Bill Mazeroski, the American Hall of Fame baseball player who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, died on February 21, 2026.
A second baseman known for his defensive play, he was a 10-time All-Star and an eight-time Gold Glove Award winner. He is best remembered for his ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees, the only walk-off home run to clinch a World Series championship in Game 7.
Mazeroski batted .320 in that series and received the Babe Ruth Award.
William Stanley Mazeroski (September 5, 1936 – February 20, 2026), nicknamed “Maz” and “the Glove”, was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1956 to 1972. A ten-time All-Star known during his career primarily for his spectacular defensive play, he came to be known best for one of the most memorable home runs in baseball history, a dramatic ninth-inning drive in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series that beat the favored New York Yankees. It was the first time that the major league season ended with a home run, and remains the only walk-off home run to clinch a World Series championship in Game 7. ESPN ranked the World Series winner at the top of its list of the 100 Greatest Home Runs of All Time, while Sports Illustrated had it eighth in its compilation of the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History. Mazeroski received the Babe Ruth Award for his play in the Series, during which he batted .320.