what did willie stargell die from
Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series victories with his tape-measure home runs and patriarchal leadership, died Monday after a long illness. One of the loudest came during the Pirates' final game at Three Rivers on Oct. 1, 2000, several days after it was announced the statue would be erected at PNC Park. Only 14 months later, Clemente was dead. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 6 March. At one time, Stargell held the record for the longest home run in nearly half of the NL parks. Stargell died on . Willard Stargel and UC teammates from 1946 (Courtesy of University of Cincinnati Archives & Rare Books Library). Willie Stargell played leftfielder and first baseman. Willie Stargell, May 8, 1973. Mr. Stargell, 52, whose full name is Wilver Dornel Stargell, is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 (age 60) in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, United States. Count that, too, as part of the legacy of Willard Stargel. 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 has concerns over the West End's history and its future. Willie Stargell, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series championships with his tape-measure home runs and patriarchal leadership, died on this date in 2001 of a stroke at a medical facility in Wilmington, N.C. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. WATCH StargelStadium dedication in 2004. $6.00 shipping. Hall of Fame slugger Willie Stargell, who led the Pirates to two World Series victories with his tape-measure home runs, died of a stroke yesterday at age 61. For nearly 30 years, Stargell was the only player to hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium, and he did it twice. Unlike Parker, whose popularity in Pittsburgh ended with his involvement in the drug scandal, Stargell remained one of the most popular athletes in the city's history and received thunderous ovations at any public function he attended. The Pirates retired his number 8 on September 6, 1982. April 9, 2020 5 AM PT Willie Stargell, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series championships with his tape-measure home runs and patriarchal leadership, died on this date in 2001. 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 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. 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. Jeff Berding, the soccer clubs president and general manager, knows growing pains exist. At 61 years old, Willie Stargell height Later, he returned to Alameda, California, to live with his mother. Stargell better known by his given name, Wilver (sometimes mispronounced as "Williver") during his Alameda days played his last major league game in 1982. Years later, he said the nickname bestowed on that team - the Family, from the Sister Sledge song, "We Are Family" - wasn't a misnomer. Starting in 1981, sickle cell awareness and fundraising was gradually being assumed by The Sickle Cell Society Inc. 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. Willie Stargell decided to award players with a gold star any time they had a good game or made a good play. ", For his first 10 years in the majors, Stargell was content to play in Clemente's shadow, even after he passed Clemente in production. One day it was Willie Stargell. He began his professional career when baseball was still grappling with segregation. "There was energy on the field when Stargell picked up the bat," Cromer said. Stargell signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and entered minor league baseball in 1959. Born in Oklahoma on March 6, 1940, of African-American and Seminole Indian descent, Stargell himself listed the date as March 7, 1941. Further details are below. display: none; The current StargelStadium No. He has led the National League in home runs two times and RBIs once. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! $5.85 shipping. 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 did win the World Series in 1979, in a similar style as they had ended the 1978 season: from last place in the NL East at the end of April, the Pirates clawed their way into a first-place battle with the Montreal Expos during the latter half of the season. Willie Stargell. My interviewer and I of course discussed how Pittsburgh has struggled since 1992. Stargell attended high school in California, where he attracted the attention of Pirates scouts and was signed to a minor league contract. 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. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. "Every one of them was giant," Tanner said. 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. The 1970 Pirates won the National League East title for their first postseason berth since winning the 1960 World Series. 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. Stargell was one of two players to hit a ball completely out of Dodger Stadium, and he did it twice. The Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985 were the catalyst for a Major League Baseball-related cocaine scandal. "November the 19th. [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. He became the third player, after Lou Boudreau in 1946 and Joe Adcock in 1954, to collect five extra-base hits in one game. Stargell enjoyed another fine season in 1970, batting .264 with 31 home runs and 85 RBIs and finishing 15th in MVP voting. [15] Stargell was hospitalized for three weeks in 1999 to treat undisclosed medical problems with one of his organs. [15] As his death occurred on the same day as the official opening of the stadium against the Reds, the statue served as a de facto memorial for Stargell. He was married to Margaret Weller, Dolores Parker and Lois Beard. Stargel went on to UC and lettered in football, basketball and track and became one of UCs first black football players in 1942. Stargell, who was divorced from Dolores, continued to live in Wilmington, N.C., with his wife Margaret. On June 25, 1971, Stargell hit the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history during a 144 Pirates win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The second home run Stargell hit out of the Dodger Stadium, and the shorter of the two, occurred May 8, 1973. When the job as head football coach at Taft opened in 1966, a white coach got it. Unfortunately, he died on April 9, 2001, due to a stroke. Growing up in Pittsburgh, in an era when the Steelers were terrible every year, the Pirates, unlike today, were the team. JSA. And in a few weeks, crews will tear it down to make room for a new Major League Soccer stadium for FC Cincinnati. Stargells play declined in the following seasons, and he retired from baseball in 1982. Stargell continued to post excellent numbers in 1972 (.293, 33, 112) finishing third in MVP voting behind Johnny Bench and Billy Williams. "He's Pittsburgh baseball," said Stephen Reiser, among the fans passing by the new stadium. Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like trying to drink coffee with a fork. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. "When you had Willie Stargell on your team, it was like having a diamond ring on your finger," Tanner said. A disease doctors call the silent killer was ultimately responsible for the death of baseball great Willie Stargell. Not just. He was born on March 6, 1940. 2was built in 2004 - four years after his death at the age of 67. Trying to win back their disillusioned fans during that 104-loss season, the Pirates had rehired Stargell as a coach but he left again a year later to rejoin Tanner, who was hired by the Atlanta Braves after being fired in Pittsburgh. 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. 1993 TED WILLIAMS #81 WILLIE STARGELL JSA CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC AUTO. Scully said that because he used the name Wilver, he became Stargell's mother's favorite broadcaster.[4]. Willie Stargell had a career batting average of 0.282. A letter from Stargell's family was shared on Facebook about the situation, which begins: As Willie Stargell's children, we were completely blindsided to learn of the upcoming May 24th auction of . For the third year in a row, he was narrowly edged out of the MVP award, as Pete Rose took the honor. 8, here are eight cards that spanned the slugger's career. He was married to Margaret Weller, Dolores Parker and Lois Beard. On August 1 of that year, Stargell collected five extra-base hitsthree doubles and two home runsin the Pirates' 2010 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Fulton County Stadium. Willie Stargell's net worth He formed the Black Athletes Foundation (BAF) shortly after President Richard M. Nixon identified the disease as a "national health problem" in the early 1970s. Stargell lost some of that weight, but gained weight again while working for the Pittsburgh front office.[19]. Fri 20 Apr 2001 21.07 EDT. Unfortunately, there are no details regarding their marriage. The Sporting News ranks Stargell 81st on the top 100 baseball players of all time. He also posted a career batting average of .282, with 2,232 hits and 1,540 runs batted in. "I dreamed of the big crowds, artificial turf, our new tradition and my increased home run power.". [1], Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, but later moved to Florida with an aunt after his parents divorced. UC won, but it was a tainted victory to say the least. 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. But when UC got an invitation to play Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl in Texas, it came with one condition. They were swept in that year's NLCS by the Cincinnati Reds, but not before Stargell collected six hits in 12 at-bats, the most hits by either team in this series. However, it is known that he later moved to Florida with his aunt after his parents divorced. Among the most feared power hitters in baseball history, Stargell had the most home runs (296) of any player in the 1970s decade. For the series, Stargell went 12-for-30; along with his three home runs, he also recorded four doubles for 25 total bases, which remains tied as a World Series record, Reggie Jackson having set it in the 1977 World Series, and his seven extra-base hits (three HRs and four doubles) in the 1979 World Series also set a record. Groundbreaking for Stargel Stadium in 2004. In the top pf the 13th, Willie Stargell clubbed a two-run blast into the right field bleachers, spoiling the joyous coming out party for the new Atlanta Braves. 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. The stroke was one of many complications Stargell suffered as a result of a long history of high blood pressure. 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. Frequent offseason conditioning problems came to a head in 1967, when Stargell showed up to spring training at a weight of 235 pounds. Willie Stargell hit 475 home runs during his career. 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. Thats part of the legacy of Willard Stargel. His wife is Margaret Weller (16 January1993 - 9 April2001)( his death), Dolores Parker (19 November1966 - 1983)( divorced)( 2 children), Lois Beard (14 May1962 - 1965)( divorced)( 1 child). Others honored in this issue were Ted Williams, Larry Doby, and Joe DiMaggio. 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]. He made his major league debut with the Piratesthe team he would spend his entire 21-season career within 1962 and was selected to his first All-Star team in 1964. Unfortunately, he died on April 9, 2001, due to a stroke. American athlete, entrepreneur, and sports broadcaster, United States senator and baseball player. Despite being overshadowed at times by more prolific home run hitters Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, and by the play of his own Hall of Fame teammate, Roberto Clemente, Stargell's sheer power was unrivaled. "We molded together dozens of different individuals into one working force. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Three Rivers Stadium, a neutral hitter's park, boosted Stargell's power numbers. We can't be judged inadequate, he said, referring to racial prejudices. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He never made anybody look bad and he never said anything bad about anybody. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? 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 Willie Stargell Foundation transitioned to raising money for treatment of and research into kidney disease. Only four other home runs have been hit out of Dodger 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. Tanner agreed that Stargell's personal magnetism was a key ingredient in the clubhouse. Mr. Stargell was a hero of the 1979 World Series team, which overcame a three-games-to-one deficit and cultivated its identity with the disco anthem "We Are Family." 13 Copy quote. The Pirates postponed a formal ceremony dedicating the statue because Stargell could not attend. Stargell capped off the year by hitting a dramatic home run in Baltimore during the late innings of a close Game 7 to seal a Pirates' championship. Stargelleft Taft and went to Walnut Hills as head football and track coach. 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. 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