Sunday, February 16, 2025, 9:16PM |  31°
MENU
Advertisement
In this file photo members of the 1960 World Series teams pose November 13, 2010 in the Byham Theatre before the showiing of the full-length kinescope of game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Standing (L-R) are Pirates Dick Groat, Hal Smith, Bob Oldis, Bob Friend, Bill Virdon and Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankees infielder and 1960 World Series MVP.
2
MORE

Pirates 1960 World Series catcher Hal Smith passes away at age 89

Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette

Pirates 1960 World Series catcher Hal Smith passes away at age 89

Hal Smith, who hit the second most-famous home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series for the Pirates, died at age 89 on Thursday in Columbus, Texas.

Smth’s three-run shot, which he hit in the bottom of the eighth inning at Forbes Field, gave the Pirates a brief, 9-7 lead against the New York Yankees.

Entering the game in the eighth inning after catcher Smoky Burgess was lifted for a pinch-runner in the seventh, Smith came to bat with Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente on the corners.

Advertisement

With a 2-2 count, Smith went deep off right-hander Jim Coates and produced the two-run cushion that many thought would serve as the final margin of victory.

After the Yankees tied the score in the top of the ninth inning, Bill Mazeroski hit his famous, walk-off homer in the bottom half, carrying the Pirates to a 10-9 victory.

A right-handed hitter, Smith platooned with the left-hand hitting Burgess at catcher that season, hitting .295 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs.

Smith, who started just two games in the World Series, was ultimately left unprotected in the 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft and was selected by the Houston Colt .45s and would catch the first MLB game in Houston baseball history.

Advertisement

He grew up in Illinois and retired in Columbus after 10 seasons in the big leagues.

Smith was Houston’s starting catcher for much of the 1962 season, hitting .235 with 12 home runs. He was primarily the team’s backup in 1963 before finishing his career with the Reds in 1964.

In 10 big leagues seasons that included time with the Orioles, Athletics, Pirates, Colt .45s and Reds, Smith batted .267 with 58 career home runs. His best season was in 1957 when he hit .303 with 13 home runs with the Kansas City Athletics. 

Smith is survived by his wife Ann, his daughter Debbie Perkins and her husband Ralph, son Dan Smith and his wife Lisa, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Smith’s memorial service is at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Columbus.

The Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey contributed.

 

 

First Published: January 11, 2020, 8:23 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
In this March 1933, file photo, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his first radio "fireside chat" in Washington.
1
opinion
David M. Shribman: Is Donald Trump another Washington, Roosevelt, Trump?
Citing the substance's risks, the FDA in late 2023 issued a public safety alert warning that consumers "should not purchase or use any Neptune’s Fix products, or any other product with tianeptine."
2
news
‘Gas station heroin’ arises as a new threat
3
news
Medicaid on the chopping block: Proposed cuts threaten coverage of vulnerable Pennsylvanians
Novo Asian Food Hall on Thursday May 23, 2024, Strip District.  (John Colombo/For the Post-Gazette)
4
news
Legal battle stirs the pot at Novo Asian Food Hall
Elizabeth Sagan Quinlin
5
news
Dr. Elizabeth Sagan Quinlin, trailblazing surgeon in female urology, dies at 71
In this file photo members of the 1960 World Series teams pose November 13, 2010 in the Byham Theatre before the showiing of the full-length kinescope of game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Standing (L-R) are Pirates Dick Groat, Hal Smith, Bob Oldis, Bob Friend, Bill Virdon and Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankees infielder and 1960 World Series MVP.  (Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette)
Bill Mazeroski heads for home plate after hitting a game winning home run in the 9th inning in 1960.  (James G. Klingensmith)
Larry Roberts/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story