Bill Mazeroski, the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame second baseman whose ninth-inning blast in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series is etched into baseball history, died Friday, February 20, 2026. He was 89.
The Pirates announced his passing Saturday morning, calling him "a true Pirates legend" and praising both his glove and his quiet way of going about greatness. "Maz was one of a kind — a true Pirates legend, a National Baseball Hall of Famer and one of the finest defensive second basemen the game has ever seen," Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, as reported by TribLIVE.
The Swing At Forbes Field That Still Echoes
On Oct. 13, 1960, Mazeroski stepped in against Yankees right-hander Ralph Terry, worked a 1–0 count, and then launched a pitch over the left-center wall at Forbes Field. The two-run shot gave the Pirates a 10–9 Game 7 victory, the only walk-off home run ever to decide a Game 7 of the World Series. The chaos that followed - fans spilling onto the field and celebrating as if they might never stop - remains part of baseball mythology, per the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Defense First: A Master Of The Pivot
Mazeroski was celebrated at least as much for his glove as for that one swing. He won eight Gold Gloves, turned 1,706 career double plays, and collected 2,016 hits over 17 big-league seasons, all with the Pirates (1956–1972). Those numbers, preserved on statistical sites and career summaries, are a big part of why he is still routinely cited as one of the game's great defensive second basemen, per Baseball-Reference.
His call to Cooperstown came in 2001, when the Veterans Committee elected him to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The selection was widely viewed as a rare moment when defense took center stage over traditional offensive benchmarks. He was also part of Pittsburgh's 1971 championship club, further tying that famous 1960 moment to a long stretch of team success, per The Washington Post.
Mazeroski is survived by his two sons, Darren and David, and four grandchildren, the Pirates noted, according to TribLIVE. Outside PNC Park, a 12-foot bronze statue of Mazeroski rounding second base stands at the end of Mazeroski Way, a popular gathering spot for tributes and anniversaries, per MLB.com.
No cause of death has been released, and the Pirates have not disclosed where he died, per The Washington Post. What is certain is that for Pittsburgh, Mazeroski's glove and that one timeless swing will stay woven into the city's sports memory for decades to come.
