As a 10-year-old boy living in Pittsburgh I remember that magical summer. My grandfather and I would sit on the front porch and listen to Bob Prince on KDKA weave the story of the game.

There was something special about that team. Smokey Burgess, Dick Groat, ElRoy Face and of course Roberto Clemente. "Dr. Strangeglove" (Dick Stuart) at first base. It really is a miracle all those double plays actually were completed!

It wasn't until the next year, 1961, that I actually got to see a game in person. I'd seen the home run that Bill hit to end the world series the previous year on TV but wasn't really prepared for the massiveness of Forbes Field.

I was there early for that first game... I wanted to see and meet everyone but just like every other child I wanted most to meet "the Maz" and Clemente.

I didn't get an autograph that day but he did look at me in the crowd of kids and smiled.

My family moved away from Pittsburgh in 1962 but my heart never left. Even today, nearly 40 years later I'm drawn back to that brick wall, now standing alone on a campus, to remember that magical summer.

Congratulations Mr. Mazeroski. It's about time!