Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman, died Saturday at the age of 89.
He spent a 17-year career entirely with the Pittsburgh Pirates and set the standard for defensive play at second base.
Mazeroski won eight Gold Glove Awards and participated in a record 1,706 double plays at the position.
Nicknamed “The Glove,” Mazeroski notched an exceptionally high career fielding percentage of .983.
He led National League second basemen in assists nine times and in double plays eight times.
Offensively, he batted .260 with 2,016 hits, 138 home runs, and 853 RBIs in 2,163 games.
Mazeroski was a seven-time All-Star and helped the Pirates to World Series titles in 1960 and 1971.
He is immortalized by his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field.
With the score tied 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth, Mazeroski led off against Ralph Terry and on the second pitch drove a slider over the left-field wall for a 10-9 win.
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.
Sports Illustrated placed the moment 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 where the ball landed in Schenley Park and a 14-foot statue of Mazeroski rounds the bases outside PNC Park on “Bill Mazeroski Way.”
RIP Bill Mazeroski 🕯️
Pittsburgh #Pirates Legend
Ten-Time All-Star and Baseball Hall of FamerAuthor of the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history, 1960 pic.twitter.com/a1zb6BZ3au
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 21, 2026
After retiring in 1972, Mazeroski briefly coached third base for the Pirates in 1973 and for the Seattle Mariners in 1979 and 1980.
He returned annually as a spring-training infield instructor for Pittsburgh and mentored upcoming infielders through the 2000s.
His number 9 jersey was retired by the Pirates in 1987 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Veterans Committee.
Mazeroski met his wife Milene while she worked in the Pirates’ front office and they married on October 11, 1958.
They shared 65 years together until her death on May 19, 2024.
He is survived by their sons Darren and David and by four grandchildren.
His legacy endures among fans who admire grit, loyalty, and hometown pride.
