Pops Was Hero to Yours Truly Also

n the day the Pittsburgh Pirates unveiled the latest in new ballparks, PNC Park, the Pirate faithful and Pittsburgh community lost one of the classiest men to put on a uniform. Willie "Pops" Stargell succumbed to a stroke last Monday after battling a long illness. And to this writer, a Milwaukee native but also a diehard Pirates fan since before Stargell became the star of his club, a piece of my boyhood passed on also.

While driving to work Monday morning, I heard the sad news listening to the Mike & Mike show on espn radio. For the 40 minutes that ensued, I reminisced about a time when most of us were devoid of cynicism when it came to following our beloved sports teams, and athletes. Stargell was a mammoth figure to me, almost as mammoth as his famous tape-measured home runs.

It was Stargell’s teammate, Roberto Clemente, who catalyzed my genesis as a Pirates fan. When Clemente died tragically in 1972, Stargell was the man who carried the Pirate torch throughout the remainder of his long career. The nickname "Pops" was no accident where his teammates were concerned. He was truly a father figure and unifier on teams that were young and old, black and white, talented and limited.

All I can hear is the tune "We Are Family" – the song made somewhat famous by the incredible 1979 club that Stargell hoisted onto his back. The Buccos stormed back from a 3-1 World Series deficit to shock Earl Weaver’s Baltimore Orioles. It was a coveting moment for Stargell and a source of limitless joy to me.

I can barely type Stargell’s name without getting teary-eyed, so I’ll leave the stats and bibliographies to other Internet venues. In the mean time, I’ll just shuffle through my countless Willie Stargell baseball cards, and cherish the memories of an innocent time.

Many have said that the real heros are dying. Well, one of mine has. So long Pops! Thanks for the memories, and the towering shots.

As you know, another new ballpark opened in the MLB this season, Miller Park in Milwaukee. I’ve already been there once and will be there again in the next couple of days. Stay tuned for a rip-roaring review of the latest in new-fangled sports mallparks.