Wilver Dornell “Willie” Stargell was a born leader on the baseball diamond. The late Hall of Fame slugger for the Pittsburgh Pirates was affectionately called “Pops” by both his beloved teammates and fans alike as he helped lead the ballclub to a pair of World Series titles in 1971 and ‘79. A steady .282 batter, Stargell launched a total of 475 home runs and drove in 1.540 runs during his prolific 21-year big league career. A seven-time All-Star, he led Pittsburgh to six N.L. East Division titles and a pair of N.L. pennants on the way to winning the Fall Classics. In fact, it was during the team’s run to the latter World Series crown when the hit song “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge became the team’s unofficial anthem. Throughout it all, “Pops” was the club’s unquestioned patriarch. This lot features a special piece of game-used memorabilia from Stargell’s impressive tenure. On May 24, 1980, playing at home against the San Francisco Giants, Stargell hit the 465th home run of his Hall of Fame career, a two-run shot in the third inning off Giants starter Ed Whitson. The ONL (Feeney) Spalding baseball was retrieved and “#465” was written in black marker on one panel. On the opposite panel, the following information was noted in ink: “Willie Stargell’s 465th career homer vs. Ed Whitson and Giants 5-24-80.” At some point, Stargell gifted the baseball to a fan, signed it on the sweet spot, and added the inscription “To Mike, My Man.” The ball reflects excellent use and shows considerable toning over time. The autograph and inscription have faded over time but are still legible. Comes with full LOA from PSA for the signature only.