66 years ago today, Bill Mazeroski made history that baseball will never, ever forget.
On October 13, 1960, Mazeroski hit the most famous home run in baseball history.
Mazeroski walked-off the powerful New York Yankees at Forbes Field with a shot over the left field wall in Game 7 of the World Series. The Pirates won 10-9. They were outscored 55-27 and shut out twice.
Mazeroski’s home run was the one that made the difference and remains the only Game 7 walk-off home run in MLB history. Tuesday marked
the first anniversary since Mazeroski passed away on February 20. He was 89 years old. The Pirates honored Maz with a jersey patch this season.
The Hall of Famer delivered what many believe to be the best moment in Pittsburgh sports. Better than the Immaculate Reception, Santonio Holmes’ game-winning catch in Super Bowl XLIII, Marc-Andre Fleury’s save in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, and others.
It secured the World Series title and remains the last time a major Pittsburgh sports team clinched the trophy on home soil. Even for those born 40 years after the ball cleared the wall, Yinzers still feel the gravity of the moment and the importance the Wheeling, West Virginia native left on the city.
In a long list of successful accolades, Mazeroski’s moment has stood the test of time. The Pirates won their third World Series title and did what many thought was impossible against a Yankees team led by Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford.
To this day, fans gather at the remains of the left field wall to listen back to the game broadcast, synced up to the moment Maz left the ballyard.
It’s an annual reminder of the important place the Pirates hold in baseball history, while also a reminder of the need for new historical moments current generations can hold onto forever.
There will likely never be a moment like Maz’s ever again.
