Willie Stargell died on April 9, 2001. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. He died April 9, 2001, way too young at age 61. Stargell had been in failing health for several years due to a kidney disorder, according to officials at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., where he died. Wilver Dornel Stargell was born March 6, 1940, in tiny Earlsboro, Oklahoma, the son of William and Gladys Vernell Stargell. He would see to it that we got home after practice and he would make sure we got to school on time.. So, how much is Willie Stargell worth at the age of 61 years old? 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. } Stargell led the Pirates to World Series championships in 1971 and 1979, sharing the National League Most Valuable Player Award with Keith Hernandez of the Cardinals in '79 at the age of 39. In 1982, the Pirates retired his uniform number 8. A career .282 hitter with 1,540 RBI, he became the 200th person inducted to the Hall of Fame when he entered in 1988. Did you know that Willie, his nickname, won the 1979 Most Valuable Player Award, the 1979 League Championship Most Valuable Player Award, and the 1979 World Series Most Valuable Player Award the only player in Major League history to have won all three MVPs during the same season? He had to suffer from quite complications in his love life. Privacy Policy Later, the duo mysteriously got divorced and the reason is still behind the curtains. After Stargell died, Joe Morgan said, "When I played, there were 600 baseball players, and 599 of them loved Willie Stargell. One of our talks stands out. Mr. Stargell was a hero of the 1979 World Series team, which overcame a three-games-to-one deficit and cultivated its identity with the disco anthem "We Are Family." What was the cause of Willie Stargell death? During his career, he batted .282 with 2,232 hits, 1,194 runs, 423 doubles, 475 home runs, and 1,540 runs batted in, helping his team win six National League (NL) East division titles, two NL pennants, and two World Series championships in 1971 and 1979, both over the Baltimore Orioles. He hit a second home run out of Dodger Stadium on May 8, 1973, against Andy Messersmith, measured at 470 feet (140m). In 1979, he became the first and currently only player to win the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, the NL Championship Series MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award in one season. "I dreamed of the big crowds, artificial turf, our new tradition and my increased home run power.". Willie Stargell. Willie Stargell had 2,232 hits in his career. With his towering shots earning him a reputation as a powerful left-handed hitter, he was called up to Pittsburgh in 1962. They're going to build the stadium. [7] He made his first of seven trips to the All-Star Game that year. Dad was an educator about life and teaching people how to walk.". A clubhouse drug scandal and subsequent 1985 federal court trial in Pittsburgh implicated more than 30 major leaguers and badly tarnished not only the Pirates' image, but baseball's as well. Growing up in Pittsburgh, in an era when the Steelers were terrible every year, the Pirates, unlike today, were the team. At one time, Stargell held the record for the longest home run in nearly half of the NL parks. He retired following the 1982 season with a .282 career batting average, 1,540 RBI and seven All-Star Game selections. 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. "November the 19th. [1], Stargell was born in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, but later moved to Florida with an aunt after his parents divorced. "Change is difficult. Stargell enjoyed his best season in 1971, with 48 homers and 125 RBIs. Besides, there is not much information regarding his family background. [17] Commissioner Peter Ueberroth later cleared Stargell and Madlock of any wrongdoing. Aman who stood as a shining example to generations that if you believe in yourself and work hard, you can break down barriers and succeed. However, it is known that the duo had a son, Williw Jr., and a daughter, Kelli. She leases the space and saidshe was offered $20,000 to move. Another fan, Rich Cromer, recalled the anticipation in the crowd every time Stargell came to the plate. A segment of Stargell's bowel was removed more than two years before he died. Willie Stargell Life is one big transition. "I think it's an awesome tribute to Dad,"said Jason,a Cincinnati firefighter and former UC football star like his dad. The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of 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. Also in the stands was 74-year-old Carl Ward, a Taft football legend and one of four players from the great 1960 team that went on to playin the NFL. The next day it was Roberto Clemente. He had been in failing health for several years with a kidney . Fri 20 Apr 2001 21.07 EDT. Stargell also had three homers, including the decisive shot in Game 7 in Baltimore, as the Pirates rallied from a 3-1 deficit to wrest the World Series title from the favored Orioles. Three Rivers Stadium, a neutral hitter's park, boosted Stargell's power numbers. He had been in the hospital recovering from gallbladder surgery at the time of his death. Anyone can read what you share. He remains the oldest player to win an MVP award. Stargell's career moved to another level in 1971. Stargell enjoyed his best season in 1971, with 48 homers and 125 RBIs. Scully said that because he used the name Wilver, he became Stargell's mother's favorite broadcaster.[4]. Stargell died of a stroke two days after a 12-foot (4-metre) bronze statue of him was unveiled at the opening of the Pirates new stadium, PNC Park. Besides, these figures, however, vary according to the contract and the skills of the player. Besides, Stargell enjoyed another fine season in 1970, batting .264 with 31 home runs and 85 RBIs and finishing 15th in MVP voting. The Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985 were the catalyst for a Major League Baseball-related cocaine scandal. "He's up there, and he knows the Pirates are opening today. Stargel Stadium in the West End with the Downtown skyline to the south. Lodging for black players was located in the poor black areas of those towns. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1940 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma, USA as Wilver Dornal Stargell. Kelli, also known as Wendy Rebecca Stargell is suffered from a developmental disorder and says she is unable to support herself. Willie Stargell was 6 feet and 4 inches tall in height with a bulky body that weighs almost about 90 kg. Jason Stargel says hes a soccer enthusiast and hes pro-FC Cincinnati, but he also wants to protect his father's legacy. In his later life, Stargell had also suffered from hypertension and heart failure. Just as Clemente mentored him, Mr. Stargell said he tried to mentor other players. Despite developing a kidney disorder that required frequent dialysis, Stargell later worked in the Braves' minor league department for 10 years until returning to the Pirates in 1997 as an aide to general manager Cam Bonifay. His 1963 rookie season was lackluster, but he enjoyed much more success the following season, his first as an everyday player. He hit the first home run at Shea Stadium in the first game played in that stadium on April 17, 1964. Big and powerful at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, with a deep, commanding voice, Stargell intimidated pitchers even before they delivered the ball by pinwheeling the bat in rhythm with their delivery. On average, a report based on the research of 2019 says that the average income of an MLB player is $3.4 million per year. Alternate titles: Pops Stargell, Wilver Dornel Stargell. Willie Stargell was born on March 6, 1965, in Earlsboro, Oklahoma to Gladys Vernell Stargell and William Stargell. He had been in failing health. He was 61. Apart from that, he holds American nationality and was of white ethnicity. Only 14 months later, Clemente was dead. Wilver was 61 years old at the time of death. He doesn't just hit pitchers, he takes away their dignity." Known as "Pops" to fans and to the teammates who benefited from his fatherly presence, Mr. Stargell died two days after a 12-foot bronze statue of him in a batting stance was unveiled at PNC Park, where the Pirates played for the first time yesterday and where a moment of silence was invoked. After hitting 32 homers uring a memorable regular season, Stargell had two more during an NL playoffs sweep of Cincinnati. Willie Stargell played leftfielder and first baseman. "He didn't just hit pitchers, he took away their dignity," former Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton said. Standing 6ft 3in (1.91m) with long arms and a unique bat-handling practice of holding only the knob of the bat with his lower hand to provide extra bat extension, Stargell seemed larger than most batters. His 1963 rookie season was lackluster, but he enjoyed much more success the following season, his first as an everyday player. 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. https://www.britannica.com/facts/Willie-Stargell, 8 (1977-1979, Pittsburgh Pirates) 8 (1970-1976, Pittsburgh Pirates) 8 (1962-1982, Pittsburgh Pirates). Upcoming Birthday Currently, Willie Stargell is 82 years, 11 months and 17 days old. } Stargell promptly did, the chicken was distributed - and Stargell sent Prince the bill. Once, Prince said on the air that if Stargell homered, everybody in the restaurant would eat free. And in a few weeks, crews will tear it down to make room for a new Major League Soccer stadium for FC Cincinnati. After he went off to World War II,he came back to UC in 1946 with one year of eligibility left and -- still the only black player on the team played end on offense and defense. His spouse is Margaret Weller (m. 1993-2001), Dee Stargell. There's nothing I value more than the closeness of friends and family, a smile as I pass someone on the street. [14] The star remained in place until the stadium's 2004 demolition. #inline-recirc-item--id-a4809f9c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { Stargell wore the mantle of leadership as well as he did an outfielder's glove or a first baseman's mitt as an unappreciated defensive player. }, First published on April 9, 2001 / 8:32 AM. Stargell died on the same day that the Pittsburgh Pirates opened their new ballpark, PNC Park. By Alan Robinson MMI The Associated Press. Chapman, a 5-3, 120-pound running back when he started playing football at Taft, said he earned a football scholarship at Northern Illinois thanks to Stargel. 553 Stargell Rookie Card Stargell's career took off after the Pirates vacated Forbes Field's vast acreage for symmetrical Three Rivers and its 375-foot power alley. [2] He attended Encinal High School, where his baseball teammates included future MLB players Tommy Harper and Curt Motton. A lot of memories on this field. "It means everything to the boys and to the parents and to the fans," Erica Bradley said while watching her son play in Tafts homecoming game two weeks ago. 3. "I dreamed of the big crowds, artificial turf, our new tradition and my increased home run power.". He was a member of the Pirates' World Championship team, the Pirates defeating the Baltimore Orioles in seven games. Too easy? A 12 foot bronze statue of Stargell was erected in front of the Pirates PNC Park to honor one of the town's true sports legends. Willie Stargell - 1973 - 470 feet. Stargell signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and entered minor league baseball in 1959. My interviewer and I of course discussed how Pittsburgh has struggled since 1992. I did very well because of him.. Age at Death: 61. 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). Willie died on April 9, 2001 from complications related to his kidney disease - the same day PNC was opened. Willie Stargell decided to award players with a gold star any time they had a good game or made a good play. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. "In 1979 in Montreal, he hit a ball so far there they painted the seat gold. 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. "It's emotional. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 13 Copy quote. The Pirates fell apart after Stargell retired in 1982. He suffered from a kidney ailment and heart disease caused by high blood pressure. "When you had Willie Stargell on your team, it was like having a diamond ring on your finger," said Chuck Tanner, the Pirates' manager for Stargell's final six seasons. Further details are below. "Now, every opening day at PNC Park, everybody will know this is Willie Stargell's day," said Chuck Tanner, Stargell's manager from 1977-82. It was about Willie Stargell, who, more than any player, delivered him and the Pirates their 1979 World Series championship. "We molded together dozens of different individuals into one working force. Only months from his 40th birthday, he made an unprecedented three-way sweep of MVP awards, sharing the NL award with Keith Hernandez of St. Louis and winning it in the playoffs and World Series - a feat still not matched. 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. ", Why Willard Stargel was such a giant in West End. Stargell played and nothing came of the incident. He was grateful for getting the head coaching job at Walnut, Jason said. Then, his play on the field inspired his teammates and earned him the MVP awards in both the NLCS and the World Series. Works: Willie Stargell: An Autobiography. In a 21-year-career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he hit 475 home runs and shared the National . Stargell never hit more than 33 homers in Forbes Field, but hit 48 in his first full season in Three Rivers in 1971 and had 125 from 1971-73 until knee and elbow injuries cut into his production. Willie Stargell, whose graceful class and towering home runs made him one of Pittsburgh's most beloved sports heroes, died early today after a long illness. Nicknamed "Pops," Stargell was a dynamic leader on the field with his tape-measure shots and a fatherly yet forceful presence off it, distributing his coveted Stargell stars for extra effort to teammates who proudly attached them to their ballcaps. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. This referred to Stargell's ownership of a chicken restaurant in Pittsburgh's Hill District. We are representative of change.". "He's Pittsburgh baseball," said Stephen Reiser, among the fans passing by the new stadium. 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