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Before Phil Niekro embarked on his big league career he was a standout athlete in Ohio. Born in Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School where he played baseball, basketball, and football.

As a prep hurler, Niekro went 17-1. His only loss came as a freshman in 1954. The 1-0 defeat came at the hands of Tiltonsville on a home run by fellow Cooperstown man Bill Mazeroski.

Four week later the Pirates signed Maz.

Shown here is his contract with the Jacksonville Braves for 1960 for $400 per month. By the end of the season Niekro worked his way up to Triple-A.

For more on Niekro, click here.

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Bill Mazeroski was a defensive wizard. The 10-time All Star earned 8 Gold Glove Awards. He led the league’s second basemen in assists 9 times, double plays 8 times, putouts 5 times, and fielding percentage 3 times. Mazeroski still holds baseball’s career record for double plays by a second baseman.

Some criticize his election to Cooperstown based on his .260 average and low RBI total of 853. Maz sees it differently.

According to the Hall of Fame’s website, he said, “Over 17 years saving thousands of runs is like driving in thousands of runs. It’s the same thing. So, what’s the difference?”

The slick fielder did have one of baseball’s most memorable moments at bat. That came when his Pirates squared off against the heavily-favored Yankees in the 1960 World Series.

In the first six games New York outscored Pittsburgh 46-17. Despite this, the Pirates managed three wins. The decisive Game 7 was a seesaw affair. The Yankees led 7-4 heading into the Pirates half of the 8th.

Pittsburgh put up a five spot to lead 9-7. The Yankees answered with two runs in the 9th to tie the game.

Mazeroski led off the 9th and hit baseball’s first World Series winning walk off homer.

In the collection is this contract between World Series hero Bill Mazeroski and Picture Pal. Maz, who signed the piece when writing in his name agrees to have his likeness represented with his facsimile signature. The two-sided contract is dated March 7, 1963.

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The backside of the contract is dense in the legal stipulations of the agreement between Mazeroski and Picture Pal. At the bottom of the page Maz has penned the more legal, “William Mazeroski”.

A defensive specialist, Maz parlayed his fine glove work into a 17-year big league career. He was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 2001.

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This First Day Cover commemorates the 35th anniversary of one of the greatest homers in the history of Major League Baseball. Dated October 13, 1994, this comes with a Pittsburgh postmark.

The iconic picture of Mazeroski heading for home with a raised arm for the sweet World Series victory is signed boldly by the Hall of Fame second sacker.

Toronto’s Joe Carter duplicated Mazeroski’s Series-winning walk-off feat when he blasted a dinger in Game 6 of the 1993 Fall Classic.

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Pirates fans fondly recall Bill Mazeroski’s Game 7 walk-off homer that won the World Series. Despite being outscored by the Yankees 55-27, Mazeroski’s Pittburgh club beat New York in a thriller. The Pirates second baseman went 8-for-25 with two doubles and a pair of homers, earning the Series MVP for his efforts.

Many don’t recall Mazeroski’s second championship season. That came in 1971 when a 35-year old Mazeroski was a part-time player. In that year’s Fall Classic Maz played in just one game and had a singular at bat.

Despite his absence, the Pirates beat the Orioles in a classic 7-game tilt.

Shown here is a letter from baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn. He writes about baseball’s showcase event.

“The World Series is the premier event of American Sports.

“No other event has been able to capture it’s special appeal or match its magnificent history.”

Baseball’s chief then references the Pirates victory that earned Mazeroski his second ring.

“Never in the previous 68 Series has its penchant for dramatics been better displayed than in the superb 1971 encounter between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles.”