Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who hit a walk-off home run to win the 1960 World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has died at the age of 89. The Pirates announced his death on Friday in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, but did not give a cause.
Mazeroski was a defensive standout, winning eight Gold Glove awards and setting a major league record for double plays by a second baseman with 1,706. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001, with his plaque praising him as a “defensive wizard.”
His most famous moment came on October 13, 1960, when he hit a ninth-inning home run off the New York Yankees’ Ralph Terry at Forbes Field, giving the Pirates a 10-9 victory in Game 7. It was the first time a World Series ended with a home run.
Mazeroski spent his entire 17-year career with the Pirates, batting .260 with 138 home runs and 27 stolen bases. He was a 10-time All-Star and also played on the 1971 World Series-winning team.
Pirates owner Bob Nutting said: “Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend … 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: humble, gracious and proud to be a Pirate.”
Mazeroski is survived by two sons. His wife, Milene, died in 2024.
