My love of baseball can be easily traced to Maz's dramatic home run in the 1960 World Series.

As a second-grader at Seven Sorrows School in Middletown, Pa., I really had no interest in baseball until the '60 Series. My rival on the recess basketball court was a rabid Yankees fan and boasted every day how the Yanks would destroy the Pirates. I figured, well, if he's rooting for the Yankees, I'm now a Pirates fan.

Imagine my thrill as I ran home from the bus stop during the seventh game and flew into the living room just in time to see Maz rounding the bases to win it for the Pirates. My mother had no idea why I was so excited and why I was never, ever, so anxious to get back to school and, of course, pour it on my rival! Thus began my lifelong passion for baseball and rooting for the Bucs.

Now, fast forward to January 2002 and I'm at Pirates Fantasy Camp, intent on denying the fact that I'm now over 50 and can get from home to first in about three minutes!

I arrive on the morning of the second day of camp to discover that I have been drafted to play on the team managed by Bill Mazeroski and Bob Friend! No way! Is this possible?

Needless to say, it was a wonderful week (we won the camp championship) capped off on the final day with me pitching for our team against the former Pirates, and having Bill Mazeroski catching me as I warm up for the next inning on the mound at Mc-Kechnie Field.

Later, as we were sitting around the bar enjoying lemonade, Maz looked at me at one point and said, "Ferko, why are you always smiling?"

He had no idea!

MIKE FERKO

Wexford

On Oct. 13, 1960, I was a student at the University of Pittsburgh. Many fans were watching the game at the Student Union in Oakland, and when the Pirates went ahead, 9-7, a few of us decided to go over to Forbes Field. We knew we might be able to get into the bleachers in left field.

Sure enough, we were able to squeeze in, and watched the Yankees tie the score in the top of the ninth, much to our disappointment. However, Maz came through with his home run, and we got caught up in the madness and the thrill of victory.

DAVE FOREMSKY

Monroeville

On the day of the seventh game of the 1960 World Series, I was making in-home TV service calls as part of my business. At the time, Westinghouse Electric Co. was very active in atomic energy research and development in Large, Pa., and was training a small group of British Navy personnel in this field.

One of my calls that day was to the apartment of one of these officers, to where I was admitted by his wife. Although she knew nothing of baseball, Pirates fever was burning brightly and we talked about their chances. As the game was nearing its climax, I was desperately trying to explain the rudiments of baseball, using my meager knowledge of the British game of cricket and of rounders.

Fortunately, I had the TV working properly when the Pirates went ahead late in the game, only to have the hated Yankees tie it in the ninth. My English co-rooter and I were then treated to the blast "heard round the world," or at least through that apartment complex, as Maz rounded the bases and I had the pleasure of explaining to her that "we" were World Series champions.

We both cheered and laughed together. I don't remember if I gave her a bill for the TV repair.

JIM BUTLER

Whitehall

My son was born on Sept. 15, 1960. During the last game of the next month's World Series, I was making formula for him.

When Maz hit the home run, without thinking, I was jumping for joy and poured all of the formula down the kitchen drain. It was worth the extra work for all the joy I felt that day.

EILEEN GOURLEY GLASS

Brentwood

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