Maury Wills, who intimidated pitchers with his base-stealing prowess as a shortstop for Los Angeles Dodgers on 3 World Series, has died.

Maury Wills : is still alive | Death | Stats | Net worth

Maurice Morning Wills was an American professional baseball player and manager.

Maury Wills : is still alive | Death | Stats | Net worth

Born: October 2, 1932
Washington, D.C.
Died: September 19, 2022 (aged 89)
Sedona, Arizona
Batted: Switch
Threw: Right
MLB debut
    June 6, 1959, for the Los Angeles Dodgers      

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1959 through 1966 and the latter part of 1969 through 1972 as a shortstop and switch-hitter; he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967 and 1968, and the Montreal Expos the first part of 1969.

Wills was an essential component of the Dodgers’ championship teams in the mid-1960s, and is credited with reviving the stolen base as part of baseball strategy.

Is still alive 

Maury Wills died Monday night at his home in Sedona, Arizona.

The Dodgers legend, three-time World Series champion and 1962 National League MVP was 89 years old. No cause of death was given.

He was known to a generation of Dodgers fans as the dynamic offensive force who prompted chants of “Go, Maury, Go!”

Maury Wills : is still alive | Death | Stats | Net worth

And to generations of Dodgers players as “Uncle Maury,” the teacher willing to spend hours with them at “Maury’s Pit” – the half-field that became Wills’ classroom during spring training where he taught life lessons along with bunting and baserunning skills

“I am going to have a heavy heart,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who wears uniform No. 30 in Wills’ honor. “Maury was very impactful to me – personally, professionally. He’s going to be missed.

“This one is going to be tough for me. He did a lot for the community and a lot for the Dodgers. He was a friend, a father, a mentor – all of the above for me. So this is a tough one for me.”

Roberts said he probably would not have had the major-league career he had without Wills’ influence – and he might not have pursued coaching or managing after his playing career without the passion for the game Wills passed on.

Maury Wills death 

Los Angeles Dodgers legend and seven-time All-Star shortstop Maury Wills died Monday night at his home in Arizona. He was 89.

The Dodgers confirmed his death in a Twitter post.

Maury Wills : is still alive | Death | Stats | Net worth

Wills was known for his base-stealing prowess, becoming the first player in the modern era to swipe 100 bases in a season. He led the National League in stolen bases annually from 1960-65.

Wills was the National League MVP in 1962. He stole 104 bases that year, surpassing the previous mark of 96 set by Ty Cobb in 1915.

He won the Gold Glove in 1961 and 1962. Wills also played third base, appearing in 364 games at the hot corner.

Over 1,942 games, Wills racked up 2,134 career hits and 586 stolen bases, and finished with a .281 batting average in 14 MLB seasons, most of those with the Dodgers (1959-66, 1969-72). He also had stops in Pittsburgh (1967-68) and Montreal (1969).

Wills was a three-time World Series champ with the Dodgers in 1959, 1963 and 1965, and also won an NL pennant in 1966.

Wills had a brief stint as manager, going 26-56 with the Seattle Mariners in parts of the 1980 and 1981 seasons.

Maury Wills stats

Wills signed with the then-Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950, after graduating from high school. He spent eight years in the minor leagues for them.

Before the 1959 season, the Detroit Tigers bought his contract for $35,000, but they returned Wills to the Dodgers after spring training because they did not think he was worth that salary.

Maury Wills : is still alive | Death | Stats | Net worth

Last MLB appearance
  October 4, 1972, for the Los Angeles Dodgers  
MLB statistics
Batting average .281
Hits 2,134
Home runs 20
Runs batted in 458
Stolen bases 586
Managerial record 26–56
Winning % .317

In the wake of his record-breaking season, Wills’ stolen base totals dropped precipitously. Though he continued to frighten pitchers once on base, he stole only 40 bases in 1963 and 53 bases in 1964. In 1965, Wills set out on a pace to break his own record.

By the time of the All-Star Game in July, he was 19 games ahead of his 1962 pace. However, Wills at age 32, began to slow in the second half.

The punishment of sliding led him to bandage his legs before every game, and he ended the 1965 season with 94 stolen bases, the second highest in National League history at that time.

Although Chicago White Sox shortstop Luis Aparicio had been stealing 50+ bases in the American League for several years prior to Wills’ insurgence, Wills brought new prominence to the tactic.

“Almost single-handedly Maury turned baseball from its love affair with plodding, one-dimensional sluggers and got the game to consider pure speed as serious offensive and defensive weapons,” noted Tommy John.

Net worth 

The renowned former  Baseball Player had an estimated net worth of $15 Million.

Maury Wills : is still alive | Death | Stats | Net worth

  • Net worth   :   $15  Million 

Considered one of the greatest base runners in baseball history, Wills retired with 586 steals, which is still good enough for 20th all-time.

By Rishabh

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