With one swing of his bat in October 1960, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski became a legend.
It will forever remain one of the most iconic moments in Pittsburgh sports history.
Yet his humility never let that moment overwhelm him: “I just thought it was another home run to win a ballgame and would never last 40 years,” he told a reporter in 2000.
On Friday, Mazeroski died at age 89.
The seven-time All-Star and Baseball Hall of Famer amassed over 2,000 hits in his 17 big-league seasons — all with the Pirates, from 1956-72. He also won eight Gold Gloves.
More than 65 years after his iconic shot, Pirates fans still gather annually (every Oct. 13) at what remains of Forbes Field in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to listen to a rebroadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series — play by play to celebrate Mazeroski’s home run.
In fact, Chuck Thompson’s NBC Radio call of the game is permanently enshrined in the Library of Congress as part of the National Recording Registry.
His humility again was tested in 2010 when the Pirates erected a 14-foot bronze statue outside PNC Park, depicting Mazeroski — not turning a double play or making any other fielding gem — rounding second base and waving his helmet after his famous home run.
Here’s a look at Bill Mazeroski through the years.
