Bill Mazeroski

William Stanley Mazeroski (born September 5, 1936 in Wheeling, West Virginia), nicknamed "Maz", is a former Major League Baseball player. He is best known for being the first player in Major League history to win the World Series with a game-ending home run in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series.

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Bill Mazeroski attended Warren Consolidated High School in Tiltonsville, Ohio and excelled in both baseball and basketball. He started on the varsity baseball team as a freshman.

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As a 17-year-old in 1954, Mazeroski signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team for which he would play his entire career. Originally signed as a shortstop, he was quickly moved to second base and made his Major League debut on July 7, 1956.

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Mazeroski was noted for his defensive prowess and earned his first of eight Gold Glove Awards in 1958. He had a career .983 fielding percentage and led the National League in assists nine times, and holds the major league career record for double plays by a second baseman.

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Despite his defensive play often overshadowing his offensive contributions, Mazeroski had several fine offensive seasons. In 1958, he hit .275, hit 19 home runs (a career best) and had 68 RBIs and was considered for the MVP Award. In 1966 he knocked in 82, a career best. During his peak seasons (1957-68), he drove on more runs than any other middle infielder of the period.

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In the 1960 World Series, Mazeroski hit a game-winning home run off New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry which won the series for Pittsburgh. It was the first time a World Series had ever been ended by a home run and will likely remain the defining event of Mazeroski's career. (The feat has been accomplished once since, by Joe Carter in the 1993 World Series.) Today, the portion of the brick left field wall from Forbes Field where the home run ball carried remains erect as a historical monument in Pittsburgh's Oakland District of the University of Pittsburgh campus.

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Mazeroski was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

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In a cameo appearance in The Odd Couple, Mazeroski hit into a game-ending triple play. However, according SABR, Mazeroski has never hit into a triple play, but has been part of two triple plays as a fielder.

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Warren Consolidated High School has since joined other schools to form Buckeye Local High School in Rayland, Ohio. Buckeye Local honored him in 2003 naming their new baseball field after him and placing a monument behind home plate, near the road.

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Quotation

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• In 1966 and 1967, Mazeroski and shortstop Gene Alley won two Gold Gloves, joining a select list of eight shortstop-second baseman duos have won the honor in the same season while playing together.

See also

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• List of Gold Glove middle infield duos
Bill Mazeroski: Accomplishments ►



 

September 5: September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). There are 117 days remaining....

1936: 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar)....

Wheeling, West Virginia: Wheeling is a city located in West Virginia, in the United States. Most of the city is in Ohio County, with a small part in Marshall County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 31,419 (31,059 in Ohio County, 360 in Marshall County). It is the county seat of Ohio County....




Bill Mazeroski related Images and Photos (experimental)

Second Baseman for the Pirates Bill Mazeroski Throwing a Ball	Bill Mumy	Bill Haley	Bill Nighy
Bill Cosby	Bill Bixby	Bill Haley	Bill Bailey
Bill Medley	Bill Guerin	Bill Guerin	Bill Paxton