Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, known for walk-off home run in 1960 World Series, dies at 89 [View all]

Source: Associated Press, via WTOP

Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, known for walk-off home run in 1960 World Series, dies at 89

The Associated Press

February 21, 2026, 9:07 AM

Bill Mazeroski, the Hall of Fame second baseman who won eight Gold Glove awards for his steady work in the field and the hearts of countless Pittsburgh Pirates fans for his historic walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, has died at the age of 89.

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said "Maz was one of a kind, a true Pirates legend ... His name will always be tied to the biggest home run in baseball history and the 1960 World Series championship, but I will remember him most for the person he was: humble, gracious and proud to be a pirate." ... Mazeroski died Friday, the Pirates said. No cause of death was given.

'Defensive wizard'

Elected to the Hall by the Veterans Committee in 2001, he was, by some measures, no superstar. Mazeroski had the lowest batting average, on-base percentage and stolen base total of any second baseman in Cooperstown. He hit just .260 lifetime, with 138 homers and 27 stolen bases in 17 years, and had an on-base percentage of .299. He never batted .300, never approached 100 runs batted or 100 runs scored and only once finished in the top 10 for Most Valuable Player.

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A home run for the ages

But his career's signature moment took place in the batter's box, as the square-jawed, tobacco-chewing Mazeroski, a coal miner's son from West Virginia, lived out the dream of so many kids who thought of playing professional ball.

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Read more: https://wtop.com/sports/2026/02/baseball-hall-of-famer-bill-mazeroski-known-for-walk-off-home-run-in-1960-world-series-dies-at-89/