William Stanley Mazeroski (born September 5, 1936), nicknamed "Maz", is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career (1956–72) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. A key member of the Pirates' World Series-winning teams in 1960 and 1971, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.Regarded as one of the greatest defensive second basemen of all time, he is perhaps best known for winning the 1960 World Series with a dramatic game-ending home run. While Toronto's Joe Carter also hit a Series-ending home run in 1993, Mazeroski's remains the only home run to win a World Series Game 7.
They had a guy out there pitching and he was throwing fastballs. I knew I had to hit a line drive to the third baseman. It only took two takes. The first pitch, I hit a line drive that went just foul. The second one, I hit a one-hopper right to third. He caught it, stepped on third, threw to second, threw to first, a triple play. Now that took talent. - on having only 10 minutes prior to a scheduled game to film a scene for The Odd Couple (1968)
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Fact
1
Inducted into The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
2
Inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2004.
3
Inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference in 2004.
4
Made major league debut on 7 July 1956.
5
His name is part of the title of an episode of Grace Under Fire (1993), and was also given to one character in an episode of The X-Files (1993).
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Mazeroski's eating habits amazed teammates; one of them later recalled that Maz would order two Budweisers and two kielbasa sausages for breakfast.
7
He met his wife - who was then working in the Pirates' front office - when manager Danny Murtaugh introduced them.
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Played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1956-1972).
9
Grew up in a one-room house in eastern Ohio.
10
Inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 2001.
11
Was an 8-time Gold Glove winner at second base during his career.
12
Was the hero of the 1960 World Series, hitting a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 off Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry to win the game, 10-9, and the Series, 4 games to 3. A plaque in Pittsburgh's Schenley Park marks the spot where the ball landed.
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Prime 9
2009-2011
TV Series
Himself
2008 MLB All-Star Game
2008
TV Special
Himself - Pre-Game Hall of Fame Ceremony
ESPN 25: Who's #1?
2005
TV Series documentary
Himself
ESPN SportsCentury
2000-2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Way It Was
1976
TV Series
Himself
1972 National League Championship Series
1972
TV Series
Himself - Pittsburgh Pirates Pinch Hitter
1971 World Series
1971
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Pittsburgh Pirates Pinch Hitter
1971 National League Championship Series
1971
TV Series
Himself - Pittsburgh Pirates Pinch Hitter
The Whistling Irishman
1971
TV Short
Himself
1970 National League Championship Series
1970
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Pittsburgh Pirates Second Baseman
The Odd Couple
1968
Himself (uncredited)
1967 MLB All-Star Game
1967
TV Special
Himself - NL Second Baseman
I've Got a Secret
1960
TV Series
Himself - Guest
1960 World Series
1960
TV Mini-Series
Himself - Pittsburgh Pirates Second Baseman
1958 MLB All-Star Game
1958
TV Special
Himself - NL Second Baseman
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Prime 9
2010
TV Series
Himself
DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes
2006
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
The 50 Greatest Home Runs in Baseball History
1992
Video documentary
Himself
Known for movies
2008 MLB All-Star Game (2008) as Himself - Pre-Game Hall of Fame Ceremony
The Odd Couple (1968) as Himself
1958 MLB All-Star Game (1958) as Himself - NL Second Baseman
1967 MLB All-Star Game (1967) as Himself - NL Second Baseman
$1.5 Million
