HomeWhatfinger NewsPirates legend and Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, who hit one of the most iconic home runs in baseball history, died on Friday. He was 89. Watch that Homer
Pirates legend and Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, who hit one of the most iconic home runs in baseball history, died on Friday. He was 89. Watch that Homer
The Greatest Homerun Ever: Bill Mazeroski 1960 Walkoff Homerun
Forbes Field – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: On October 13, 1960 @3:36 PM, Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Fame Second Baseman, Bill Mazeroski, hits the greatest and most memorable homerun in Major League Baseball history off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry. The renowned game winning shot, which capped off the best World Series game of all time, occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning of game seven of the 1960 World Series against Casey Stengel’s heavily favored New York Yankees. Could there have been a more dramatic homerun? Today, some 50 years later, Maz’s blast is still the only Game 7, 9th-inning walk-off home run in World Series history. Watch Maz’s historic homerun as called by Hall of Fame broadcaster Chuck Thompson; “Well, a little while ago, when we mentioned that this one, in typical fashion, was going right to the wire, little did we know; Art Ditmar throws—There’s a swing and a high fly ball going deep to left, this may do it! Back to the wall goes Berra, it is over the fence, home run, the Pirates win!”
Bill Mazeroski, affectionately known as “Maz,” was a legendary Major League Baseball player, primarily remembered as one of the greatest defensive second basemen in history and for one of the most iconic moments in baseball.Born William Stanley Mazeroski on September 5, 1936, in Wheeling, West Virginia, he played his entire 17-year career (1956–1972) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned eight Gold Glove Awards for his exceptional fielding, was a seven-time All-Star, and helped the Pirates win two World Series titles (1960 and 1971). His defensive prowess, especially his quick hands and arm for turning double plays, made him a standout, earning him the nickname “the Glove.”Mazeroski is best known for hitting the only walk-off home run in Game 7 of a World Series. On October 13, 1960, in the bottom of the ninth inning against the heavily favored New York Yankees, he smashed a dramatic home run off Ralph Terry to give the Pirates a 10-9 victory and the championship. This moment remains one of the most celebrated in baseball history, especially for Pittsburgh fans.He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Veterans Committee, largely for his defensive excellence.Sadly, Bill Mazeroski passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the age of 89 in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. No cause of death was publicly specified. He is survived by his sons Darren and David, and four grandchildren. Tributes from the Pirates, MLB, and the Hall of Fame have highlighted his legacy as a true gentleman, Pirates icon, and one of the finest defensive players the game has seen.Rest in peace, Maz. His contributions to baseball, particularly that unforgettable 1960 homer, will live on forever.
