Hal Smith, the forgotten 1960 hero, dies

Bill Mazeroski has always balked when asked if he'd hit the biggest home run in baseball history.

"Heck," Maz would respond anytime I'd bring this up in Bradenton, "I didn't even hit the biggest homer in that game"

Hal Smith, whose three-run home run for the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series against the Yankees would be overshadowed an inning later by Maz's legendary shot, died Thursday at age 89 in Columbus, Texas, a small town near Houston.

And yes, it was Mr. Smith's home run that set the stage and, very nearly, stole it, on that magical fall day at Forbes Field half a century ago.

He'd begun Game 7 on the Pirates' bench, his platoon status with fellow catcher Smoky Burgess having…