Archive for August, 2010

It’s almost 50 years since Bill Mazeroski hit the home run shot over the Forbes Field scoreboard heard round Pittsburgh to win the 1960 World Series for the Pirates over the vaunted New York Yankees.

Finally, on Sunday, September 5, the Pirates will unveil a statue of Maz outside PNC Park, the current home of the Bucs. Maz’ statue will join those of Roberto Clemente (also a member of the 1960 Pirates) and Willie Stargell. The Hall of Fame second baseman will also be honored on the field before the Pirates-Washington Senator’s game.

The statue unveiling is set for 12:45 p.m., with first pitch at 1:35 p.m.

As one who was, and still is, a loyal fan of the Buccos, I will be honored to be in attendance that day. I’ll mount that ticket stub on my large autographed picture of Maz that hangs over my desk.

To this day, I have not seen a second baseman with quicker hands than Mazeroski. His hands were invisible as he turned the double play. He had a career .983 fielding percentage, led the National League in assists nine times, and holds the major league career record for double plays by a second baseman.

Let’s pray for sun and a Pirates’ victory, almost an impossibility with this year’s awful team.