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Pirates elated with Mazeroski election
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates' campaigning is over. Bill Mazeroski is finally in the Hall of Fame. Mazeroski, the slick-fielding second baseman who also hit the most famous home run in Pirates' history, was whisked away from their spring training camp Tuesday to a news conference in Tampa announcing his election to the Hall of Fame. Just before the Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox 7-3 in an exhibition game in Fort Myers, manager Lloyd McClendon was all smiles upon hearing the news. "I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so," said McClendon, who predicted Mazeroski would be elected this year. "I'm so happy for him. He really deserves it and he waited so long for this honor. "I had a chance to talk to him on the phone for a minute just before the game and you could tell he was just overwhelmed by it all." General Manager Cam Bonifay also was elated. "It's just a great moment in what is shaping up to be a great year for this organization," said Bonifay, whose team will move into 38,365-seat PNC Park later this month. "We all were hopeful this was the year for Maz. He had come so close before that he was overdue to finally get the honor he so richly deserves." Last year, Mazeroski missed by one vote in the Veterans Committee voting. "As disappointing as it was last year to see Maz fall one vote short, I really think it might have helped his cause this year," Bonifay said. "He received more attention because of the close vote and I think that might have helped raise the level of people's consciousness about him and his outstanding career." Last month, the Pirates mailed letters to 950 journalists with details of Mazeroski's career accomplishments that include seven All-Star Game appearances, eight Gold Gloves and numerous major league fielding records. "It was kind of like a Heisman Trophy campaign push," Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy said. "But it turned out well. This is a great day." The news was well received in the Pirates' clubhouse, where Mazeroski has become a popular figure during his three years as a spring training instructor. "It's such a wonderful honor for a great player and an even greater person," first baseman Kevin Young said. Pirates second baseman Warren Morris has worked closely with Mazeroski the last three springs, and the two share a distinction. Mazeroski is the only player to hit a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game of a World Series -- in 1960, when his shot off Ralph Terry beat the New York Yankees 10-9. Morris won the College World Series for Louisiana State in 1996 with a homer in the bottom of the ninth against Miami. "Hitting a home run to win a World Series is hard to beat but getting into the Hall of Fame has to be the ultimate," Morris said. "I'm just so happy for Maz. For so many years, he has had to answer the same questions about why he didn't get into the Hall of Fame. "Now, he won't have to answer anymore and that has to be happy about that. He's finally in and I couldn't be happier."
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