Pittsburgh pirates slugger willie stargell dead at 61. The poignant image of the dying man on the field that afternoon contrasted so dramatically with the mighty and fearsome slugger of an earlier time. Wilver dornell willie stargell march 6, 1940 april 9, 2001 was an american professional baseball player. Wilver dornell stargell, known as willie, was born march 6, 1940 in earlsboro, ok. Other advertising baseball cards book shelf feedback fun. Wilver dornell stargell march 6, 1940 april 9, 2001, nicknamed pops later in his career, was an american professional baseball left fielder and first baseman who. See the stats that won him the nl nlcs and world series mvp awards. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. An ode to willie stargell, the man who didnt just hit pitchers, he took away their dignity by matt monagan march 6, 2017. The obituary was featured in legacy on april 9, 2001.
They speak in open and frank terms about the difficulties of the pirates season, sex, race, fidelity, raising families, drugs, injuries, leadership, and money. Stargell was a dynamic leader on the field and a fatherly yet forceful presence off it. Every day, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, todays schedule, top performers, new debuts and interesting tidbits. Stargell was the only player to hit a ball out of dodger stadium, and he did it twice. Willie stargell, 61, a hulking fixture of the pittsburgh pirates teams that won world series championships in 1971 and 1979 and a baseball hall of famer who demoralized pitchers with towering home. So, whos the pirates best left fielder of all time.
His major league debut was in 1962, as a left fielder for the pittsburgh pirates, and he would remain with the team for his 21year national league career. Willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates a prairie house b. But stargell, too, had his career delayed, perhaps not quite as dramatically as mccovey, nor as much by platooning, but significantly. Willie stargell greater wilmington sports hall of fame. Previous willie stargell hits the longest home run in the history of veterans stadium in the second inning off starter jim bunning during a 144 pirates rout of philadelphia. Willie stargell was born on march 6, 1940 in earlsboro, oklahoma, usa as wilver dornal stargell. Willie stargell society for american baseball research. Hall of famer willie stargell dead at 61 after stroke.
Some of the 475 home runs he hit are among the longest in the game, including two shots that cleared dodger stadium and balls hit out of the old forbes field in pittsburgh. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. The book focuses tightly on willie stargell, but with sections on his teammates, wife, his two managers, the teams general manager, willies agent, and even a baseball groupie. This book brings to life one of baseballs greatest sluggers, willie stargell.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. This week in 1960s baseball may 22, 1968 the pittsburgh pirates today came from a 51 deficit to defeat the chicago cubs 6 the star of the game for the pirates was outfielder willie stargell, who got five hits and seven runs batted in with three home runs, missing a fourth home run by inches. An ode to willie stargell, the man who didnt just hit. Willie stargell played with the pittsburgh pirates for 21 years. He was a graceless, plodding left fielder who hurt his team defensively. In 1964, the lefthanded slugger belted 21 home runs, the first of.
An intimidating lefthanded batter, stargell helped popularize the following of tapemeasure home runs during the 1960s and 70s. This book brings to life one of baseballs greatest sluggers, willie stargell, first by examining the factors that shaped him as a man growing up in tumultuous racial times of the 1950s and 60s, then by recreating the major moments in his hall of fame baseball career, and finally by tracing his various endeavors during the postplaying days. Stargells image forever cast in bronze outside pnc park. Willies paternal grandfather helped raise him for a couple years. Below watch a couple clips of stargell hitting homers.
He died on april 9, 2001 in wilmington, north carolina, usa. Willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates a prairie house book hardcover january 1, 1976 by. Out of left field, willie stargell and the pittsburgh. He was the first player to ever hit one out, it was a 507foot rocket off alan foster on august 5, 1969, it totally cleared the rightfield pavilion, and it is the longest home run hit at dodger stadium. Players and staff pictured include matty alou, joe brown, roberto clemente, donn clendenon, manny mota, willie stargell, and harry walker. His childhood was not only challenging but also a little bit weird. To ask other readers questions about willie stargell, please sign up.
He was the left fielder and first baseman for the pittsburgh pirates 19621982. Buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. He also hit a towering homer over the massive scoreboard in left field, an amazing accomplishment for a lefthanded batter. When i strike out, i dont get angry at the pitcher, i get angry at myself. Willie stargell new morning for the world bloop singles. Stargell played nearly half of his career at forbes field, a ballpark so unfriendly to home run hitters that in 1947, hank greenberg, one of the greatest righthanded power hitters in baseball history, refused to play for. Despite playing the front half of his career in forbes field. Before signing with the pirates, he was a middle linebacker for his schools football team until he broke his pelvis. Near the end of the book, garland focused an entire chapter on stargells life off of the field, and i thought.
Adelman, bob out of left field willie stargells turning point season 1st edition thus 1st printing softcover new york proteus press 1980 very good in wrappers. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Jim pagliaroni singled up the middle and mazeroski came around to score. Crease to bottom corner of front panel and to a few pages. Which red sox player was inducted into the hall of fame as a left fielder, won two mvps, hit for two triple crowns in his career, and was also a member of the 500. A 12foot bronze statue of willie stargell was unveiled at the left field. Wilver dornell willie stargell march 6, 1940 april 9, 2001, nicknamed pops or old pops in the later years of his career, was a professional baseball player who played his entire major league career 19621982 with the pittsburgh pirates as an outfielder and first baseman. Willie stargell was a feared power hitter, and a leader on the field and in the clubhouse during. Willie stargell hits the longest homerun in the history of. Willie stargell blasts longest home run in olympic stadium. Willie stargell page at the bullpen wiki are you a stathead. Find and compare hundreds of millions of new books, used books, rare books and out of print books from over 100,000. Out of left field, willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates by bob adelman, 1974, little, brown edition, in english 1st ed. Babe ruth did it once on his 714th and final long ball.
Out of left field, willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates by bob adelman author. Much of the information from this post came from frank garlands biography of willie stargell, which you should check out if you want to read even more detail. Ive been a baseball fan for a long time, but im not old enough to remember when pirates slugger willie stargell first came up to the majors. He was married to margaret weller, dolores parker and lois beard. Here is adam berrys ranking of the top 5 left fielders in pirates history. Also, a montage of alou, clemente, clendenon, and mota. Willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates a prairie house book. The willie stargell foundation was established to promote research and treatment for kidney disease. Champion enterprises sponsors a willie stargell memorial awards banquet which raises money for disadvantaged children in pittsburgh. Willie stargell, whose great menacing bat and gentle patriarchs compassion were the hallmarks of his singular 21yearcareer with the pittsburgh pirates, died of a stroke shortly after midnight yesterday. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site.
Dignitaries pull the cover from the new statue of willie stargell, the heart of the pirates 1970s championship teams, outside the left field. A life in baseball and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. After lynch lined out, stargell drove a single to left, and mazeroski doubled to right for two more runs batted in. Bob adelman photographic materials digital collection. Willie was the only lefthander to hit a home run over the left field scoreboard at forbes field. It wasnt long ago, with his milelong home runs and gentle giant persona, that willie stargell seemed almost indestructible.
Adelman, bob out of left field 1st edition thus 1st. Ship this item this item is available online through marketplace sellers. In 1962, he made it to pittsburghat the end of the forbes field era, before the 60 world champion bucks recaptured the spark at three rivers in 1970. In the summers, stargell would sneak out to play baseball while lucy was at work. And of the 18 balls to clear the 86foot high rightfield roof at forbes field 190970, the lefty had seven of them. Willie and motton faced off against each other in the 1971 world series when his former high school teammate played for the baltimore orioles. He was the first player to ever hit one out, it was a 507foot rocket off alan foster on august 5, 1969, it totally cleared the rightfield. Willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates has 1 available editions to. The pirates won six division titles, two national league penates, and two world series that decade, and willie stargell hit more home runs in the 70s then any other man. Several of the players, including stargell, objected to several of the quotes.
Autograph willie stargell baseball cards for sale ebay. What the subtitle doesnt say is that out of left field chronicles the 1973 season, the year the pirates fell apart after the subtitle of this book tells it all or most of. He was nicknamed pops in the later years of his career. Out of left field was supposed to be published in 1974 by little brown. Photographs taken by bob adelman and susan hall for the 1973 book out of left field. Wilver dornel stargell was born march 6, 1940, in earlsboro, oklahoma. The pirates were one of the greatest teams of the 1970s, and willie stargell was their greatest star. In 1973, this perspective resulted in an intimate look at the pittsburgh pirates for the book out of left field. Willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates a prairie house book stargell, willie on.
Before willie was born, his father left, and it wasnt until willie was 19, that they met. Asked to describe the talents of hall of famer willie stargell, fellow inductee sparky anderson famously said the pirates slugger had power enough to hit home runs in any park, including yellowstone. Vera clemente pictured above as her husband, roberto clemente, is inducted to the national baseball hall of fame in 1973. What the subtitle doesnt say is that out of left field chronicles the 1973 season, the year the pirates fell apart after the subtitle of this book tells it all or most of it willie stargell and the pittsburgh pirates. Long out of print, i recently found a used hardcover copy of the 1976 first edition via amazon. Coming to the major leagues at age 22, stargell was relegated to the bench or to shuttling between left field and first base for years. Its also available for football, basketball and hockey. Between them, loyalist stargell and expiratespublicist bird manage an upbeat but not wishywashy account of his 21 pittsburgh seasons. It examines the factors that shaped him as a man growing up in the tumultuous racial times of the 1950s and 60s, and then recreates the major moments in his hall of fame baseball career. Moving on to left field, a really fun list even without willie stargell. Stargell intimidated pitchers as he set up at the plate with the distinctive pinwheel twirl of his bat that kept time with the pitchers motion.
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