Bill Mazeroski Marquee Hall of Fame 2001

Seventeen seasons, one uniform. He played 2,163 games for Pittsburgh, 2,094 of them at second base, and won eight Gold Gloves between 1958 and 1967. His reputation rested on the pivot rather than the range — the transfer from glove to hand on the double play, made in one motion instead of two.

The bat was ordinary and the moment was not. He hit the home run that ended the 1960 World Series, and Pittsburgh had the championship the instant it landed. Over his career he collected 2,016 hits, 138 home runs and 853 runs batted in, batted .260, and was picked for seven All-Star Games.

The writers were unmoved by a career built on defense. His best year on their ballot was 1992, when he drew 182 votes of 430, well short of election, and the Veterans Committee chose him in 2001. What he did best was the part of the game his era's box scores barely recorded.