Maury Wills, who stole bases for the Los Angeles Dodgers in three World Series, has passed away. He passed away.
The team said Tuesday that Wills died at his home in Arizona. There wasn't a cause of death.
Wills played on three World Series title teams during his time with the Dodgers. He played for Pittsburgh and Montreal before retiring from the Dodgers.
Wills had 2,134 hits and 586 stolen bases during his 14-year career.
Wills set a single-season record for stolen bases with 97 in 1962. He stole more than 100 bases that season.
Wills will be remembered by the Dodgers with a patch for the remainder of the season.
One of the most exciting Dodgers was Maury Wills. He made the stolen base an important part of the game, by changing baseball with his base running. The Dodgers won three world championship in a row.
Wills was the manager of the SeattleMariners from 1980 to 1981 and went 26-54 with a winning percentage of.317.
In 1962, he was the National League's Most Valuable Player, the same year he was the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.
Wills stayed at home with his family. He wore a Dodgers shirt and carried a Dodgers bag at the ballpark. The security guard said he was too small to be a ball player.
Wills suggested that the guard escort him to the NL locker room where he would wait while the guard asked the players to confirm his identity.
Baseball players have a sick sense of humor, because when I stood in front of the door, with my Dodger shirt and duffel bag, and the man opened the door, and they all looked at me, they had a sick sense of humor.
Wills presented his trophy to the guard after the game.
Wills told the Post that he was carrying it for someone.
Wills was a seven-time All-Star selection and won two Gold Glove Awards.
The stolen base was brought back as a strategy by him. He distracted pitchers even if he didn't try to steal because of his speed. When he wasn't on base, he studied pitchers' pickoff moves. He was determined to steal when the pitcher threw him back to the bag.
In a game against the New York Mets, Wills was on first base when Roger Craig threw the ball 12 times to the bag. Wills stole second.
Wills was bandaging his legs because of the punishment of sliding.
Wills was an analyst at NBC for five years after he retired from the Dodgers. He was the winter ball manager in the Mexican Pacific League.
Wills was criticized for his lack of managerial experience during his tenure as manager of the Mariners. He made a number of gaffes, including calling for a relief pitcher when nobody was warming up in the pen, and holding up a game while looking for a pinch hitter.
The biggest mistake Wills made was ordering the ground crew to extend the batter's box by a foot. Bill Kunkel was asked to investigate by Billy Martin.
The groundskeeper admitted that Wills had ordered the change. Wills said it was to make sure his players stayed in the box. It was thought that it would give the Mariners an advantage against the Oakland pitchers. Wills was fined and suspended by the American League.
Wills was fired as the team's manager in 1981 when they were last in the league at 6-18. Wills admitted he probably should have had more experience as a minor league manager before he was hired.
Wills got sober in 1989. He said Don Newcombe helped him overcome his alcohol problems. The death of Newcombe took place in 2019.
Wills and Newcombe are standing together. He was a channel for God's love for me because he chased me all over LA trying to help me. My life is great because of Don Newcombe.
He was a three-sport star at Cardozo Senior High. He was a quarterback in football, a basketball player, and a pitcher in baseball.
He was a member of the school's perfect football team in 1948. Wills pitched a one-hitter and struck out 17 in a game in 1950. His name is on the school's baseball field.
Wills was a coach and instructor for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks from 1996 to 1997 and has a museum in Fargo.
He is survived by his wife, family and friends. He played for the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers.
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