Bill Mazeroski, Baseball Hall of Famer and Pirates Legend, Dies at 89

bill mazeroski has died at 89, leaving behind the moment that defined his career and a legacy of defensive excellence. The news was confirmed in coverage updated Feb. 21, 2026 at 11: 24 AM ET. He is remembered most for a ninth-inning, game seven walk-off home run that clinched the 1960 World Series and for a 17-season career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bill Mazeroski’s defining moment

Mazeroski’s signature came in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series when he hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Yankees to end the series. That homer is widely referenced as the first time a World Series concluded with a home run and has been called one of the greatest in baseball history. The moment has been commemorated by fans for decades, with annual gatherings every Oct. 13 at what remains of Forbes Field to listen to a rebroadcast of the game.

Career achievements and records

Throughout his 17 seasons with the Pirates, bill mazeroski built a Hall of Fame résumé grounded in defense. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 and was a multiple-time All-Star. He won eight Gold Gloves and amassed more than 2, 000 hits over his career. Mazeroski still holds several defensive records noted during his career: he led the league in assists nine seasons, led in turning double plays eight seasons, and set the single-season mark for double plays turned with 161 in 1966. Those statistics were central to his Hall of Fame case and his longstanding reputation as one of the game’s finest defensive second basemen.

Legacy, tributes and memorials

Public tributes followed news of his death. The Pirates’ chairman described Mazeroski as “one of a kind” and a Pirates legend, while the commissioner noted that his glove earned him Hall of Fame recognition and praised his humility and work ethic. The mayor of Pittsburgh highlighted the home run that clinched the 1960 championship and offered condolences to his family and fans.

Commemorations of Mazeroski’s career include a bronze statue unveiled on his birthday in 2010, placed outside the ballpark near the right-field entrance, and his induction into the team’s inaugural hall of fame class in 2022. Fans have kept his memory alive through annual remembrances at the Forbes Field site and other observances tied to the 1960 championship moment.

• Age at death: 89.
• Signature moment: ninth-inning, Game 7 walk-off home run that clinched the 1960 World Series.
• Career highlights: 17 seasons with the Pirates, Hall of Fame induction in 2001, multiple All-Star appearances, eight Gold Gloves, and enduring defensive records.

Mazeroski is survived by his sons, Darren and David, and four grandchildren. No cause of death was given in initial notices; one account noted he died on Friday in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Observers and longtime fans are expected to mark his memory at traditional gatherings tied to the anniversary of the 1960 Series home run, and his defensive records and the image of that game-ending swing will remain central to how he is remembered in the sport.