Bill Mazeroski, 89, Whose 9th-Inning Blast Made Pirates Champs, Is Dead
bill mazeroski, the Class of 2001 inductee remembered for his Game 7 home run in the 1960 World Series, has died. He passed away Feb. 20, 2026, at the age of 89 in Lansdale, Pa., the Hall of Fame said.
Bill Mazeroski Defensive Legacy
Bill Mazeroski finished a 17-year big league career widely regarded for defense at second base. He was a 10-time National League All-Star and an eight-time Gold Glove Award winner who, by many measures, helped define play at his position for a decade. Since his retirement following the 1972 season, his reputation has grown further with defensive statistical analysis that confirmed the quality of his work with the leather.
Early life and signing
Mazeroski was born Sept. 5, 1936, in Wheeling, W. Va. He attended high school in Tiltonsville, Ohio, and grew up a Cleveland Indians fan. 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 when he was recalled that July.
The 1960 World Series moment
The swing of the bat that defined his public life came in the 1960 World Series. While Maz’s Game 7 home run remains his signature moment, it came amid an unusual series: the lightly regarded Pittsburgh team won the National League pennant for the first time in 33 years, then faced the New York Yankees. 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.
Manager and peer reactions
His early potential drew effusive praise from his first manager, Bobby Bragan, who called him “the best young kid I ever saw. ” Bragan added, “Of all the Pirates (in 1956), I think Maz has the best chance to reach the Hall of Fame. ” Hall of Famer Joe Torre put Mazeroski’s defense simply: “It’s pretty simple. He was the best I ever saw at turning a double play. ”
Hall of Fame, Cooperstown and remembrances
The Hall of Fame noted Mazeroski’s enshrinement as the culmination of a career built on defense and character. Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said Mazeroski would be remembered as one of baseball’s most respected figures for both character and on-field brilliance, and that he remained humble even as he was celebrated in Cooperstown. On behalf of his Hall of Fame family, she sent deepest sympathies to his loved ones and to Pirates fans everywhere.
The Hall invited fans to reserve tickets, book a special experience, map their route and work out all the details for a trip to Cooperstown. It encouraged visitors to discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and to get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. The Hall noted that visitors can learn more about the legends honored in the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery, and that stories from baseball’s rich history are constantly being added to keep fans connected to the game. It urged fans to show their love of the game and be part of preserving baseball history.
Career arc and milestones
Mazeroski stepped 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. He retired after the 1972 season following a 17-year major league career. Over that span he accumulated a reputation as one of the best second basemen to play the game and left a defining mark with both his defense and his Game 7 blast in 1960.
bill mazeroski’s death marks the passing of a Hall of Famer whose on-field moments and steady defensive excellence endure in the record and in memory.
