THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DERMODY, FRANKEL, PALLONE, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, DeLUCA, KORTZ, KOTIK, MARKOSEK, MATZIE, READSHAW, M. SMITH, VULAKOVICH, WAGNER, DALEY, OBERLANDER, SANTONI, ROSS, STABACK, SEIP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, HARKINS, DiGIROLAMO, SONNEY, GEORGE, STEVENSON, MILLARD, MIRABITO, DeWEESE, BEYER, BISHOP, PASHINSKI, KIRKLAND, GABLER, HELM, MAJOR, MUSTIO, MANN, GRUCELA, SIPTROTH, GOODMAN, PHILLIPS, KNOWLES, CONKLIN, GODSHALL, BELFANTI, FLECK, SABATINA, HESS, ROCK, EVERETT, WHITE, D. O'BRIEN, YOUNGBLOOD, BOYD, KULA, BROOKS, MARSICO, BRADFORD, BARBIN, GIBBONS, MAHONEY AND TALLMAN, APRIL 20, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 20, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the Pittsburgh Pirates Championship team of 1960,

and October 13, 2010, as the 50th anniversary of Bill

Mazeroski's World Series winning home run.

WHEREAS, Although Bill Mazeroski is best known for the ninth-

inning, seventh-game home run that allowed the Pittsburgh

Pirates to beat the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series,

that dramatic moment has obscured the fact that he was the

premier defensive second baseman of his, or perhaps of any,

time; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mazeroski was selected by Major League

Baseball's Veterans Committee to enter the Major League Baseball

Hall of Fame in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mazeroski was a seven-time all-star who compiled

2,016 hits in his 17-year career with the Pirates; and

WHEREAS, A lifetime .260 batter, Mr. Mazeroski reached double

digits in home runs six times and, playing in the expanses of

Forbes Field, collected more than 20 doubles nine times; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mazeroski was the winner of eight Gold Gloves

and still holds major league records for second baseman with the

most double plays in a season (161), most double plays in a

career (1,706), most years leading a league in double plays

(eight) and most seasons leading in assists (nine); and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mazeroski was born on September 5, 1936, in

Wheeling, West Virginia; and

WHEREAS, In 1954, after graduation from Warren Consolidated

High School in Tiltonsville, Ohio, where he pitched and played

shortstop, Mr. Mazeroski signed with the Pittsburgh

organization; and

WHEREAS, In spring training of 1955, he impressed General

Manager Branch Rickey by making a fluid double play while

filling in at second base, and Mr. Rickey decided then that Mr.

Mazeroski was a second baseman; and

WHEREAS, In Game 1 of the 1960 World Series, Mr. Mazeroski's

two-run homer off Jim Coates propelled Pittsburgh to a 6-4

victory, driving in two runs in the Pirates' 5-2 victory in Game

5; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mazeroski's dramatic homer off Ralph Terry in

Game 7 gave the Pirates a 10-9 victory and their first world

championship since 1925; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mazeroski's home run was the only time a World

Series ended with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning

of the seventh game; and

WHEREAS, The Sporting News named Mr. Mazeroski the 1960 Major

League Player of the Year; and

WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Pirates, on September 5, 2010, will

unveil a statue outside of PNC Park of Mr. Mazeroski rounding

second base following his 1960 World Series winning home run;

and

WHEREAS, The 2010 baseball season marks the 50th anniversary

of the 1960 Pirates World Series Championship team; therefore be

it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

Pittsburgh Pirates Championship team of 1960, and October 13,

2010, as the 50th anniversary of Bill Mazeroski's World Series

winning home run.