Remembering Bill Mazeroski, Pirates Icon and Baseball Legend
- Mark Rosenman
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Bill Mazeroski, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hall of Fame second baseman and one of baseball’s most enduring figures, passed away Friday at age 89—just eight days after the passing of his 1960 World Series teammate Roy Face. While most fans will forever associate Mazeroski with his miraculous walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the Yankees, his career was defined by far more than that singular, electrifying swing.
A ten-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner, Mazeroski spent his entire 17-year major league career (1956–1972) with the Pirates. He was a master of defense, widely regarded as one of the finest second basemen ever, and his ability to turn double plays with lightning speed earned him the nickname “No Touch.” His career numbers against the Mets alone underscore his consistency: over 150 games, Mazeroski hit .282 with 15 home runs—including nine at Shea Stadium—77 RBIs, and 64 runs scored. Against Mets legends, he fared differently: a .286 average against Jerry Koosman but struggled at .121 versus Tom Seaver.
Mazeroski’s most famous moment arrived on Oct. 13, 1960. With the World Series tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth inning at Forbes Field, the 24-year-old Mazeroski crushed a Ralph Terry fastball over the left-field wall to deliver the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history. The city of Pittsburgh erupted. Fans stormed the field, Mazeroski waved his hat, and the city
celebrated its first championship in 35 years. The moment, legendary as it is, has always been a humble badge for Mazeroski, who considered himself a defensive specialist first and a home-run hitter second.
Baseball historian Bill James called Mazeroski “the most effective defensive second baseman ever,” and teammates marveled at his quick feet, sure hands, and seemingly magical ability to make the pivot on double plays look effortless. Mazeroski himself credited a simple technique: guiding the ball from his glove to his throwing hand in a way that made it faster than anyone else could manage.
Despite the accolades, Mazeroski remained modest about his achievements. Even his 14-foot bronze statue outside PNC Park, depicting him waving his helmet after that famous home run rather than turning a double play, amused him. “I’d rather strike out with the bases loaded,” he once joked. Yet he accepted the honor with characteristic humility, never one to seek the spotlight.
Mazeroski’s ties to the Mets are a quirky footnote in baseball lore. He famously appeared in a staged triple-play scene in the 1968 film The Odd Couple, filmed just before a game at Shea Stadium. In the scene, Oscar Madison (Walter Matthau) watches an imagined Mets game where Mazeroski turns a triple play, though in real life he never hit into one. During the shoot, Mazeroski had only ten minutes to execute the play—with Mets pitcher Jack Fisher throwing fastballs—and nailed it on the second attempt. Beyond Hollywood, Mazeroski’s actual games against the Mets included two impressive defensive triple plays against Cincinnati, showcasing the kind of focus and precision that defined his career.
Mazeroski joined the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, a decision some have debated—there are certainly other second basemen, like Lou Whitaker, whose all-around games might argue more convincingly for Cooperstown. Still, there’s no denying Mazeroski’s impact on baseball history, his defensive brilliance, and that unforgettable October night in 1960.
Bill Mazeroski is survived by his sons, Darren—who continues his father’s Pirates legacy in scouting—and David, along with four grandchildren. Pirates fans, Mets fans, and baseball lovers alike will remember Maz not just for a historic home run, but for the man behind the glove: humble, precise, and forever a Pirate.
Comments