When Bill Mazeroski stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning on Oct. 13, 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees were tied in Game 7 of the World Series. Minutes later, baseball had what many still consider its greatest home run.
Mazeroski, who died Feb. 21 at age 89, secured his place in history by leading off the ninth with a swing that sent a 1-0 pitch soaring over the left-field wall at Forbes Field. The blast gave the Pirates a 10-9 victory and clinched their first World Series title since 1925, stunning a heavily favored Yankees team.
More than six decades later, the moment remains unmatched in its drama and finality. It is still the only Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history. ESPN has ranked it as the greatest home run of all time, and the 1960 Fall Classic is frequently cited among the most memorable postseason series ever played.
The result was all the more improbable given the numbers. The Yankees outscored Pittsburgh 55-27 over the seven games, dominating in three lopsided wins. Yet the Pirates captured four tightly contested games, including the decisive finale, illustrating how October baseball often defies statistics.
Mazeroski was already a standout before that swing. A 10-time All-Star and one of the finest defensive second basemen of his era, he built a Hall of Fame career on steady excellence in the field. But it is that single moment — a line drive that barely cleared the left-field wall — that forever defines his legacy.
The scene at Forbes Field became iconic: teammates mobbing Mazeroski near second base, fans flooding the field in celebration, and the Pirates hoisting a championship trophy few expected them to claim.
In Pittsburgh, the memory endures. A statue of Mazeroski stands outside PNC Park, commemorating both the player and the swing that altered franchise history. Each year, fans gather to mark the anniversary of the home run, reliving a moment that transcends generations.
Mazeroski’s death this week prompted renewed reflection on that autumn afternoon in 1960. While his career included Gold Glove defense, All-Star appearances, and eventual induction into the Hall of Fame, it was one perfectly timed swing that elevated him into baseball immortality.
Source: MLB, CBS Sports, ESPN