World Series History: Bill Mazeroski’s Home Run to Win 1960 World Series
Throughout the 1950s, the New York Yankees were the unquestioned goliaths of baseball. They won six world championships plus two other pennants in which they fell short in the Series, losing to the Dodgers in 1955 and the Milwaukee Braves in seven games in 1957. Naturally, the Yankees appeared invincible as the 1960 Fall Classic began. They were coming off a season in which Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle combined to hit 79 home runs, and Maris would go on to win the American League MVP award. Crafty left-hander Whitey Ford was also primed to add to his stellar World Series body of work.
The Pittsburgh Pirates won the National League pennant with a record of 95-59. They were led by manager Danny Murtaugh and their lineup featured names like Smokey Burgess, who hit .294 that year, and Dick Groat who won the National League batting title with a .325 average.
The Pirates also had a 25-year-old right fielder who was just beginning his journey to Cooperstown. Roberto Clemente came into the series having hit for a .314 average while driving in 94 runs.
Their pitching staff was credible, but again they were seen as no match for the Yankees, who in those days really were the Bronx Bombers. Nevertheless, the games still had to be played on the field and nobody knew that better than the Pirates.