Bill Mazeroski: The October 1960 Swing That Became a Pittsburgh Legend and How It’s Remembered
bill mazeroski’s one swing in October 1960 transformed a single play into a lasting legend — an image and an annual ritual that continue to shape Pittsburgh sports memory decades later.
Bill Mazeroski's defining moment: October 1960
With one swing of his bat in October 1960, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski became a legend. That ninth-inning blast in Game 7 of the World Series is widely viewed inside Pittsburgh as one of the most iconic moments in the city's sporting history. Mazeroski’s own reaction illustrated his humility: in 2000 he told a reporter that he thought it was just another home run to win a ballgame and would never last 40 years.
A lasting Pittsburgh ritual
More than 65 years after that famous shot, Pirates fans still gather annually (every Oct. 13) at what remains of Forbes Field in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. Attendees listen to a rebroadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series — play by play — to celebrate Mazeroski’s home run, keeping the moment alive as a community ritual.
Preserved audio and the call that endures
Chuck Thompson’s radio call of the game is permanently enshrined in the Library of Congress as part of the National Recording Registry, cementing the play-by-play narration as an artifact of national cultural memory tied to Mazeroski’s home run.
Career achievements and honors
Bill Mazeroski compiled a distinguished major-league career. He was a seven-time All-Star and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 17 big-league seasons — all with the Pirates, from 1956-72 — he amassed more than 2, 000 hits and also won eight Gold Gloves, a testament to both his offensive consistency and defensive excellence.
The 2010 bronze statue outside PNC Park
In 2010 the Pirates erected a 14-foot bronze statue outside PNC Park. The statue depicts Mazeroski not in the act of turning a double play or making a fielding gem, but rounding second base and waving his helmet after his famous home run — a deliberate choice that enshrines the celebratory moment rather than a routine defensive play.
Looking back: a photo gallery and memory kept alive
This is a look at Bill Mazeroski through the years: a single October swing that became a defining image, a career of sustained achievement with one franchise, an annual community observance at the old Forbes Field site, an audio call preserved in the National Recording Registry, and a 14-foot bronze statue outside PNC Park that freezes the celebration in bronze. Together those elements explain why Mazeroski’s moment remains central to Pittsburgh’s sporting identity.
Note: this piece focuses solely on the facts provided about Mazeroski’s career, the 1960 World Series home run and how it has been commemorated; details beyond the provided context are unclear in the provided context.
