Bill Mazeroski (2001)


Date of Birth: 9/5/1936
Birthplace: Wheeling, West Virginia

Bill Mazeroski was a top baseball and basketball player in high school. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954, at the age of 17.

Pittsburgh Pirates

In 1956, after a year and a half in the minor leagues, Mazeroski played in 81 games with the Pirates, and he batted .243 with 62 hits. The following season, he batted .283 in 148 games. He had 149 hits, a career high 27 doubles, and 54 RBIs in 1957.

Mazeroski had a career high 19 home runs in 1958. He finished the season with 156 hits, 24 doubles, 68 RBIs, 71 strikeouts to 25 walks, and a .275 batting average in 152 games. A strong defensive second baseman, he won his first of eight Gold Gloves that year, and he led the NL in assists with 496. He struggled offensively the following season, batting just .241 in 135 games.

Mazeroski came back strong in 1960, winning the Sporting News Major League Player of the Year award. He batted .273 with 147 hits, 21 doubles, and 64 RBIs in 151 games. He won his second Gold Glove and he led NL second basemen in double plays with 127 and in putouts with 413. He also had a strong postseason, winning the Babe Ruth award for his performance. He won the World Series for the Pirates by hitting a walk-off home run in game seven of the series. In 25 at-bats in 7 postseason games, he batted .320 with 8 hits, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 5 RBIs.

In 1961, Mazeroski batted .265 with 148 hits, 21 doubles, and 59 RBIs in 152 games. He again played excellent defense and he won his third Gold Glove. He led the NL in assists with 505 and he led NL second basemen in double plays turned with 144 and in putouts with 410.

Mazeroski had another average offensive season in 1962, batting .271 in 159 games. He had 155 hits, 24 doubles, and 81 RBIs. Defensively, he again led NL second basemen in double plays turned with 138 and in putouts with 425. The next season, he batted just .245 in 142 games. He had 131 hits, 22 doubles, and 52 RBIs in 1963.

From 1963 through 1967, Mazeroski dominated second basemen in defense, winning a Gold Glove each season and leading in double plays turned each year (131 in 1963, 122 in 1964, 113 in 1965, 161 in 1966, and 131 in 1967). He led the NL in assists in 1963 (506), 1964 (543), and 1966 (538). He also led NL second basemen in putouts in 1966 with 411, and in 1967 with 417.

Mazeroski batted .268 in 162 games in 1964. He had 161 hits, 22 doubles, and 64 RBIs. The next year, he played in only 130 games, and he batted .271 with 134 hits, 17 doubles, and 54 RBIs. He led the NL in games played in 1966 with 162. He finished the season with 163 hits, 22 doubles, a career high 82 RBIs, and a .262 batting average.

In 1967, Mazeroski again led the NL in games played. He had a career high 167 hits, 25 doubles, 77 RBIs, and a .261 batting average in a career high 163 games. The next year, he batted just .251 in 143 games. He finished the 1968 season with 127 hits, 18 doubles, and 42 RBIs.

Mazeroski's playing time diminished starting in 1969. He played in just 67 games that year and he batted .229. The following season, he again batted .229 in 112 games. He played in just 70 games in 1971, and he batted .254. In 1972, his last season in the major leagues, he batted .188 in 34 games. He was released by the Pirates on October 24, 1972.

Awards

  • Gold Glove (8 times)
  • Sporting News Major League Player of the Year
  • Babe Ruth award

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Mazeroski include:

  • 2,163 games played
  • 2,016 hits
  • 294 doubles
  • 138 home runs
  • 853 RBIs
  • 706 strikeouts to 447 walks
  • .260 batting average
  • .299 on-base percentage
  • .666 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Mazeroski at second base include:

  • 2,094 games played
  • 204 errors
  • 6,685 assists
  • 1,706 double plays
  • 4,974 putouts
  • .983 fielding percentage

Postseason statistics for Mazeroski include:

  • 4 postseasons
  • 12 games played
  • 31 at-bats
  • 10 hits
  • 2 doubles
  • 2 home runs
  • 5 RBIs
  • 4 doubles
  • .323 batting average

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Bill Mazeroski
ESPN - Bill Mazeroski
Baseball Reference - Bill Mazeroski

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