Going, going, gone: Bill Mazeroski's sports memorabilia a big hit at New Year's Day auction

“Long ago, it must be,
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories,
They’re all that’s left you.”
— Simon & Garfunkel, “Bookends” (1968)

Hundreds of photographs, trophies, baseball bats, cases of baseballs, gloves, signed cards and jerseys from Bill Mazeroski’s 17-year Hall of Fame career as a Pittsburgh Pirate were sold on New Year’s Day. 

The fast-moving auction drew close to 300 people to a North Huntingdon automobile dealership.

Among the items were pictures and artists’ renderings of Mazeroski running around the bases at old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood on Oct. 13, 1960, being rushed by fans as he etched his name into the game’s long history by becoming the first player to hit a Game 7 walk-off home run to win the World Series. His hit in the bottom of the ninth inning over the ivy-covered left field wall beat the vaunted New York Yankees in a World Series feat that has yet to be duplicated.

More than 120 people from 12 states took cards to bid on Mazeroski’s memorabilia and household furnishings. The 83-year-old former Hempfield resident did not make the trip from his Philadelphia-area home. The items offered at the auction were what remained after Mazeroski’s family — children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews — chose what they wanted to keep, said auctioneer Mark Ferry of Unity.

A piece of that historic World Series Game 7 was a 16mm film, still in the original case with mailing stickers from Massachusetts, that was sent to Mazeroski from the Pirates. John Paserba of Cranberry bought it for $1,100.

“I was expecting it to go for at least double that,” Paserba said, adding that allowed him to buy other items, like Roberto Clemente bats.

The challenge for Paserba is to find an old 16mm projector or get the film converted to a DVD. Paserba said he was not certain of the condition of the film and did not know whether it could survive being run through a projector.

“It’s such a big part of Pittsburgh history. I want to keep it alive … maybe donate it to the Heinz History Center,” Paserba said.

Patiently waiting for Mazeroski memorabilia, particularly the bats and “anything else that fits his price range,” was Bernard Smith, said his son, David, both of Mt. Lebanon. The elder Smith, 77, watched the seventh game of the 1960 World Series on television at his family’s home in Duquesne and has a whole collection of memorabilia, his son said.

One of the more expensive pieces auctioned, a bronze Rawlings Gold Glove Award, went to Barry Johnson of Jeannette for $2,700 in spirited bidding. The plaque on the award said it was presented to Mazeroski by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Photographs and signed baseballs from Pirates Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente, the Most Valuable Player of the 1971 World Series victory over the Baltimore Orioles, were among the more popular items.

One of the prospective buyers watching Ferry work through the collection was Ray Haluska of Latrobe, eyeing boxes of photographs and signed Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys and photos.

“I’m looking for stuff that catches my eye. A patient buyer can walk away with something really nice,” said Haluska, who was displaying his own patience as piece after piece went up for sale.

Collectors, he said, have to be leery of buying signed baseballs.

“You can really only believe in what you get in person,” Haluska said of the autographed memorabilia.

Mazeroski’s massive memorabilia collection spanned all sports. He had photos of golfing legend Arnold Palmer; numerous Pittsburgh Steelers, including several players from their Super Bowl seasons; the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby hoisting the Stanley Cup; and a rare poster of the 1964 heavyweight championship boxing match between then-Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston, won by Clay before he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

In addition to the sports memorabilia, furnishings from Mazeroski’s Hempfield home were for sale — silverware, plates, furniture, tables, lamps, televisions and tools. Among the miscellaneous items were cases of empty Iron City beer cans, bottles, fishing gear and golf clubs.

One of few women to pick up a yellow bidding card was Susan Hamilton Darroch of North Huntingdon, who, with husband T.J. Darroch, owns the dealership where the auction occurred. Admitting she was not a baseball fan, she was waiting — and waiting — for Ferry to sell some of the candleholders.

Mazeroski’s home and 19-acre property that he purchased in 1958 will be sold at auction later, Ferry said. Proceeds from the auction were not disclosed.