Bill Mazeroski, Baseball Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Pirates legend, dies at 89

The man who will forever be known for hitting the greatest home run in baseball history – a game 7 walk-off in the World Series – Bill Mazeroski, has died at 89. 

Mazeroski died on Friday, February 20. 

“His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship, but I will remember him most for the person he was,” said Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “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.” 

Mazeroski was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2001. In his career, he was a seven-time All-Star who hit the game-winning, walk-off home run in the ninth inning of game seven against the Yankees in the 1960 World Series. 

“Bill Mazeroski was synonymous with one of the greatest home runs in baseball history for more than 65 years,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “While his bat delivered the first walk-off, series-ending home run in the history of our Fall Classic in 1960, it was Bill’s glove that earned him recognition from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.”

Manfred added, “Bill understood that a run saved in the field was as important as a run driven in. Bill’s lifetime of hard work and humility was a perfect illustration of the city he represented on the diamond. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Bill’s family, his friends across our game, and all the loyal fans of Pittsburgh.”

“Maz gave us one of the greatest home runs in baseball history to clinch the 1960 World Series, and set records as one of the best defensive second basemen to play the game,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor in a statement. “My thoughts are with the family, friends, and fans of Bill Mazeroski.” 

Along with hitting the most famous home run, Maz was known as one of the best defensive second basemen in the game during his 17 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He holds several records that still stand to this day, including most seasons leading the league in assists at 9, most seasons leading the league in turning double plays with 8, and most double plays turned in a single season when he had 161 in 1966. 

He was also part of the inaugural class of the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022. 

In 2010, on his birthday, the Pirates unveiled a statue outside PNC Park in his honor, near the right field entrance. 

Mazeroski is survived by his sons, Darren and David, and his four grandchildren.