One cannot properly tell the history of the Pittsburgh Pirates without Bill Mazeroski and his World Series winning home run in 1960.
The club thought the same, which is why Mazeroski was one of 19 members of the team's inaugural Hall of Fame class Saturday.
“To be here and be part of it, it’s fantastic," Mazeroski said.
Talking to a small group of local reporters, Mazeroski shared a couple personal stories of his connection to Pittsburgh and the Pirates.
The first was after that fateful home run in 1960. As the city celebrated downtown, Mazeroski and a small group instead went to Schenley Park in Oakland.
"There was nobody there but the squirrels," Mazeroski said. "Nobody was in that park then. They were all downtown celebrating.”
The other story was sparked by talking to Danny Murtaugh's family members. Murtaugh, one of those 19 individuals inducted, was actually the reason why Mazeroski met his wife, Milene.
"64 years later, we’re still here,” he said.
The Pirates had a team rule back then: Players weren't allowed to date the women in the office. Murtaugh knew Milene and decided to bend the rules for his second baseman.
“We met under Kaufman’s clock that night.”
