Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman best known for belting one of the most iconic home runs in MLB history, passed away on Saturday at the age of 89.
Over a 17-year career entirely with Pittsburgh, Mazeroski established himself as the gold standard for defensive second basemen. He won eight Gold Glove Awards, the most by any second baseman at the time, and participated in a record 1,706 double plays for the position.
Nicknamed “The Glove,” Mazeroski notched an exceptionally high career fielding percentage of .983, and he led National League second basemen in assists nine times and double plays eight times.
Mazeroski’s official team photo in 1966
Offensively, Mazeroski was a solid contributor, batting .260 with 2,016 hits, 138 home runs, and 853 RBIs in 2,163 games. He was a seven-time All-Star and contributed to two World Series wins (1960 and 1971) during his time in Pittsburgh.
Mazeroski is immortalized in baseball history for his contributions in the club’s 1960 World Series win at Forbes Field. In Game 7 of the World Series against the heavily favored New York Yankees — a team that included legends like Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra — the Pirates trailed 7-4 entering the eighth inning but managed to tie the game late.
With the score tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth, Mazeroski led off against Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry. On the second pitch, he crushed a slider over the left-field wall securing a 10-9 victory and Pittsburgh’s first championship since 1925.
It was the first walk-off home run to end a World Series, and remains the only one in a Game 7.
ESPN ranked it number one on its list of the 100 Greatest Home Runs of All Time, while Sports Illustrated placed it eighth among the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History.
Mickey Mantle later said the loss was the only one that brought him to tears. A plaque marks the spot where the ball landed in Schenley Park, and a 14-foot statue of Mazeroski rounding the bases stands outside PNC Park on “Bill Mazeroski Way.”
RIP Bill Mazeroski 🕯️
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 21, 2026
Pittsburgh #Pirates Legend
Ten-Time All-Star and Baseball Hall of Famer
Author of the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history, 1960 pic.twitter.com/a1zb6BZ3au
After retiring in 1972, Mazeroski briefly coached third base for the Pirates in 1973 and the Seattle Mariners in 1979-80. He returned annually as a spring training infield instructor for Pittsburgh and mentored upcoming infielders through the 2000’s.
In 1987, his number 9 jersey was retired by the Pirates. Mazeroski was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Veterans Committee, after falling short on writers’ ballots.
Mazeroski met his wife, Milene, while she worked in the Pirates’ front office. They married on October 11, 1958, and shared 65 years together until her death on May 19, 2024.
He is survived by their sons, Darren, a retired junior college baseball coach now scout for the Pirates, and David, as well as four grandchildren.
