Pirates to dedicate and unveil Mazeroski statue at PNC Park

The Pittsburgh Pirates will dedicate and unveil the Bill Mazeroski statue on Mazeroski Way outside the right field gate at PNC Park. The dedication and unveiling will take place at 12:45 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, with the unveiling to be done by Maz’ two sons, Darren and David, grandson Billy, as well as former 1960 teammates Bob Friend, Dick Groat, ElRoy Face and Bill Virdon. Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown will emcee the event. Featured speakers will include Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting and Maz’ teammate and current Pirates Broadcaster, Steve Blass.

Fans can watch the entire ceremony live, either in person from the north end of Mazeroski Way, or inside the ballpark where the ceremony will be shown live on the main videoboard.

Following the dedication and unveiling ceremony, Mazeroski will proceed into PNC Park for a special pre-game ceremony that will feature a ride around the ballpark warning track in a 1960 Bentley convertible while video highlights of Maz’ career play on the videoboard. Mazeroski will then throw out the game’s first pitch.

The statue is in the center of a monument that consists of concrete surrounding the statue that resembles infield dirt to recreate the special moment shortly after Mazeroski rounded second base following his dramatic walk-off home run that propelled the Pirates to a Game Seven victory over the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series. The second base bag is an embedded plaque describing the most dramatic home run in baseball history, while the backdrop surrounding the area incorporates a replica of the Forbes Field outfield wall which includes the actual “406” section from left-center field.  The replica Forbes Field wall is covered with more than 800 cast-aluminum commemorative ivy leaves inscribed with names, memorials and special messages from Pirates fans who helped build this special tribute to Maz.