After Stargell died, Joe Morgan said, "When I played, there were 600 baseball players, and 599 of them loved Willie Stargell. Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente estimated, perhaps generously, that Stargell hit 400 fly balls to the warning track in left and center fields during his eight seasons in the park. Then, his play on the field inspired his teammates and earned him the MVP awards in both the NLCS and the World Series. He … [15], After retirement, Stargell spent two years as a first base coach for the Atlanta Braves from 1986–1988, wearing his customary #8. A source close to the Pirates blamed Stargell's health issues on his weight gain after retiring as a player. He never made anybody look bad and he never said anything bad about anybody. Log in or subscribe to read and leave comments. Stargell was close to Chuck Tanner and Bob Prince — you can see it in the pictures. Among the most feared power hitters in baseball history, Stargell had the most home runs (296) of any player in the 1970s decade, many of the tape-measure variety. He was a Black professional baseball player. He would want his most treasured items on display for all to see. Willie Stargell, whose great menacing bat and gentle patriarch's compassion were the hallmarks of his singular 21-year-career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, died of a stroke shortly after midnight yesterday. A left fielder for his first 13 big league seasons, Stargell moved to first base in 1975. He was the first minor-league hitting coach for Chipper Jones. He never played another game in the outfield. Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1963 season Full Name: Wilver Dornel Stargell Nicknames: Pops. [8] He finished out the decade with a strong performance in 1969 (.307, 29 HR, 92 RBI), and finished 21st in MVP voting. He's the only guy I could have said that about. [23][24][25], Wilver “Willie” Stargell Avenue is a major thoroughfare in his adolescent home of Alameda, California, connecting to the former Naval Air Station Alameda, and Stargell is honored with a plaque and plaza at its intersection with 5th Avenue. In 1977, Stargell hit his 400th career home run on June 29 against the St. Louis Cardinals. [AP PHOTO]. [3], Stargell played for farm teams in New Mexico, North Dakota, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio. Biographer Frank Garland relates that Stargell's family and friends called him Wilver and that Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully also made a point of using Stargell's given name. He was then pinch run by Doug Frobel and subsequently was replaced by Richie Hebner at first base.[12]. For a time, whenever he homered, Stargell's restaurant would give away free chicken to all patrons present in the restaurant at the time of the home run, in a promotion dubbed "Chicken on the Hill with Will". His 1963 rookie season was lackluster, but he enjoyed much more success the following season, his first as an everyday player. Batting leadoff, he hit a single off Steve Rogers. At his urging as captain, the team adopted the Sister Sledge hit song "We Are Family" as the team anthem. They excited fans with numerous come-from-behind victories along the way (many during their final at-bat) to claim the division pennant on the last day of the season. [5], Beloved in Pittsburgh for his style of play and affable manner, Stargell hit seven of the 18 balls ever hit over Forbes Field's 86-foot-high right-field stands [6] and several of the upper-tier home runs at its successor, Three Rivers Stadium. Terry Melia, spokesman for SCP Auctions Inc., which is administering the auction, said the items were willed to Weller-Stargell when Willie Stargell died in 2001 at age 61 in Wilmington, N.C. Weller-Stargell, who married him in 1993, said she and SCP Auctions are aware of the social media posts. He hit a second home run out of Dodger Stadium on May 8, 1973, against Andy Messersmith, measured at 470 feet (140 m). He became the third player, after Lou Boudreau in 1946 and Joe Adcock in 1954, to collect five extra-base hits in one game. Willie Stargell: Early Life, Family, and Education Willie was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, on March 6, 1940. Members of Willie Stargell's family, including several children and grandchildren, are angered by his widow's decision to auction some of the Hall of Famer's possessions. Besides, these figures, however, vary according to the contract and the skills of the player. “We are just hurt.” The season was scheduled to end in a dramatic, four-game showdown against the Phillies in Pittsburgh, in which the Pirates had to win all four games to claim the title. Willie Stargell, who was named the World Series Most Valuable Player, hit .400 with a record seven extra-base hits and matched Reggie Jackson's record of 25 total bases, set in 1977. So, go ahead, blast some "We Are Family" and dream of some alternate reality where you were cool enough to be in this picture with the former dinger-crushing MVP and Muhammad Ali. View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject. He also worked as a special baseball adviser to Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy, who called Stargell "the ultimate class act". PITTSBURGH – The Family has lost its patriarch. Upon the Expos departure in 2004, the seat was removed and sent to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. For a decade, BAF, renamed the Willie Stargell Foundation, raised research money and public awareness about the disease. Members of Willie Stargell’s family, including several children and grandchildren, are angered by his widow’s decision to auction some of the Hall … Stargell originated the practice of giving his teammates embroidered "Stargell stars" for their caps after a nice play or a good game. View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jill Beckman, Stargell… The Willie Stargell Foundation was founded in honor of baseball great Willie Stargell who died of kidney disease in … The Pirates retired his number 8 on September 6, 1982. Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits his 48th home run of the year off Rick Wise of the Phillies in the 6th inning, Tuesday night, September 28, 1971, in Philadelphia. Share with your friends. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Stargell lost some of that weight, but gained weight again while working for the Pittsburgh front office.[19]. In addition to his NLCS and World Series MVP awards, Stargell finally took home the elusive MVP award (as co-winner along with St. Louis' Keith Hernandez) at the age of 39. "[18] Stargell strongly denied these accusations. Family Life Was married to Margaret Weller from 1993 to the time of his death. On August 1 of that year, Stargell collected five extra-base hits—three doubles and two home runs—in the Pirates' 20–10 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Fulton County Stadium. At age 31, he won the first of his two home-run titles in 1971; his 48 edged out Hank Aaron's 47 on the final week of the season and, to date, trail only Ralph Kiner's 54 and 51 in 1949 and 1947, respectively, for most by a Pirate in one season. Saving Lives. [17] Commissioner Peter Ueberroth later cleared Stargell and Madlock of any wrongdoing. Wille Stargell: A Life in Baseball, by Frank Garland, (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2013) is a walk down memory lane for anyone who grew up in the greater Pittsburgh area in the sixties and seventies, but also transcends the Steel City for so many people who were caught up in the “We Are Family” craze of the 1979 World Series Champion Pirates. [5], Stargell returned to the Pittsburgh club in 1997 as an aide to Cam Bonifay, the team's general manager. Willie Stargel's net worth and earnings are still under review. Willie Stargell passed away in Dayton, Ohio. [17] Berra said that he obtained amphetamines from Stargell and Bill Madlock; he said he could get them from Stargell "on any given day I asked him for one. Several members of Willie Stargell's family are upset that his widow has decided to auction off pieces of valuable memorabilia. The Pirates did win the World Series in 1979, in a similar style as they had ended the 1978 season: from last place in the NL East at the end of April, the Pirates clawed their way into a first-place battle with the Montreal Expos during the latter half of the season. Raising Funds. The Stargell couple divorced, which resulted in Willie living with his aunt. Stargell played and nothing came of the incident. Some will go to the Willie Stargell Foundation, which helps people suffering from kidney disease, as well as the Pirates Charities and the National Baseball Hall of Fame, according to a statement from Weller-Stargell. Only four other home runs have been hit out of Dodger Stadium. PITTSBURGH -- The family of Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Stargell said it is hurt and angry that his widow is auctioning his memorabilia, including … In his later life, Stargell had also suffered from hypertension and heart failure. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, USA as Wilver Dornal Stargell. Stargell refused to participate in the team's plans, still stinging from the team's refusal to even consider him for its managerial job that season. Our Mission: Honoring the Legacy of Willie Stargell by giving hope through research, patient care and treatment for those living with kidney disease. His widow is selling Stargell's baseball memorabilia by auction on Wednesday. “I just hate to see the kids get screwed out of everything,” Dolores Stargell said. “Willie made the decision years before his death that he wanted these items left to me because I know that he trusted me to do what was in the best interests of both a game that he loved, the Pirates organization and its fans that he honored and respected,” Weller-Stargell said in a statement. Wille Stargell: A Life in Baseball, by Frank Garland, (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2013) is a walk down memory lane for anyone who grew up in the greater Pittsburgh area in the sixties and seventies, but also transcends the Steel City for so many people who were caught up in the "We Are Family" craze of the 1979 World Series Champion Pirates. A segment of Stargell's bowel was removed more than two years before he died. “Pops loved his fans. View Willie Stargell's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). “I don't want this to become any more difficult than it has been,” Weller-Stargell said, noting the auction is completely legal. In 1982, the Pirates retired his uniform number 8. [15] As his death occurred on the same day as the official opening of the stadium against the Reds, the statue served as a de facto memorial for Stargell. [4] On April 7, 2001, two days before Stargell died, a larger-than-life statue of him was unveiled at the Pirates' new stadium, PNC Park, as part of the opening-day ceremonies. Stargell had more than 40 of each; he was the first player to chalk up this 40-40 accomplishment since Hank Greenberg in 1940; other players have done so since (notably Albert Belle, the only 50-50 player). In 1973, Stargell achieved the rare feat of simultaneously leading the league in both doubles and homers. Stargell capped off the year by hitting a dramatic home run in Baltimore during the late innings of a close Game 7 to seal a Pirates' championship. Stargell is the only player to have won all three MVP trophies in a single year. In the same game, teammate Bob Robertson also collected five hits, including a home run; not until Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones in 2012 would two Pirates collect five hits in the same game. But Dolores Stargell, who was married to the late Pirates first baseman from 1962 to 1983, says her anger was “released” upon hearing of the auction. [14] The star remained in place until the stadium's 2004 demolition. Pirates manager Chuck Tanner said of Stargell, "Having him on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger." On August 5, 1969, Stargell hit a home run off Alan Foster that left the stadium and measured 507 feet, the longest home run ever hit at Dodger Stadium. Stargell called that 1978 team his favorite team ever, and predicted that the Pirates would win the World Series the following year. Years later, he said the nickname bestowed on that team – the Family, from the Sister Sledge song, "We Are Family" – wasn't a misnomer. He doesn't just hit pitchers, he takes away their dignity." Obituary: Willie Stargell: Numbers couldn't measure the man . The 1979 World Series victory also made the Pirates the only franchise in baseball history to twice recover from a three-games-to-one deficit and win a World Series (previously they had done so in 1925 against the Washington Senators). Some proceeds also will benefit the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., home of the Willie “Pops” Stargell Dialysis Unit. Stargell's two home run titles came in his first three years at Three Rivers. He returned to the All-Star Game the next two seasons, hitting over 100 runs batted in (RBI) in both years, and finishing respectively 14th and 15th in MVP voting. Three Rivers Stadium, a neutral hitter's park, boosted Stargell's power numbers. “I'm confident that he would agree that this auction process will make these items available to passionate sports memorabilia collectors and Pirates enthusiasts.”. Scully said that because he used the name Wilver, he became Stargell's mother's favorite broadcaster.[4]. Willie Stargell Jr. on Wednesday told Channel 2 Action News that he and his siblings tried to get Weller-Stargell to agree not to sell the items, but she refused. [8], In the 1985 trial of alleged cocaine dealer Curtis Strong, Stargell was accused by Dale Berra and John Milner (both former Pirates teammates) of distributing "greenies" (amphetamines) to players. He hit the first home run at Shea Stadium in the first game played in that stadium on April 17, 1964. Dolores Stargell said their daughter, Kelli, is disabled, and son, Willie Jr., has post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in the Gulf War. Baseball: Willie Stargell’s family angered by decision to auction memorabilia. For the third year in a row, he was narrowly edged out of the MVP award, as Pete Rose took the honor. He was captain of "The Family," as the 1979 National League champion Pirates were known. Frequent offseason conditioning problems came to a head in 1967, when Stargell showed up to spring training at a weight of 235 pounds. Stargell began and ended the season as the Pirates' everyday left-fielder, but spent extended periods playing first base as well. Stargell made his MLB debut at the end of the 1962 season at the age of 22. “I just hate to see the kids get screwed out of everything,” Dolores Stargell said. Wilver Dornell Stargell (March 6, 1940 – April 9, 2001), nicknamed "Pops" later in his career, was an American professional baseball left fielder and first baseman who spent all of his 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) (1962–1982) with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On June 25, 1971, Stargell hit the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history during a 14–4 Pirates win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates moved into Three Rivers in mid-1970, and he hit 310 of his 475 career home runs from 1970 until his retirement, despite turning 30 in 1970. Stargell won his second home-run title that year, edging out three Atlanta Braves: Davey Johnson's 43, Darrell Evans' 41 and Aaron's 40. The family said it was “completely blindsided” to learn of the auction, which includes items such as Willie Stargell's 1979 National League MVP award and World Series ring, as well as his Hall of Fame induction ring. [4] He might have quit baseball over the racial difficulties that he experienced, but he was encouraged by letters he received from friend and baseball scout Bob Zuk. [22], Stargell also worked to raise awareness of sickle cell anemia. The 1970 Pirates won the National League East title for their first postseason berth since winning the 1960 World Series. [13] The shot came in the second inning and chased starting pitcher Jim Bunning out of the game. Dodger starter Don Sutton said of Stargell, "I never saw anything like it. While in Plainview, Texas, he was accosted at gunpoint by a man who threatened his life if he played in that night's game. He had been in the hospital recovering from a gallbladder surgery at the time of his death. Beloved in Pittsburgh for his style of play and affable manner, Stargell hit seven of the 18 balls ever hit over Forbes Field's 86-foot-high right-field stands and several of the upper-tier home runs at its successor, Three Rivers Stadium. Memorabilia for the auction, which begins Wednesday, is being donated by Willie Stargell's second wife, Margaret Weller-Stargell. View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for Willie Stargell in Georgia (GA). For the series, Stargell went 12-for-30; along with his three home runs, he also recorded four doubles for 25 total bases, which remains tied as a World Series record, Reggie Jackson having set it in the 1977 World Series, and his seven extra-base hits (3 HRs and 4 doubles) in the 1979 World Series also set a record. [1], Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, but later moved to Florida with an aunt after his parents divorced. He was 61. “There is no doubt that Willie trusted Margaret to do what she thought best with these items,” Willie Stargell's cousin, Jonathan Stargell, said in the release. 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