Bill Mazeroski Remembered by Pirates Fans and Hall of Fame After Death at 89
bill mazeroski died on Feb. 20, 2026, at 89 in Lansdale, Pa., and the news set off an outpouring of tributes from Pirates fans at PNC Park and a formal remembrance from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The Hall highlighted his defensive credentials and enshrinement; fans revisited the single swing that defined his place in Pittsburgh sports lore.
Fans gather at the bronze statue at PNC Park
On Feb. 21, 2026, at 7: 30 p. m. EST a report captured fans arriving at the bronze statue of Mazeroski at PNC Park to leave flowers and memories. Flowers began appearing at the statue as the news broke; the first set was placed by Noah Kastroll, who said his love for "Maz" had been passed to him by a friend. Kastroll called that famous swing "iconic, " adding precise recall of "3: 36 p. m. on that day in October, Game 7, New York Yankees. Win 10-9. " Peter DeNardis told fans that Mazeroski’s moment in 1960 "really hasn't happened since then, " and called him a major part of Pittsburgh sports.
How the 1960 Game 7 swing still echoes
Fans and the Hall point to the Game 7 home run as Mazeroski’s signature moment: the 1960 World Series finale that finished 10-9 against the New York Yankees. The Hall noted that the 1960 season followed a run in which the Pirates won Games 1, 4 and 5 of the Series by a total of six runs, while the Yankees took Games 2, 3 and 6 by a combined score of 38-3. The Hall called the swing one of the most dramatic in baseball history.
Bill Mazeroski’s Hall of Fame and defensive legacy
IN LOVING MEMORY: BILL MAZEROSKI, 1936-2026, the Hall of Fame remembered the Class of 2001 inductee and said he passed Feb. 20, 2026, at the age of 89 in Lansdale, Pa. The Hall described him as a 10-time National League All-Star and an eight-time Gold Glove Award winner who "defined defensive play at second base for a decade" and finished his 17-year big league career as one of the best at the position. Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said Mazeroski would be remembered for both character and brilliance on the field and extended sympathies to his loved ones and to Pirates fans.
From Wheeling to Pittsburgh: the early career
Mazeroski was born Sept. 5, 1936, in Wheeling, W. Va., attended high school in Tiltonsville, Ohio, and grew up a Cleveland Indians fan. Upon graduation in 1954 he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was immediately converted from shortstop to second base. Two years later he was in the big leagues; manager Bobby Bragan called him "the best young kid I ever saw" and said, "Of all the Pirates (in 1956), I think Maz has the best chance to reach the Hall of Fame. " He was recalled in July 1956, stepped into the Pirates' starting lineup, and by 1958 he was an All-Star and a Gold Glove Award winner.
A local man fans say stayed close to home
Fans described Mazeroski as humble, kind and approachable. Sam Gilbert said his family lived close to Mazeroski and that it was not uncommon to run into him around the neighborhood: "He'd be at Giant Eagle, and it'd be like, 'Hey, Maz!'" Gilbert recalled handing Mazeroski an old picture and the player saying, "Boy, that's an old one, " and remembered seeing Mazeroski with chewing tobacco in his cheek. The CBS-era coverage noted that he spent all 17 seasons of his Major League career with the Pirates, a rarity that fans said made his legacy go beyond statistics.
Tributes from peers and the Hall, and what’s next for Cooperstown visitors
The Hall quoted Hall of Famer Joe Torre: "It’s pretty simple... He was the best I ever saw at turning a double play. " The Hall invited fans to reserve tickets, book special experiences, map routes and plan trips to Cooperstown to see artifacts and exhibitions that include Mazeroski’s story. One report described him as a seven-time All-Star; the Hall of Fame listed him as a 10-time National League All-Star. Since his retirement following the 1972 season, the Hall said his reputation grew as defensive analysis confirmed his work with the leather.
Saturday’s news left many in Pittsburgh holding personal memories: for some, a statue and a photograph; for others, the exact instant at 3: 36 p. m. in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The Hall’s notice and its invitation to plan visits to Cooperstown offer the next concrete way for the public to remember him: reserve your tickets and map your route to view his plaque and the Hall’s exhibitions.
