Thanks, Maz!

Remembering Bill Mazeroski at the left field wall

On Friday, October 13th, 2000, I stopped by the left field wall of Forbes Field that still stands near the University of Pittsburgh Library - knowing there’d be a group there commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Bill Mazeroski’s famous World Series winning walk-off home run.

Parking spots were hard to find. But I knew I didn’t have much time. I grabbed a piece of paper from the back seat thinking if I’m lucky, I might get an autograph or two. After listening to a recording of the radio broadcast of the amazing Maz homer - and cheering with the crowd like it was 1960 - I chatted with Bill Mazeroski and asked him to sign the piece of paper I had in my pocket.

Maz was gracious and friendly - and clearly still proud of his place in baseball history and Pittsburgh lore. Pirate pitcher Bob Friend was also there - and he kindly signed my paper as we talked about his son Bob’s golf career. I headed to my car - which I had parked in a questionable spot - and saw that I had picked up one more souvenir from a friendly Pitt Campus cop.

And, at the same time, I realized that the paper that Maz and Bobby Friend’s dad had signed was one of Chloe’s spelling assignments from Winchester Thurston!

Thanks, Maz, for the years of great baseball, for the homer heard ‘round the world, and for a lifetime of memories for Pittsburghers of all ages!