A-Maz-ing Career

World Series home run made him famous, but Pirates second baseman earned his Hall of Fame plaque with defensive brilliance

 

The swing of the bat ranks as one of the most dramatic in baseball history, and Bill Mazeroski was the unlikeliest of heroes.

But while it was Maz’s Game 7 home run in the 1960 World Series that remains his signature moment, it was a career built on defense that resulted in his ultimate achievement: Enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

Mazeroski passed away Feb. 20, 2026, at the age of 89 in Lansdale, Pa. The 10-time National League All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner defined defensive play at second base for a decade, finishing his 17-year big league career as one of the best ever to play the position.

“The author of one of the game’s most indelible moments, Bill Mazeroski will be remembered as one of baseball's most respected figures – both for his character and for his brilliance on the field as one of the game’s best second basemen,” said Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Maz remained humble about his career, even as he was celebrated in Cooperstown. On behalf of his Hall of Fame family, we send our deepest sympathies to his loved ones and to Pirates fans everywhere.”

Since his retirement following the 1972 season, Mazeroski’s reputation has grown in the wake of defensive statistical analysis that confirmed his work with the leather.

“It’s pretty simple,” said Hall of Famer Joe Torre. “He was the best I ever saw at turning a double play.”

Born Sept. 5, 1936, in Wheeling, W.Va., Mazeroski attended high school in Tiltonsville, Ohio, and grew up a Cleveland Indians fan. But upon graduation from high school in 1954, Mazeroski – a prep shortstop – signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was immediately converted into a second baseman.

Two years later, Mazeroski found himself in the big leagues. His manager, Bobby Bragan, gushed about Mazeroski’s potential.

“The best young kid I ever saw,” Bragan said. “Of all the Pirates (in 1956), I think Maz has the best chance to reach the Hall of Fame.”

Mazeroski stepped right into the Pirates’ starting lineup when he was recalled that July, and by 1958 he was an All-Star and a Gold Glove Award winner. Then came 1960, when a lightly regarded Pittsburgh team won the National League pennant for the first time in 33 years.

Facing the Yankees in the World Series, the Bucs won Games 1, 4 and 5 by a total of six runs. The Yankees won Games 2, 3 and 6 by a combined score of 38-3.

In Game 7, with the score tied at 9 heading into the last of the ninth, Mazeroski hit Ralph Terry’s second pitch of the inning over the left field wall at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field to give the Pirates the championship.

Starting the next season, however, Mazeroski returned to his normal routine of All-Star Games and Gold Glove Awards. His ability to hit in the clutch was well respected (he drew double-digit intentional walk totals in five seasons, leading the NL with 16 in 1962), but he never totaled more than 19 homers or 82 RBI in any season.

It was his defense, however, that drew rave reviews.

“Maz may not have hit 400 home runs or driven in 2,000 runs, but look at how many runs he saved,” said Hall of Fame teammate Willie Stargell. “Fielding his position, he was perfection.”

In the field, Mazeroski led all National League players in assists in five seasons, led all NL second basemen in assists nine times, led NL second baseman in putouts five times and topped NL second basemen in fielding percentage three times.

In 1971, Mazeroski – then finishing his career as a bench player – helped the Pirates win the World Series again. He retired following the 1972 season and was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2001.

That summer, he gave a memorable speech at the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – one that lasted just over two minutes before Mazeroski dissolved into tears.

“I tried to apologize, but everybody said: ‘Don’t apologize, it was great, it was sincere,’” Mazeroski said. “I was embarrassed for not being able to get it out, but people have told me it was the greatest speech they ever heard up there.”