Bill Mazeroski Article
William Stanley Mazeroski (born September 5, 1936 in Wheeling, West Virginia), nicknamed \"Maz\", and also called simply \"The Glove\" by radio broadcaster Bob Prince, is a former Major League Baseball player. Although primarily a sterling defensive player, he is best known for winning the 1960 World Series with a game-ending home run in the seventh game. It remains the only Game 7 \"walk-off\" home run in World Series history. The only other Game 7 walk-off home run was hit by Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees to end the 2003 ALCS.
Early Years
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.
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.
Baseball Career
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. Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince used to call him \"The Glove\".
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 in more runs than any other middle infielder of the period.
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, although Carter\'s home run was hit in Game 6, not a decisive Game 7.)
