"November the 19th. In 1988, Stargell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Pirates retired his number. He was born on March 6, 1940. He was 61. After Stargell died, Joe Morgan said, "When I played, there were 600 baseball players, and 599 of them loved Willie Stargell. Her business, Just Cookin', is feet from Taft High School and will have to move out to make room for the new stadium's construction. 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. Stargell died in a Wilmington, North Carolina, hospital on April 9, 2001. How many home runs did Willie Stargell hit? Stargell, 61, died from a stroke at 12:23 a.m. this morning at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. Last Update: Jan 03, 2023. Stargell also threw out the ceremonial last pitch at Three Rivers Stadium before the team's move after the 2000 season. He was the first minor-league hitting coach for Chipper Jones. Not just. He never made anybody look bad and he never said anything bad about anybody. Besides, Willie's 19-year old daughter, Kelli filed a lawsuit against her father asking the court to continue the financial support even after her 21st birthday. . Jason Stargel says hes a soccer enthusiast and hes pro-FC Cincinnati, but he also wants to protect his father's legacy. 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. Just as Clemente mentored him, Mr. Stargell said he tried to mentor other players. The Pirates fell apart after Stargell retired in 1982. He won the first of the three NL Player of the Month awards of his career in June 1965 (.330, 10 HR, 35 RBI). "I dreamed of the big crowds, artificial turf, our new tradition and my increased home run power.". In 1979, it was Stargell's turn to transform the World Series into a one-man act for an aging star. Following a Pirate sweep of the Friday-night double-header, Stargell belted a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning of the season's penultimate game to give the Pirates an early 41 lead, although the Pirates relinquished that lead later in the game and fell two runs short after a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning,[10] thus eliminating themselves from contention for the pennant. Likewise, he attended Encinal High School, where his baseball teammates included future MLB players Tommy Harper and Curt Motton. 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. Stargell began and ended the season as the Pirates' everyday left-fielder, but spent extended periods playing first base as well. "We respect the fact that change has not always been good in the West End and other parts of our community, and we're trying to show that genuinely we want to be about improving the future for our city, for the people of our city and particularly for our neighbors in the West End," Berding said. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 1963 Topps No. Date of Death: April 9, 2001. The Pirates unveiled the 12-foot high statute of Stargell on Saturday. In 1978, against Wayne Twitchell of the Montreal Expos, Stargell hit the only fair ball to reach the club deck of Olympic Stadium. Prior to that, Willie was married to his first wife, Dee Stargell, also known as Dolores. Biographer Frank Garland relates that Stargell's family and friends called him Wilver and that Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully also made a point of using Stargell's given name. Besides, there is not much information regarding his family background. $4.99. His spouse is Margaret Weller (m. 1993-2001), Dee Stargell. (His unusual first name was an amalgamation of his father's first name and his mother's maiden name). Stargells play declined in the following seasons, and he retired from baseball in 1982. Some of the 475 home runs he hit are among the longest in the game, including two shots that cleared Dodger Stadium and balls hit out of the old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. After suffering for several years from a kidney disorder, Stargell died from a stroke on April 9, 2001, in Wilmington, N.C. So they got the stadium. With Stargell batting cleanup for most of his 20-year career, the Pirates won World Series championships and NL pennants in 1971 and 1979 and six NL East titles from 1970-79. He died on 9 April 2001 in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. 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. Live Death Statistics Worldwide and The United States. Age at Death: 61. After hitting 32 homers uring a memorable regular season, Stargell had two more during an NL playoffs sweep of Cincinnati. The first player to ever hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium is Pittsburgh Pirates legend Willie Stargell. If you took the approach that is currently being taken regarding the use of steroids, these players were all cheaters as well. Stargell's swings seemed designed to hit home runs of Ruthian proportions. For his first 10 years in the majors, Stargell was content to play in Clemente's shadow, even after Stargell surpassed him in production. He had been in failing health for several years with a kidney . He didnt let it hold him down and he wouldnt allow his children or the kids under his care to fall prey to that degree that it pushes you down to where you cant overcome it.. What was Willie Stargell's batting average? "In 1979 in Montreal, he hit a ball so far there they painted the seat gold. In 1982, former teammate Steve Blass said of Stargell that, "Besides the records, stats and numbers, the thing that impressed me the most was that Willie conveyed to the fans how much fun he had playing the game.". Stargell's career moved to another level in 1971. 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 . He played alongside the man he credited with much of his success, Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash in 1972. While in Plainview, Texas, he was accosted at gunpoint by a man who threatened his life if he played in that night's game. "I was like a kid on Christmas Eve who couldn't wait to open his presents," Stargell said of the mid-1970 move into Three Rivers. It proudly displays Willard Stargels name on the field, the press box, the scoreboard and the locker room building. The short fence in right field (300 feet (91m) to the foul pole) at Forbes Field was guarded by a screen more than 20 feet (6.1m) high which ran from the right-field line to the 375-foot (114m) mark in right center. Birthday: March 6, 1940. 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. There's nothing I value more than the closeness of friends and family, a smile as I pass someone on the street. Years later, he said the nickname bestowed on that team - the Family, from the Sister Sledge song, "We Are Family" - wasn't a misnomer. So stick with us till the end. Hence, she filed the suit in 1982 through attorney Richard Hughes, asking for $1,800 a month from her father. Thats not enough to reopenher business somewhere else, she said. 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. 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. Stargell called that 1978 team his favorite team ever, and predicted that the Pirates would win the World Series the following year. His 475 career home runs, 1,540. Willie Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, United States. 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. Willie, or "Pops," as you like to call him, was an American professional baseball player. My interviewer and I of course discussed how Pittsburgh has struggled since 1992. He was active in various philanthropies, including efforts to raise money to fight sickle cell anemia. He has led the National League in home runs two times and RBIs once. $5.85 shipping. Willie Stargell played leftfielder and first baseman. Prince himself once promised free chicken to listeners if Stargell hit a home run; Stargell did homer and Prince picked up a $400 bill at the restaurant. Stargell continued to post excellent numbers in 1972 (.293, 33, 112) finishing third in MVP voting behind Johnny Bench and Billy Williams. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. A lot of success.". (AP). Clearly not in good health, Stargell wiped away tears from his eyes as he hugged several players, including catcher Jason Kendall, amid a wave of cheers that rolled across the stadium that he closed as impressively as he opened it. In 1979, he became the first and currently only player to win the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, the NL Championship Series MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award in one season. Forty years ago today, Willie Stargell did something that no one else had ever done before and no one else had ever done since. Stargell, who played for the Pittsburgh . Unfortunately, he died on April 9, 2001, due to a stroke. He grew up in Oakland, Calif., where he was spotted by Pirates scout Bob Zuk while playing on a high school team. ", Pirates announcer Bob Prince adopted it immediately: "Chicken on the Hill!" Despite playing the front half of his career in Forbes Field, a graveyard for left-handed hitters with a right-field power alley of 436 feet, Stargell averaged 24 homers from 1963-69. All Rights Reserved. Stargell was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 with an 82% vote. Stargell made his MLB debut at the end of the 1962 season at the age of 22. He had been in the hospital recovering from gallbladder surgery at the time of his death. 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. Others honored in this issue were Ted Williams, Larry Doby, and Joe DiMaggio. His 1963 rookie season was lackluster, but he enjoyed much more success the following season, his first as an everyday player. However, it is known that he later moved to Florida with his aunt after his parents divorced. The seat where the ball landed (the home run was measured at 535 feet (163m)) was replaced with a yellow seat, while the other seats in the upper deck are red. 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). He was married to Margaret Weller, Dolores Parker and Lois Beard. Willard Stargel and UC teammates from 1946 (Courtesy of University of Cincinnati Archives & Rare Books Library). Barring a home playoff game, the Senators play their final game at Stargel Stadium this Friday. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 6 March. WATCH StargelStadium dedication in 2004. He retired following the 1982 season with a .282 career batting average, 1,540 RBI and seven All-Star Game selections. For a decade, BAF, renamed the Willie Stargell Foundation, raised research money and public awareness about the disease. 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