Bio

After completing one year at Santa Rosa Junior College Willie Stargell signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1959. He spent his entire major league career with the team. Stargell served four years in the minor leagues before moving up to Pittsburgh where he made his Major League debut at the end of the 1962 season. When most batters would use a simple lead-weighted bat in the on-deck circle, Stargell took to warming up with a sledgehammer, adding another layer of intimidation. While standing in the batter's box, he would windmill his bat until the pitcher started his windup. He soon became a standout player, making his first of 7 trips to the All-Star Game in 1964. Stargell hit the first home run at Shea Stadium in the first game played at that ballpark on April 17, 1964.

Beloved in Pittsburgh for his style of play and affable manner, Stargell was known for hitting monstrous home runs, including 7 of the 16 balls ever hit completely out of Forbes Field and several of the upper-tier home runs at its successor, Three Rivers Stadium. At one time, Stargell held the record for the longest homer in nearly half of the National League parks. 

With Roberto Clemente, Stargell led the Pirates to the World Series title in 1971. In addition to his NLCS and World Series MVPs, Stargell was named the co-MVP of the 1979 season (along with St. Louis' Keith Hernandez). Stargell is the only player to have won all three trophies in a single year. After retirement, Stargell spent several years as a coach for the Atlanta Braves. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988, his first year of eligibility.