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. Willie was suffering from a kidney ailment and heart disease caused by high blood pressure for a long time. Thats not enough to reopenher business somewhere else, she said. Willie Stargell decided to award players with a gold star any time they had a good game or made a good play. "November the 19th. Monica Williams is counting on that, too. [23][24][25], Wilver Willie Stargell Avenue (formerly Tinker Avenue) is a major thoroughfare in his adolescent home of Alameda, California, connecting to the former Naval Air Station Alameda, and Stargell is honored with a plaque and plaza at its intersection with Fifth Street. He became the third player, after Lou Boudreau in 1946 and Joe Adcock in 1954, to collect five extra-base hits in one game. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Stargell attended high school in California, where he attracted the attention of Pirates scouts and was signed to a minor league contract. [11] He retired with 475 home runs despite playing much of his career at Forbes Field, whose center field distance was 457 feet (139m). His marriage to Dolores Stargell ended in divorce. Willie was suffering from a kidney ailment and heart disease caused by high blood pressure for a long time. So stick with us till the end. Another fan, Rich Cromer, recalled the anticipation in the crowd every time Stargell came to the plate. Friday nights were our nights.. The Pirates unveiled the 12-foot high statute of Stargell on Saturday. With a voice as big as his 6-foot-4-inch frame, Mr. 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. He had been in failing health for several years with a kidney . Stargel should have been the head coach, but at the time there were no black head coaches in the PHSL, Allen wrote in a book, 100 OrSo Boyhood Memories of the Real West Endies., Even though we loved Joe Corcoran (the white head coach), our confidant was Mr. Stargel He knew, better than we, what was what., He was sort of like a father to many of us, Bobby Chapman, who played at Taft in the late 50s, said in an Enquirer article in 1990. Willie Stargell Life is one big transition. Thats part of the reason people were so upset when they first learned FC Cincinnati wanted to bulldoze Stargel Stadium and replace it with a new $250 million soccer stadium. Willard Stargel made a name for himself at Old Woodward High School, where he was astandout football end and basketball guard and the city high hurdles champion for two years running and jumping. All Rights Reserved. Stargell never hit more than 33 homers in Forbes Field, but hit 48 in his first full season in Three Rivers in 1971 and had 125 from 1971-73 until knee and elbow injuries cut into his production. Stargells play declined in the following seasons, and he retired from baseball in 1982. [1], Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, but later moved to Florida with an aunt after his parents divorced. 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. 5d 22h. However, he was 0-for-14 in the NL playoffs against the Giants and had only one RBI in the Pirates' seven-game World Series victory over favored Baltimore. I briefly described Steve Blass Disease, which I wrote about here in August, an affliction named for a Pirates starter of the early 1970s who, for no clear reason, lost his ability to pitch. 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. What we need to do now is to make sure that FC Cincinnati adheres to all those promises.". The Pirates lost the first two games of that series, which Stargell said that media began referring to as "the St. Valentine's Day Massacre" before Pittsburgh's comeback.[9]. Scully said that because he used the name Wilver, he became Stargell's mother's favorite broadcaster.[4]. The Sporting News ranks Stargell 81st on the top 100 baseball players of all time. He played alongside the man he credited with much of his success, Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash in 1972. Where is Willie Stargell buried? [26], List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders, List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle, List of Major League Baseball home run records, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders, List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise, "Willie Stargell at the Baseball Hall of Fame", "Biography: Stargell, Wilver Dornell (Willie, Pops)", "Obituary: Willie Stargell: Numbers couldn't measure the man", April 17, 1964 Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets Play by Play and Box Score, "September 30, 1978 Philadelphia Phillies at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score and Play by Play", "Montreal Expos at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, October 3, 1982 | Baseball-Reference.com", "June 25, 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score and Play by Play", "Stargell's star a lasting tribute; Blast is marking point for all hitters", "Stargell was Pirates' inspirational leader in '70s", "In a time of upheaval, a constant remains Chipper Jones", "Willie Stargell Gave Out Amphetamines, Dale Berra Testifies", "Stargell hospitalized, undergoing treatment", "100 Greatest Baseball Players by the Sporting News: A Legendary List by Baseball Almanac", "Willie Stargell: Numbers couldn't measure the man", "Sickle Cell Society Inc/Murray Irvis Genetic Disease Center: A History of Care", "The Williie Stargell Foundation Website", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willie_Stargell&oldid=1132452504, September 16,1962,for thePittsburgh Pirates, October 3,1982,for thePittsburgh Pirates, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 23:36. "It means everything to the boys and to the parents and to the fans," Erica Bradley said while watching her son play in Tafts homecoming game two weeks ago. Willie Stargell That's where the future lies, in the youth of today. Stargell began and ended the season as the Pirates' everyday left-fielder, but spent extended periods playing first base as well. ", Why Willard Stargel was such a giant in West End. Willie Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, United States. According to some sources, his . After hitting 32 homers uring a memorable regular season, Stargell had two more during an NL playoffs sweep of Cincinnati. Wilver Dornell Willie Stargell (March 6, 1940 April 9, 2001), nicknamed Pops in the later years of his career, was an American professional baseball player. The reason for the divorce is rumored to be due to the affairs Willie had with his second wife before their marriage. His 475 career home runs, 1,540. How many home runs did Willie Stargell hit? He died on 9 April 2001 in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, USA as Wilver Dornal Stargell. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills at least 36, injures some 85, Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, House select committee hearing paints China as a strategic antagonist, JetBlue flight forced to abort landing in close call at Logan Airport, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Bald eagle couple lays new egg after losing eaglets two years in a row, Lake Superior becomes hot spot for winter surfing. 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. In 1978, against Wayne Twitchell of the Montreal Expos, Stargell hit the only fair ball to reach the club deck of Olympic Stadium. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Wilver Dornel Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Okla., and grew up near Oakland, Calif. Willie Stargell. 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. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023. 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 Hall of Famer who . "Around here in the West End, there is no other stadium except Stargel Stadium where the Blacks could look up to and say, 'Hey, I knew him, " said Sterling Trice, Taft Alumni Association president. Frequent offseason conditioning problems came to a head in 1967, when Stargell showed up to spring training at a weight of 235 pounds. Stargell died on the same day that the Pittsburgh Pirates opened their new ballpark, PNC Park. [15] Stargell was hospitalized for three weeks in 1999 to treat undisclosed medical problems with one of his organs. The Pirates postponed a formal ceremony dedicating the statue because Stargell could not attend. "He said it's important that we be better. We were products of different races, were raised in different income brackets, but in the clubhouse and on the field we were one.". Willie Stargell. "He didn't just hit pitchers, he took away their dignity," former Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton said. On August 5, 1969, Stargell hit a home run off Alan Foster that left the stadium and measured 507 feet, the longest home run hit at Dodger Stadium. He was born on March 6, 1940. Stargell's career took off after the Pirates vacated Forbes Field's vast acreage for symmetrical Three Rivers and its 375-foot power alley. 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 made his MLB debut at the end of the 1962 season at the age of 22. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 and died on April 9, 2001. Stargell was a seven-time All-Star and two-time NL home run leader. He had been in failing health. While the stars weren't valuable, they were a symbolic acknowledgement of a player's . Stargell originated the practice of giving his teammates embroidered "Stargell stars" for their caps after a nice play or a good game. For nearly 30 years, Stargell was the only player to hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium, and he did it twice. Stargell was subjected to racism in the minor leagues, where an angry fan once confronted him with a shotgun, but quickly won them over with his power and personality. He suffered from a kidney ailment and heart disease caused by high blood pressure. About Us Terms of Use, Willie Stargell with his first wife and son. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Tanner agreed that Stargell's personal magnetism was a key ingredient in the clubhouse. Born March 6, 1940 Died April 9, 2001 (61) Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list Known for Monday Night Baseball 7.2 TV Series Willie Stargell died on April 9, 2001, in Wilmington, North Carolina, of a kidney disorder. Willie Stargell I see a lot of people who love their jobs. Likewise, Max Scherzer stands in the second position with an annual income of $37.4 million and Zack Greinke stands in the third position with an annual salary of $34.5 million. To remember No. Only 14 months later, Clemente was dead. He remains the oldest player to win an MVP award. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of Count that, too, as part of the legacy of 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. Dad was an educator about life and teaching people how to walk.". Willie Stargell I found myself in a race with Mother Nature to play as much baseball as I could before she forced me to stop. Stargell died of a stroke two days after a 12-foot (4-metre) bronze statue of him was unveiled at the opening of the Pirates new stadium, PNC Park. Stargell remained one of the most popular athletes in Pittsburgh history and received thunderous ovations at any public function he attended. [13] The shot came in the second inning and chased starting pitcher Jim Bunning out of the game. PITTSBURGH -- Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, the thunderous home run hitter who carried the Pittsburgh Piratesinto two World Series with his power and helped win them with his patriarchal. [4] 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. I understand that, Berding said. The Friday night lights at Taft High School are almost out. On June 25, 1971, Stargell hit the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history during a 144 Pirates win over the Philadelphia Phillies. On April he was admitted at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. Growing up in Pittsburgh, in an era when the Steelers were terrible every year, the Pirates, unlike today, were the team. Theearly '60s were the glory days ofTaft football. What was the cause of Willie Stargell death? 13 Copy quote. 2001 The Associated Press. Stargell, a beloved figure in Pittsburgh and elsewhere in baseball, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988. His 1963 rookie season was lackluster, but he enjoyed much more success the following season, his first as an everyday player. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, and with a deep, commanding voice, Stargell intimidated pitchers even before they delivered the ball by pinwheeling the bat in rhythm with their delivery. 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