Pirates World Series hero Hal Smith dies at age 89

Former Pirates catcher Hal Smith, whose eighth-inning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series made Bill Mazeroski’s heroics possible an inning later, died at the age of 89 Thursday in Columbus, Texas.

With the Pirates trailing 7-6 with two outs in the eighth, Smith hit a three-run shot off of Jim Coates to give the Pirates a 9-7 lead. Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente were on base. The New York Yankees tied the score 9-9 in the top of the ninth, setting up Mazeroski’s legendary walk-off homer in the bottom of the inning.

Smith, an Illinois native, played two seasons for the Pirates, platooning at catcher with Smoky Burgess from 1960-61. He played 10 seasons in the major leagues, hitting .267 with 58 home runs.

According to his obituary in the Houston Chronicle, Smith is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Debbie Perkins, son Dan Smith, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He retired to Columbus, a Texas town about 80 miles outside Houston, where he played for the Colt .45s in 1962-63.