Bill Mazeroski delivers Hall of Fame speech in 2001

Bill Mazeroski looks back on his career and delivers his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2001
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[@beatlejim64]

Straight from the heart...

[@ghill628]

What a special player. What a special man. Most of those other guys knew the second they retired they were in the Hall of Fame, it was just a matter of waiting for the call. Not Maz, he had to wait twenty years until someone finally pulled their head out and realized just how much defense matters, but even more just how amazing Maz was defensively. No player has ever been more deserving of the honor.

[@danbrown4850]

G HILL....100% RIGHT...THANK YOU...

[@thomasburns858]

According to Bill James, Bill Mazeroski has the best defensive statistics of any player at any position. Anecdotally the quickness of his catch and release on the double play was a thing to behold.

[@lettermenfan32]

Some sports journalist had the perfect title for this speech: "The greatest speech never given." He was right.

[@ricochetrob]

Greatest speech of all time, (and there have been some great ones.) Only player ever to make me feel like I was going in the Hall myself. TY, MAZ!

[@williamsedey18]

A tear came to my eyes watching "Maz" try to give his acceptance speech at the Hall of fame. It was short but oh so sweet!!

[@Rick-mx5kh]

Greatest 2nd baseman to play the game. I was lucky enough to have seen him at both Forbes Field and Three Rivers. Great speech...still brings a tear to my eyes.

[@acousticshadow4032]

Best speech since Lincoln at Gettysburg.

[@justinmay3451]

Best speech ever after a well-deserved election into Cooperstown! As Maz said, defense belongs in the hall of fame as much as pitching and hitting!

[@beatlejim64]

Best H.O.F speech of all time...best defensive 2nd baseman ever...

[@jimr7398]

That was special. God Bless him.

[@DontrelleRoosevelt]

He was the backbone and the anchor for those successful Pirates teams, during the late 50s and early 60s. He came before the rush of talent in Clemente, Stargell, Blyleven, etc., and to date, there's only two home runs I've ever seen that invoke intense emotion and joy. The first is Maz's, of course! The second is Kirk Gibson's in 1988.

[@WSchamps]

0:34 Clint Eastwood?

[@knubbelidoo]

Sandy Koufax.

[@FlynnRider4]

kaehvogel They are practically the same. Both are badass.

[@David-yw2lv]

I expect Biil Mazeroski is still gared to this day by Yankee fans.

[@rabicc1]

I was present at Maz's induction ceremony. It was my first live speech from a HOF'er and expect no other to top it. What wasn't said in words was clearly displayed in the emotion of the moment. It was a much deserved and special honor for him and his family and for all that ever played or loved the game. A fantastic moment.

[@joemyers6408]

I was lucky enough to be there that day, and watch my childhood hero inducted into the Hall of Fame after a much-too-long wait. At least they finally got it right. Maz is the standard by which all second basemen are judged, glove-wise, and was a tough out at the plate. He's also a genuinely wonderful human being.

[@greggriffin3998]

Maz is an American Treasure.

[@edmiller8396]

Had he hit the homer against anyone but the Yankees, he'd have been inducted years before. The New York Press never got over that blast to win the '60 series! The greatest defensive second baseman ever!

[@charleswinokoor6023]

“Defense belongs in the Hall of Fame.” Well said.

[@brianthomas8125]

He was a machine. Pete Rose was once asked who the best DP combo he ever faced, and he replied, "Mazeroski and whoever. He had tree stumps for legs, and when he fired to first, it was like an optical illusion!"

[@brianthomas8125]

AMAZING defensively. Even Rose said greatest defensive 2B in MLB history.

[@duran007fan5]

That's why Ozzie Smith is in the HOF for his defense.

[@garrybenford9670]

The greatest defensive second baseman in the history of baseball...still holding 4 major league records. And behind him, the greatest defensive right fielder in the history of baseball, Roberto Clemente. Damn straight Maz belongs in the HOF!

[@patrickk___]

Defensive Legend. Bill, Willie and Roberto are why I’m a Pittsburgh Pirate for life! 🖤💛🏴‍☠️

[@josephkohler638]

Maz in 1960, Roberto in 71, and Willie in 79. Their greatness and their ability to carry their teams will never fade from my youth. Love my Pittsburgh Pirates!

[@robertweisner6768]

Ask any Hall of Fame pitcher about their success and most, if not all, would make reference to defense. It's an often overlooked aspect of baseball.

[@ajreyes9742]

One hellofva Man.....and yeah...even real men can cry...He loved this game so much and we will always love Bill Mazeroski

[@SlavicTom56]

This was when player's were player's not the pre Madonna one's you got now The Maz and Clemente 2 of the greatest

[@clydefrog708]

The applause was longer than the speech. Perfection

[@Paul5678]

I was there to see Puck and Winnie go in, but it’s Maz’s speech that I’ll always remember. We were all shouting, “Maz! Maz! Maz!” Maz said more in 2 minutes than Winfield said in 20.

[@acousticshadow4032]

I was there, too. Winfield bored us all to death, and should've borrowed a page from Maz.

[@FlowerOfSloth]

What a nice moment. Also glad to see a lot of good comments. I have become so jaded these days I expect people to get torched if they show a moment of weakness. Was nice to see all the support from the crowd while he wept.

[@thelastancient]

Never saw this one before. Deeply touching.

[@davidbrumbaugh7809]

Just...maz

[@robertvanderclock2657]

You HAD to love this guy...a defensive whiz and along with the Yanks' Bobby Richardson, the best of their time.....love the thought of them playing against each other in that memorable 1960 World Series...love ya, Maz!!!

[@just-for-funtriviaquizzes]

Wow! I had never seen that before. Pure emotion.

[@paulswarlis2464]

only lou gehrig's speech tops this one,

[@maloneplayz9876]

I'm happy to own 2 of his autographs

[@lendrury2771]

1 famous home run got him into the hall of fame. The guy was mediocre at best . Decent in the field lousy at the plate

[@Joseph-sx4fq]

People like Hank Aaron, Joe Morgan, Frank Robinson, to name a few, felt that Maz belonged in the Hall of Fame. THEY KNEW A LOT MORE THAN YOU DO.

[@zyphyr7767]

Judging by how the other hof players talked of him and how they treated him when he sat back down, "worst hall of famer" is not what they thought of him

[@t206kid]

Good player, but should not be in the hall of fame. Putting him in is a big reason why we are getting lesser players into the Hall, i.e. Trammel, Morris, Blylevin, etc. If you look at almost everyones list (who isnt a pirates fan) of players who should not be in the Hall, Mazeroski would be #1 on almost all of them.

[@NicanTlacaWarrior1]

He's in for the same reason Ozzie Smith is in. No one could play defense the way they could.

[@billc3004]

The reactions of three great National League contemporaries; Frank Robinson Lou Brock and Henry Aaron beg to differ

[@illinikev1986]

You would be wrong

[@acousticshadow4032]

I was a Yankees fan from Mantle to Mattingly. Maz is the real deal, and right where he belongs; Cooperstown.

[@t206kid]

@@acousticshadow4032 you look at any list or ask anyone in baseball to name 3 players undeserving of the hof that are in there I gaurentee Mazeroski will be on everyone's list