THE 10 GREATEST TO WEAR THE BLACK-N-GOLD

Mrs. Black-N-Gold returns with the 10 Greatest to Wear the Black-N-Gold with #5. First, a quick recap of the first half. 10)Steelers WR Hines Ward 9)Steelers RB Franco Harris 8)Pirates 2B Bill Mazeroski 7)Steelers S Troy Polamalu 6)Steelers DT "Mean" Joe Greene. Ladies and gentlemen, without further adieu I present to you, Pirates LF/1B Willie Stargell at #5 of the 10 Greatest to Wear the Black-N-Gold. Willie (Wilver as her preferred to be called) came up as a leftfielder for the Pirates in 1962. Eventually, the man who would be known as "Captain Will" and later, "Pops" would change positions and become a mainstay for the Pirates at first base until 1982. One thing that remained a constant for the 2-time NL home run champ were his tape-measure taters. Of the 16 balls that were hit out of Forbes Field, Willie hit 7 of them. He finished his stellar career with 475 home runs to go along with a .282 batting average, 2,232 hits, 423 doubles and 1,540 RBIs. Willie helped the Pirates to 6 NL East titles as well as 2 NL pennants. He is a 2 time World Series champion, 1971 and 1979. He was co-NL MVP in 1979, the same year he won World Series MVP. Also, Sports Illustrated named Willie and Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw as Sportsmen of the Year. Willie was voted to the Hall of Fame his first year on the ballot, 1988. The Pirates retired his #8 in 1982 and there is a statue erected in his honor in front of PNC Park. Willie threw out the first pitch at the All-Star Game at Three Rivers Stadium in 1994 and also had the distinction of throwing out the first pitch at the last game in Three Rivers. It's a shame that Will was taken from us too soon, at 61 in 2001. Oh what we wouldn't give to hear the great Bob Prince say once more, "Chicken on the hill with Will" to signify another mammoth home run launched from the bat of the great Wilver Stargell. That is why, Willie Stargell is #5 of the 10 Greatest to Wear the Black-N-Gold. Let's Go Bucs!!!!!