Bill Mazeroski
⭐ Hall of Fame 2001
Born: 9/5/1936 in Wheeling, WV, USA
MLB Debut: 1956-07-07 | Final Game: 1972-10-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 183 lbs
Full name: William Stanley Mazeroski
Biography
Bill Mazeroski, born in 1936, was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1956 to 1972. Primarily known for his exceptional defensive skills at second base, Mazeroski played a vital role in the Pittsburgh Pirates' success during the 1960s. Over the course of 2,163 games, he recorded 2,016 hits, 138 home runs, and 853 RBIs, finishing his career with a batting average of .260. His contributions on the field earned him a place in the All-Star game 10 times, showcasing his status as one of the elite players of his era.
Mazeroski's most defining moment came during the 1960 World Series, when he hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 against the New York Yankees, securing the Pirates' championship and etching his name into baseball history. A member of the Hall of Fame class of 2001, Mazeroski is celebrated not only for his offensive contributions but also for revolutionizing the position of second baseman with his unparalleled defensive prowess. His legacy continues to influence aspiring players and fans alike, solidifying his status as one of the game's greats.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2163 | 7755 | 769 | 2016 | 294 | 62 | 138 | 853 | 27 | 447 | 706 | 0.260 | 0.299 | 0.367 | 0.667 | -7922.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | PIT | NL | 81 | 255 | 30 | 62 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 18 | 24 | 0.243 | -762.6 |
| 1957 | PIT | NL | 148 | 526 | 59 | 149 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 54 | 3 | 27 | 49 | 0.283 | -9.2 |
| 1958 | PIT | NL | 152 | 567 | 69 | 156 | 24 | 6 | 19 | 68 | 1 | 25 | 71 | 0.275 | 239.6 |
| 1959 | PIT | NL | 135 | 493 | 50 | 119 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 59 | 1 | 29 | 54 | 0.241 | -1402.3 |
| 1960 | PIT | NL | 151 | 538 | 58 | 147 | 21 | 5 | 11 | 64 | 4 | 40 | 50 | 0.273 | -101.5 |
| 1961 | PIT | NL | 152 | 558 | 71 | 148 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 59 | 2 | 26 | 55 | 0.265 | -910.9 |
| 1962 | PIT | NL | 159 | 572 | 55 | 155 | 24 | 9 | 14 | 81 | 0 | 37 | 47 | 0.271 | 49.8 |
| 1963 | PIT | NL | 142 | 534 | 43 | 131 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 52 | 2 | 32 | 46 | 0.245 | -846.8 |
| 1964 | PIT | NL | 162 | 601 | 66 | 161 | 22 | 8 | 10 | 64 | 1 | 29 | 52 | 0.268 | -340.4 |
| 1965 | PIT | NL | 130 | 494 | 52 | 134 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 54 | 2 | 18 | 34 | 0.271 | -704.6 |
| 1966 | PIT | NL | 162 | 621 | 56 | 163 | 22 | 7 | 16 | 82 | 4 | 31 | 62 | 0.262 | -46.9 |
| 1967 | PIT | NL | 163 | 639 | 62 | 167 | 25 | 3 | 9 | 77 | 1 | 30 | 55 | 0.261 | -518.7 |
| 1968 | PIT | NL | 143 | 506 | 36 | 127 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 42 | 3 | 38 | 38 | 0.251 | -302.6 |
| 1969 | PIT | NL | 67 | 227 | 13 | 52 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 1 | 22 | 16 | 0.229 | -478.1 |
| 1970 | PIT | NL | 112 | 367 | 29 | 84 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 39 | 2 | 27 | 40 | 0.229 | -1053.8 |
| 1971 | PIT | NL | 70 | 193 | 17 | 49 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 0.254 | -402.5 |
| 1972 | PIT | NL | 34 | 64 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.188 | -330.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 31 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0.323 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | NLCS | PIT | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 |
| 1971 | NLCS | PIT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 1971 | WS | PIT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1970 | NLCS | PIT | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1960 | WS | PIT | 7 | 25 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0.320 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 2094 | 2060 | 4974 | 6685 | 204 | 1706 |
| 3B | 10 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | PIT | 2B | 81 | 81 | 163 | 242 | 8 | 56 |
| 1957 | PIT | 2B | 144 | 141 | 308 | 443 | 17 | 96 |
| 1958 | PIT | 2B | 152 | 152 | 344 | 496 | 17 | 118 |
| 1959 | PIT | 2B | 133 | 129 | 303 | 373 | 13 | 100 |
| 1960 | PIT | 2B | 151 | 150 | 413 | 449 | 10 | 127 |
| 1961 | PIT | 2B | 152 | 151 | 410 | 505 | 23 | 144 |
| 1962 | PIT | 2B | 159 | 159 | 425 | 509 | 14 | 138 |
| 1963 | PIT | 2B | 138 | 138 | 340 | 506 | 14 | 131 |
| 1964 | PIT | 2B | 162 | 162 | 346 | 543 | 23 | 122 |
| 1965 | PIT | 2B | 127 | 125 | 290 | 439 | 9 | 113 |
| 1966 | PIT | 2B | 162 | 162 | 411 | 538 | 8 | 161 |
| 1967 | PIT | 2B | 163 | 160 | 417 | 498 | 18 | 131 |
| 1968 | PIT | 2B | 142 | 138 | 319 | 467 | 15 | 107 |
| 1969 | PIT | 2B | 65 | 64 | 134 | 192 | 4 | 46 |
| 1970 | PIT | 2B | 102 | 99 | 227 | 325 | 7 | 87 |
| 1971 | PIT | 2B | 46 | 37 | 95 | 121 | 3 | 22 |
| 1971 | PIT | 3B | 7 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | PIT | 2B | 15 | 12 | 29 | 39 | 1 | 7 |
| 1972 | PIT | 3B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 2094 |
| Third Base | 10 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1967 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1966 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1965 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1964 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1963 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1962 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1961 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1960 | Babe Ruth Award | 2B |
| 1960 | Gold Glove | 2B |
| 1960 | TSN All-Star | 2B |
| 1960 | TSN Major League Player of the Year | |
| 1958 | Gold Glove | 2B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 61.0 | 336 | 1 |