Willie Stargell
| Birthdate | 3/6/1940 |
| Death Date | 4/9/2001 |
| Debut Year | 1962 |
| Year of Induction | 1988 |
| Teams | Pirates |
| Positions | First Base, Left Field |
Willie Stargell spent his entire 21-year career in Pittsburgh leading the team to 6 NL East titles, 2 pennants, and two World Series championships.
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Stargell broke in with Pittsburgh as a 22-year old in 1962
Stargell broke in with Pittsburgh as a 22-year old in 1962
The Pirates signed 18-year old Willie Stargell on August 7, 1958. Four years later in 1962 he made his big league debut. In ’63 he played more than 100 games then experienced his first All Star campaign in ’64.
During the 1960s Stargell made three All Star teams and received MVP votes in two seasons. From 1964 to the end of the decade he averaged more than 25 homers per season and slugged .510 with a 142 OPS+.
Shown here is a contract signed by Stargell on March 14, 1967. For years stadium souvenir stands offered baseballs with stamped signatures of the home team. The contract signed by Stargells agues to have his autograph appear on those balls.
The terms of the contract? Stargell received one cent per ball sold. Stargell signed the contract just after completing three consecutive trips to the All Star game from 1964-1966.
Willie Stargell earned the first of his two World Series rings in 1971
Willie Stargell earned the first of his two World Series rings in 1971
Willie Stargell’s Hall of Fame career included six trips to the postseason that resulted in two World Series championship. Stargell’s Pirates reached October in five of the first six years of the 1970s, and again in the final year of the decade.
Many remember the ’79 “We Are Family” Pirates led by the then-39 year old slugger who was called “Pops” by his teammates. However, Stargell’s first taste of the Fall Classic came with the 1971 Pittsburgh squad.
Willie’s best game of the Series came in Game 4. With his team trailing 2-games-to-1, a loss would put them on the brink of elimination. The Orioles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Stargell came up in the bottom half of the inning with two out and Dave Cash on first. The Pittsburgh slugger doubled to right-center to drive in Cash. Centerfielder Al Oliver then doubled in Stargell to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Pirates held Baltimore scoreless the rest of the way while pushing across a run in the 3rd and another in the 7th to win the game 4-3. Games 6 and 7 were also one-run affairs in a thrilling rendition of baseball’s showcase event.
Above is a letter from baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Baseball’s chief writes about October baseball.
“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 Stargell his first 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.”
Chuck Tanner relied on Stargell's in the 1979 championship season
Chuck Tanner relied on Stargell's in the 1979 championship season
The manager of the 1979 championship Pirate team, Chuck Tanner piloted Pittsburgh through Stargell’s final six seasons from 1977 through 1982.
Though past his prime, Stargell still had plenty left to offer. At 38 years old in 1978 he hit .295 with 28 homers and 97 RBI to earn the last of his seven All Star selections. Willie followed that up a 32-homer campaign that resulted in him being selected the American League Most Valuable Player.
That season he was the heartbeat of the 98-win Eastern Division champs.
In this handwritten letter Tanner writes, “Willie was the leader of our team on the field and off the field. He was like a 10 diamond karat ring on your finger to manage. What an honor I had.”
Tanner then pens his name at the bottom.
Willie was the regular season, NLCS, and World Series Most Valuable Player in 1979
Willie was the regular season, NLCS, and World Series Most Valuable Player in 1979
Willie Stargell followed his MVP performance in the regular season with a postseason to remember. In the three-game sweeps of the Reds in NLCS he hit .416 with two doubles, two homers, and six RBI to earn the Series MVP.
In the Fall Classic it was more of the same. Stargell hit an even .400 with four two-base hits, four homers, and seven runs batted in. He completed the season with the MVP trifecta in the regular season, the NLCS, and the World Series.
Shown here is a ticket to Game 4 of the 1979 Fall Classic. Stargell opened the scoring off of Baltimore starter Dennis Martinez with a leadoff home run in the second. By the time the inning was over, the Pirates scored four and knocked Martinez out of the game.
Notice Martinez’s signature and inscription, “G4 starter. We win”. Though he gave up four runs while recording only as many outs, Baltimore’s offense bailed him out. The Orioles trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the third and exploded for six runs in the eighth to come away with a 9-6 victory.
Stargell's career was capped with his 1988 induction into baseball's Hall of Fame
Stargell's career was capped with his 1988 induction into baseball's Hall of Fame
“We Are Family” can be heard in the mind of fans as they remember Willie Stargell’s MVP season that brought the World Series championship to Pittsburgh in 1979. The charismatic Stargell helped make the Pirates America’s favorite team for a summer.
Stargell is remembered for a Hall of Fame career that featured a .282 average, 2,232 hits, 423 doubles, 475 homers and 1,540 runs batting in his 21-years with the Pirates.
In the collection is an invitation to the dedication of Stargell’s Hall of Fame plaque on July 31, 1988. Stargell added his autograph to the bottom of the invitation.
