His 475 career home runs, 1,540. 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, some sources claim that the late player had a huge net worth of nearly $2 million. 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]. $4.99. For his first 10 years in the majors, Stargell was content to play in Clemente's shadow, even after Stargell surpassed him in production. 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. Stargel finally got his first chance to teach high school when Taft opened in 1955. About Us "[5], The Willie Stargell Foundation was established to promote research and treatment for kidney disease. To remember No. 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, who was divorced from Dolores, continued to live in Wilmington, N.C., with his wife Margaret. Born in Oklahoma on March 6, 1940, of African-American and Seminole Indian descent, Stargell himself listed the date as March 7, 1941. Willie Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, United States. 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. No one disagreed over the name, but there was some disagreement over how to pronounce it, Jason said. Mr. Stargell said he opted to take the field. Thats not enough to reopenher business somewhere else, she said. It was about Willie Stargell, who, more than any player, delivered him and the Pirates their 1979 World Series championship. And in a few weeks, crews will tear it downto make room for a new Major League Soccer stadium for FC Cincinnati. In that game, Joe Torre hit two homers in a losing cause In 1972, against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Stargell launched a home run off Claude Osteen that was . 2001 The Associated Press. Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like trying to drink coffee with a fork. He was brought back briefly to coach in 1985, but Mr. Stargell never realized his goal of becoming a full-time manager of a team, though he served in the Pirates' front office and coached and scouted for the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds. I guess it was the best part of my younger life - good teachers, good coaches and,most of all, good students. In seven of the next nine seasons, Stargell finished in the top 10 in MVP voting, as his career moved onto a Hall of Fame track. The Willie Stargell Foundation transitioned to raising money for treatment of and research into kidney disease. 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." "My heart has not changed. A plaque of Willard Stargel hangs on the wall facing the field. 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. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 (age 60) in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, United States. 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 home runs belted during 21 seasons in the major leagues, died April 9 of a stroke at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. He had problems with his kidneys for several years before his death. Only 14 months later, Clemente was dead. Just as Clemente mentored him, Mr. Stargell said he tried to mentor other players. Pirates manager Chuck Tanner said of Stargell, "Having him on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger." Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. "Things have always seemed to work out well for Pops and for the family and just doing the right thing seems to always be fruitful, so we hope," Jason said. is 6'4"(1.93m) . While standing in the batter's box, he would windmill his bat until the pitcher started his windup. 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 in 1997 as an aide to general manager Cam Bonifay. One day it was Willie Stargell. 2was built in 2004 - four years after his death at the age of 67. Stargell played three more seasons on arthritis-ravaged knees, the last at the request of former MVP teammate Dave Parker, but had only 14 more homers and 64 more RBIs. While he did hit 8 home runs, Seaver held him to a .238/.301/.546 . [22], Stargell also worked to raise awareness of sickle cell anemia. Apart from that, as of 2019, the highest-earning MLB player is Stephen Strasburg, with an annual income of $38.3 million. Stargell better known by his given name, Wilver (sometimes mispronounced as "Williver") during his Alameda days played his last major league game in 1982. Besides, these figures, however, vary according to the contract and the skills of the player. To this day, West Enders debate whether its Stargel with a soft G or Stargel with a hard G. Jason said his family uses a hard G, but they dont object to the other sound. Willie Stargell is a MLB baseball player. 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. However, it is known that he later moved to Florida with his aunt after his parents divorced. By this time next year, a new, thirdStargel Stadium is expected tobe built across the street from Taft, but the memories made on this field wont be forgotten even by players, coaches and parents who never knew him. After hitting 32 homers during a memorable regular season, he had two more during an NL playoff sweep of Cincinnati. We are representative of change.". Fri 20 Apr 2001 21.07 EDT. Willie Stargell (Wilver Dornal Stargell) was born on 6 March, 1940 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, USA, is an Actor. 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, 1940. "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. Big and powerful at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, with a deep, commanding voice, Stargell intimidated pitchers even before they delivered the ball by pinwheeling the bat in rhythm with their delivery. [16] He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988, his first year of eligibility. 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 was active in various philanthropies, including efforts to raise money to fight sickle cell anemia. Friday nights were our nights.. The Hall of Famer who . Aman who stood as a shining example to generations that if you believe in yourself and work hard, you can break down barriers and succeed. He shared the Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsmen of the Year" award with NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who also played at Three Rivers Stadium, for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What was the cause of Willie Stargell death? Before one game in Texas, he was confronted by a man with a shotgun who threatened to "blow your brains out" if he played that evening. Price on day of issue was 45. He has led the National League in home runs two times and RBIs once. Willie Stargell died of a stroke at a medical facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, on this day in 2001, after leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series championships with tape-measure home runs and patriarchal leadership. [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 also threw out the ceremonial last pitch at Three Rivers Stadium before the team's move after the 2000 season. Stargell played and nothing came of the incident. 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. 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. [3] While on the road with some of those teams, Stargell was not allowed to stay in the same accommodations as the white players. "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 stayed active in baseball by performing various coaching duties for the Pirates and for the Atlanta Braves. For a decade, BAF, renamed the Willie Stargell Foundation, raised research money and public awareness about the disease. He never made anybody look bad and he never said anything bad about anybody. Did you know that Willie, his nickname, won the 1979 Most Valuable Player Award, the 1979 League Championship Most Valuable Player Award, and the 1979 World Series Most Valuable Player Award the only player in Major League history to have won all three MVPs during the same season? Wilver was 61 years old at the time of death. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Willie-Stargell, Society for American Baseball Research - Biography of Willie Stargell, National Baseball Hall of Fame - Willie Stargell, Willie Stargell - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). He did so twice over the course of his 21-year career, with . Thats part of the legacy of Willard Stargel. Barring a home playoff game, the Senators play their final game at Stargel Stadium this Friday. Several current and former members of the Pittsburgh Pirates - Dale Berra, Lee Lacy, Lee Mazzilli, John Milner, Dave Parker, Rod Scurry - and other notable major league players - Willie Aikens, Vida Blue, Enos Cabell, Keith Hernandez, Jeffrey Leonard, Tim Raines, Lonnie Smith and . The practice began during the turbulent 1978 season, when the Pirates came from fourth place and 11.5 games behind in mid-August, to challenge the first-place Philadelphia Phillies for the division title. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. According to some sources, his . Stargell won his second home-run title that year, edging out three Atlanta Braves: Davey Johnson's 43, Darrell Evans' 41 and Aaron's 40. 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). 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. He was born on March 6, 1940. The first player to ever hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium is Pittsburgh Pirates legend Willie Stargell. Baseball, Fun, Men. He was the 17th player voted in on the first ballot. Though he became quickly known as Willie Stargell, his autograph suggests that he preferred his given name, Wilver. "Those were precious. The stroke was one of many complications Stargell suffered as a result of a long history of high blood pressure. 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. 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. His height is 6 2.. Hall of Famer and 7-time All-Star who hit 475 home runs with . Clearly not in good health, Stargell wiped away tears from his eyes as he hugged several players amid a wave of cheers that rolled across the stadium. Known as "Pops" to fans and to the teammates who benefited from his fatherly presence, Mr. Stargell died two days after a 12-foot bronze statue of him in a batting stance was unveiled at PNC Park, where the Pirates played for the first time yesterday and where a moment of silence was invoked. A clubhouse drug scandal and subequent 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. 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. 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. Rather than leave Stargel home, UCs president turned down the invitation, but the board of trustees overruled him and sent the team instead. 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. He was married to Margaret Weller, Dolores Parker and Lois Beard. Scully said that because he used the name Wilver, he became Stargell's mother's favorite broadcaster.[4]. Trice was front and center during the fight to keep Stargel Stadium standing and keep FC Cincinnati out. Chapman also followed Stargel intoteaching. "These days, not even a food truck, Williams said. He taught me how to use my speed. He played alongside the man he credited with much of his success, Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash in 1972. Willie Stargell's widow, Dolores, said she, her children and grandchildren were "completely blindsided'' by his second wife's decision to auction the Hall of Famer's memorabilia, including his . Terms of Use, Willie Stargell with his first wife and son. 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). 8, here are eight cards that spanned the slugger's career. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { Stargelquickly won the respect and admiration of the team, according to a former player, Malcolm Lindsay Allen Sr. Mr. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "This team was much different than any team I played for," Candelaria . Later, the duo mysteriously got divorced and the reason is still behind the curtains. 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. Willard Stargel plaque at Stargel Stadium. The second home run Stargell hit out of the Dodger Stadium, and the shorter of the two, occurred May 8, 1973. He never played another game in the outfield. Stargell finished atop the NL with 48 home runs in 1971 as he led the Pirates to the World Series title. ", Pirates announcer Bob Prince adopted it immediately: "Chicken on the Hill!" He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. Survivors include his wife of eight years, Margaret Weller-Stargell of Wilmington; four daughters, Precious Stargell and Dawn Stargell Moore, both of Atlanta, Wendy Stargell of Claremont, Calif., and Kelli Stargell of Herndon; a son, Wilver Jr., of Atlanta; his mother; a sister; and five grandchildren. 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. We can't be judged inadequate, he said, referring to racial prejudices. On June 25, 1971, Stargell hit the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history during a 144 Pirates win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Age at Death: 61. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. His body was buried at the Oleander Memorial Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Groundbreaking for Stargel Stadium in 2004. 5d 22h. His spouse is Margaret Weller (m. 1993-2001), Dee Stargell. A lot of success.". When the job as head football coach at Taft opened in 1966, a white coach got it. Willie was suffering from a kidney ailment and heart disease caused by high blood pressure for a long time. Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to two World Series titles with tape-measure home runs and patriarchal leadership that earned him the nickname "Pops," died . Encyclopdia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them. Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente estimated, perhaps generously, that Stargell hit 400 fly balls to the warning track in left and center fields during his eight seasons in the park. Legendary Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Willie Stargell stepped into the batter's box 143 times against Seaver. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Also in the stands was 74-year-old Carl Ward, a Taft football legend and one of four players from the great 1960 team that went on to playin the NFL. 11 Copy quote. April 9, 2001. 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. Died: April 9, 2001 . Willie Stargells income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. He grew up in Oakland, Calif., where he was spotted by Pirates scout Bob Zuk as he played on the same high school team as future majors leaguers Tommy Harper and Curt Motton. 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 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. (Hebner had a .938 OPS and 30 home runs in 647 career at-bats against . 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