71 for a guy from '71

And he also played in '79. On this day in 1940, Wilver Dornel Stargell, more well known as Willie was born in Earlsboro, OK.

Willie was a Pirate from 1962 until 1982. He would be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1988. "Pops" was the father of the 1979 team. He would pass on April 9, 2001 due to a stroke from his failing kidneys. One of his most famous quotes was, "the umpire says play ball, not work ball."

Willie and the 1979 Pirates were my first team and the reason I fell in love with baseball. We miss you Pops, and Happy Birthday!