serious kidney ailment, and he was a shadow of his old self. His frail appearance belied that he was once one of the most potent hitters ever to play the game. Stargell’s toss only traveled about 10 feet, which was difficult to see for fans who had routinely watched him smash balls over 400 feet.

Calling on Stargell to throw out a last pitch was fitting because it was here where he had his greatest success and hit the majority of his 475 career home runs. He is also thought to have played more games in Three Rivers Stadium than any other player. Much like some spoke of Yankee Stadium being “The House That (Babe) Ruth Built,” one could say that Three Rivers Stadium was “The House that Stargell Built.”

Sadly, Stargell’s appearance would be his last at a Pirates game. He would not get a chance to see the Pirates play in PNC Park, as he died on the opening day of 2001. This cast a pall on a day when the team welcomed fans into their new home and who also had the opportunity to see a recently unveiled 12-foot statue of Stargell that permanently resides in front of PNC Park.

Stargell’s achievements were extraordinary. He was a National League All-Star seven times and led the league in home runs twice and once in RBIs. His most outstanding achievement was in 1979 when he was recognized as Most Valuable Player, the League Championship MVP and the World Series Most Valuable Player. No other player in history has received those three awards in the same year.

While those were notable accomplishments, Stargell, always the team player, would probably have said that he was most proud of the two World Series (1971 and 1979) won by the Pirates during his career.

Stargell was a huge man who presented an imposing figure to opposing pitchers. Where other players would warm up in the on-deck circle with a weighted bat, Stargell used a sledgehammer and swung it with ease like Thor did his mythical hammer. Stargell is said to have adopted this routine as much as a means to strike fear in opposing pitchers as to loosen up.

Stargell’s power was legendary. He didn’t merely hit home runs; they were moon shots. Stargell recorded the longest home run (535 feet) in Three Rivers history. That home run is also the fourth longest in Major League history. He even had the record for the longest home run in almost half of the National League ballparks for a brief period.

Stargell was a fan favorite who always found time to sign autographs and spend time with fans. He also volunteered significant time to the community. In the early 1970s, as part of the war on poverty, Stargell helped in programs like the Job Corps and Neighborhood Youth Corps to help young people realize successful careers. He was also the president of the Black Athletes Foundation, which worked to ensure black athletes received fair contracts and endorsements. His greatest passion, though, was bringing attention to sickle cell anemia. He became a spokesman for the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation and made appearances on its behalf to discuss the disease and raise funds to combat it.

Stargell was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. His plaque reads “Wilver Stargell”: Wilver was his first name, a combination of his father’s first name, William, and his mother’s maiden name, Vernell. People were confused by that name and began calling him Willie instead. Later in his career, Pirates players started calling him “Pops,” as he became a fatherly figure for many on the team.

Stargell’s love for Pittsburgh and its fans is summed up in the following quote by him: “Pittsburgh isn’t fancy, but it is real. It’s a working town and money doesn’t come easy. I feel as much a part of this city as the cobblestone streets and the steel mills, people in this town expect an honest day’s work, and I’ve (given) it to them for a long, long time.”

Greg Fulton is a New Castle native living in Denver.