Toronto Blue Jays select,
2nd - Bill "Maz" Mazeroski
Mazeroski is regarded as one of the greatest defensive second basemen of all time. He was an All-Star for seven seasons[a]and a Gold Glove Award winner for eight seasons. He was a key member of the Pirates' World Series-winning teams in 1960 and 1971, and is best known for his walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in game 7 of the 1960 World Series—the only game 7 walk-off homer in World Series history.[1]
Batting average .260
Hits 2,016
Home runs 138
Runs batted in 853
10× All-Star (1958–1960², 1962–1964, 1967)
2× World Series champion (1960, 1971)
8× Gold Glove Award (1958, 1960, 1961, 1963–1967)
Pittsburgh Pirates #9 retired
While his defensive ability typically overshadowed his contributions with a bat – Pirates broadcaster Bob Prince used to call him simply "The Glove" – Mazeroski had several fine offensive seasons. His best was in 1958, when he batted .275, hit 19 home runs (a career best), had 68 RBIs, good enough that along with his sterling mitt he was considered for the MVP Award. In 1966 he knocked in 82, a career best. During his peak (1957–68), he drove in more runs than any other middle infielder of the period. Mazeroski's power numbers were held down by the distant fences in Forbes Field. In his career, he hit over twice as many home runs on the road as he did in his home park – 45 home runs at home versus 93 on the road. By comparison, the Chicago Cubs slugging second baseman Ryne Sandberg hit only 118 of his 282 career home runs away from the comfy confines of Wrigley Field.
