Biography of Wilver Dornel Stargell (Pops)
“That rare combination of athlete and gentleman. He is one of the very few to be a star both on and off the field.” – Ken Brett
Popular and powerful, Willie Stargell crushed 475 career homers, leading the National League with 48 blasts in 1971 and 44 in ’73.
An intimidating left-handed batter, Stargell helped popularize the following of “tape-measure” home runs during the 1960s and ’70s.
His influence extended into the clubhouse, where he rewarded teammates with “stars” for outstanding performance. His father-figure status earned him the nickname “Pops” and his leadership helped the Pirates win World Championships in 1971 and in 1979, when he shared National League MVP honors.
The Basics
- Major League Debut: 9/16/1962
- Played For: Pittsburgh Pirates (1962-1982)
- Primary Position: Left Fielder
- Bats: L Throws: L
- Primary Uniform #: 8 Awards & Recognition
- Hall of Fame: Elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988
- National League Championships: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979
- World Series Championships: 1971, 1979
- All Star: 1964-1966, 1971-1973, & 1978
- MVP: National League 1979, NLCS 1979, World Series 1979