Only 14 months later, Clemente was dead. In 1988, Stargell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Pirates retired his number. Willie Stargell is a familiar name in the baseball world. Willie Stargell, May 8, 1973. By Alan Robinson MMI The Associated Press. His body was buried at the Oleander Memorial Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina. Privacy Policy He hit seven of the 18 homers over the right-field roof at Pittsburgh's Forbes Field from 1909-70 and once held the record for the longest homer in nearly half of the National League parks. The season was scheduled to end in a dramatic, four-game showdown against the Phillies in Pittsburgh, in which the Pirates had to win all four games to claim the title. [4] He might have quit baseball over the racial difficulties that he experienced, but he was encouraged by letters he received from friend and baseball scout Bob Zuk. Stargell played and nothing came of the incident. Jason Stargel sat in the empty stands during a sunny afternoon last week and explained what his fathers name on the stadium has meant to his family. Not just. For his first 10 years in the majors, Stargell was content to play in Clemente's shadow, even after Stargell surpassed him in production. On April 7, 2001, two days before Stargell died, a larger-than-life statue of him was unveiled at the Pirates' new stadium, PNC Park, as part of the opening-day ceremonies. They excited fans with numerous come-from-behind victories along the way (many during their final at-bat) to claim the division pennant on the last day of the season. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Works: Willie Stargell: An Autobiography. Willie Stargell That's where the future lies, in the youth of today. He hit a second home run out of Dodger Stadium on May 8, 1973, against Andy Messersmith, measured at 470 feet (140m). On April 7, 2001, two days before Stargell died, a larger-than-life statue of him was unveiled at the Pirates' new stadium, PNC Park, as part of the opening-day ceremonies. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Willie-Stargell, 8 (1977-1979, Pittsburgh Pirates) 8 (1970-1976, Pittsburgh Pirates) 8 (1962-1982, Pittsburgh Pirates). Stargell enjoyed his best season in 1971, with 48 homers and 125 RBIs. Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like trying to drink coffee with a fork. "Now, every opening day at PNC Park, everybody will know this is Willie Stargell's day," said Chuck Tanner, Stargell's manager from 1977-82. He doesn't just hit pitchers, he takes away their dignity." Terms of Use, Willie Stargell with his first wife and son. Stargell made his MLB debut at the end of the 1962 season at the age of 22. Besides, there is not much information regarding his family background. (AP). He would always say, Son, dont appear to be, but be. Theres a lot of people that carry themselves in a certain way, but then behind closed doors theyre not, andhe was really intent on me trying to be the person that you see all the time, Jason said. He became the third player, after Lou Boudreau in 1946 and Joe Adcock in 1954, to collect five extra-base hits in one game. 13 Copy quote. He returned to the All-Star Game the next two seasons, hitting over 100 runs batted in (RBI) in both years, and finishing respectively 14th and 15th in MVP voting. Nicknamed "Pops," Stargell was a dynamic leader on the field with his tape-measure shots and a fatherly yet forceful presence off it, distributing his coveted Stargell stars for extra effort to teammates who proudly attached them to their ballcaps. The Pirates struggled early in Stargells career, but the team turned the corner in the 1970s, winning the National League (NL) Eastern Division title six times in the decade. Thats not enough to reopenher business somewhere else, she said. During a drug trafficking trial back in 1985, names like Willie Stargell, Willie Mays, Dave Parker, Bill Madlock and Dale Berra were all mentioned as players who used greenies. Besides, Stargell enjoyed another fine season in 1970, batting .264 with 31 home runs and 85 RBIs and finishing 15th in MVP voting. Stargell died on the day the Pirates opened their new ballpark, PNC Park, where a 12-foot bronze statue of Stargell's likeness was unveiled Saturday. Stargell had more than 40 of each; he was the first player to chalk up this 40-40 accomplishment since Hank Greenberg in 1940; other players have done so since (notably Albert Belle, the only 50-50 player). Tanner agreed that Stargell's personal magnetism was a key ingredient in the clubhouse. Despite being overshadowed at times by more prolific home run hitters Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, and by his own Hall of Fame teammate, Roberto Clemente, Stargell's sheer power was unrivaled. "He was the ultimate class act," McClatchy said. display: none; To see them for sale and auction on eBay, click the title of each. Stargell preferred H&B (endorsement contract) bats during his career and signed with the company before making his MLB debut in 1962, but the Pittsburgh powerhouse occasionally used Adirondack (block letter) bats as well. Chapman, a 5-3, 120-pound running back when he started playing football at Taft, said he earned a football scholarship at Northern Illinois thanks to Stargel. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 61 years old group. He was 61. Enjoying his last big season in 1979although he did not hit well during the stretch drivethe 39-year-old Stargell tied Hernandez with 216 vote points, despite receiving only four first-place . Willie was suffering from a kidney ailment and heart disease caused by high blood pressure for a long time. Stargell was one of two players to hit a ball completely out of Dodger Stadium, and he did it twice. 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 spent all of his 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) ( 1962 - 1982) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had to suffer from quite complications in his love life. Willie married Margaret Weller of Wilmington in 1993 at . Stargel finally got his first chance to teach high school when Taft opened in 1955. Besides, on one of the news sites, it claims that Willie signed a 1 year / $6000 worth contract with Pittsburgh in the 1963 season. Stargell was named to the NL All-Star team seven times and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1988. He was 61. Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy, who employed Stargell as his special baseball adviser, stood at the base of the Stargell statue with a tear in his eye hours before the Pirates' first game there. Willie Stargell made his MLB debut at the end of the 1962 season at the age of 22. He never made anybody look bad and he never said anything bad about anybody. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. When most batters used a simple lead-weighted bat in the on-deck circle, Stargell took to warming up with a sledgehammer. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. But Berding saidthey're trying to retain the neighborhood's character and complexion. While in Plainview, Texas, he was accosted at gunpoint by a man who threatened his life if he played in that night's game. He slumped badly in 1976, after Dolores developed a blood clot on her brain, but won the comeback player of the year award in 1978. "He didn't just hit pitchers, he took away their dignity," former Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton said. In the same game, teammate Bob Robertson also collected five hits, including a home run; not until Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones in 2012 would two Pirates collect five hits in the same game. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1965, in Earlsboro, Oklahoma to Gladys Vernell Stargell and William Stargell. Her business, Just Cookin', is feet from Taft High School and will have to move out to make room for the new stadium's construction. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Stargell's two home run titles came in his first three years at Three Rivers. Once, Prince said on the air that if Stargell homered, everybody in the restaurant would eat free. A lot of success.". 3. Born in Oklahoma on March 6, 1940, of African-American and Seminole Indian descent, Stargell himself listed the date as March 7, 1941. Thats part of the legacy of Willard Stargel. They're going to build the stadium. A 12 foot bronze statue of Stargell was erected in front of the Pirates PNC Park to honor one of the town's true sports legends. How many home runs did Willie Stargell hit? "It hurt Pops, I think, a little when UC decided to go the bowl game and leave him home when (Virginia Tech) said they wouldn't play against UC because dad was on the team, but they took a vote and that was the leadership that was at the University of Cincinnati at that time," Jason said. He slumped badly in 1976, after Dolores developed a blood clot on her brain, but won the comeback player of the year award in 1978 after hitting 28 homers and driving in 97 runs in 390 at-bats. Stargell died on April 9, 2001 at a hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 (age 60) in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, United States. RELATED ACTIVITIES He would see to it that we got home after practice and he would make sure we got to school on time.. He won the final two NL Player of the Month awards of his career in April (.347, 11 HR, 27 RBI) and in June (.333, 11 HR, 36 RBI); yet he did not win the MVP award, finishing second to Joe Torre. Despite playing the front half of his career in Forbes Field, a graveyard for left-handed hitters with a right-field power alley of 436 feet, Stargell averaged 24 homers from 1963-69. He had an awkward interaction with the Pirates that season when the team wanted to schedule a Willie Stargell Night to honor his Hall of Fame election. A clubhouse drug scandal and subsequent 1985 federal court trial in Pittsburgh implicated more than 30 major leaguers and badly tarnished not only the Pirates' image, but baseball's as well. Among the most feared power hitters in baseball history, Stargell had the most home runs (296) of any player in the 1970s decade. That was Stargel Stadium No. Stargell hit 29 homers in 1969. Mr. Stargell, who was named the series' most valuable player, batted .400 and hit three home runs, including a shot in the sixth inning of Game 7 that gave the Pirates the lead for good over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles. He had been in failing health for several years with a kidney . Stargell had been in failing health for several years due to a kidney disorder, according to officials at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., where he died. The status quo is a lot easier, a lot less scary for many people. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Willie Stargell played leftfielder and first baseman. Honors and Awards The Pirates retired Willies' number 8 jersey in 1982. Great team." Stargell died in April 2001. He was 61. The former TaftStadium, completed in 1986, was renamed in Stargels honor. Stargel Stadium in the West End with the Downtown skyline to the south. In '79 he was the National League MVP, Championship Series MVP, and the World Series MVP, taking most of baseball's Top Honors for the year. That's what $20,000 does, literally.". Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. To get those stars from your leade and captain, that was special.". "The whole family was just so excited when the Taft alumni suggested that the stadium, Taft Stadium, be named Willard Stargel.". At age 31, he won the first of his two home-run titles in 1971; his 48 edged out Hank Aaron's 47 on the final week of the season and, to date, trail only Ralph Kiner's 54 and 51 in 1949 and 1947, respectively, for most by a Pirate in one season. He was 61. Prince himself once promised free chicken to listeners if Stargell hit a home run; Stargell did homer and Prince picked up a $400 bill at the restaurant. He left center stage to the 38-year-old Clemente, who, fearful he would never play in another Series, turned the postseason into a personal showcase of his grace, talent and determination. Fri 20 Apr 2001 21.07 EDT. Stargell wore the mantle of leadership as well as he did an outfielder's glove or a first baseman's mitt as an unappreciated defensive player. Monica Williams is counting on that, too. Apart from that, he holds American nationality and was of white ethnicity. Though he became quickly known as Willie Stargell, his autograph suggests that he preferred his given name, Wilver. Dodger Hall of Famer Don Sutton said of Stargell, "I never saw anything like it. Willie Stargell's net worth In 1979 he won the regular season, NL championship series, and World Series Most Valuable Player awards en route to a second World Series championship. Stargell's first wife, Dolores, kept detailed statistics on every ball he hit and estimated he would have had 22 more homers in 1969 if the Pirates had played in Three Rivers Stadium, which opened a year later. Nicknamed "Pops," Stargell was a dynamic leader on the field with his tape-measure shots and a fatherly yet forceful presence off it, distributing his coveted Stargell stars for extra effort to teammates who proudly attached them to their ballcaps. [17] Commissioner Peter Ueberroth later cleared Stargell and Madlock of any wrongdoing. $4.99. Forty years ago today, Willie Stargell did something that no one else had ever done before and no one else had ever done since. Mr. Stargell, 52, whose full name is Wilver Dornel Stargell, is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Lodging for black players was located in the poor black areas of those towns. Despite developing a kidney disorder that required frequent dialysis, Stargell later worked in the Braves' minor league department for 10 years until returning to the Pirates yet again in 1997 as an aide to general manager Cam Bonifay. So they got the stadium. Willie Stargell died on April 9, 2001, in Wilmington, North Carolina, of a kidney disorder. Years later, he said the nickname bestowed on that team -- the Family, from the Sister Sledge song, "We Are Family" -- wasn't a misnomer. Stargell connected off Andy Messersmith to send the . Only months from his 40th birthday, he made an unprecedented three-way sweep of MVP awards, sharing the NL award with Keith Hernandez of St. Louis and winning it in the playoffs and World Series -- a feat still not matched. Alternate titles: Pops Stargell, Wilver Dornel Stargell. With Stargell batting cleanup for most of his 20-year career, the Pirates won World Series championships and NL pennants in 1971 and 1979 and six NL East titles from 1970-79. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! Baseball star Willie Stargell, who has died aged 61, was the first player to hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium, and did it twice. About Us Willie Stargell, byname of Wilver Dornel Stargell, also called Pops, (born March 6, 1940, Earlsboro, Okla., U.S.died April 9, 2001, Wilmington, N.C.), American professional baseball player who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to World Series championships in 1971 and 1979. The Pirates fell apart after Stargell retired in 1982. They didn't know whether to pitch or run.". 2 bids. Willie Stargell. (Hebner had a .938 OPS and 30 home runs in 647 career at-bats against . [15], After retirement, Stargell spent two years as a first base coach for the Atlanta Braves from 19861988, wearing his customary #8. A lot of memories on this field. Live. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. Apart from that, as of 2019, the highest-earning MLB player is Stephen Strasburg, with an annual income of $38.3 million. "When you had Willie Stargell on your team, it was like having a diamond ring on your finger," said Chuck Tanner, the Pirates' manager for Stargell's final six seasons. Aman who was a role model and a father figure to many of his players and students. After Stargell died, Joe Morgan said, "When I played, there were 600 baseball players, and 599 of them loved Willie Stargell. Wilver Dornel Stargell was born March 6, 1940, in tiny Earlsboro, Oklahoma, the son of William and Gladys Vernell Stargell. A 12-foot bronze statue of Willie Stargell was unveiled at the left field entrance to the Pirates new ballpark in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Mr. Stargell, a seven-time National League All-Star, is the Pirates' all-time leader in home runs, RBI and extra-base hits. Willie Stargell, whose graceful class and towering home runs made him one of Pittsburgh's most beloved sports heroes, died early today after a long illness. I still miss him. Stargell died on the same day that the Pittsburgh Pirates opened their new ballpark, PNC Park. Stargelleft Taft and went to Walnut Hills as head football and track coach. Willie Stargell was born on 6 March 1940 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, USA. "November the 19th. Stargell better known by his given name, Wilver (sometimes mispronounced as "Williver") during his Alameda days played his last major league game in 1982. CINCINNATI - It's the end of an era. He was then pinch run by Doug Frobel and subsequently was replaced by Richie Hebner at first base.[12]. 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