As a young slugger, a superstar, and a veteran captain, "Pops" always brought class -- and often victory -- to the Pittsburgh Pirates. A menacing figure at the plate, Stargell would slowly twirl his bat round and round as he prepared for the pitch, almost like winding a powerful spring. Among his "collect-call" homers were four into the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium, seven over the right field roof in Forbes Field, two completely out of Dodger Stadium (one of two players ever to accomplish the feat), and a shot estimated at 535 feet into the 500-level at Montreal's Olympic Stadium, where a seat is painted gold to commemorate the shot.

On July 22, 1964, Stargell hit for the cycle. That year, the burly, lefthanded slugger began a string of 13 consecutive 20-homer seasons, and also made his first of seven All-Star Game appearances. In 1970 he tied a major-league record with five extra-base hits in one game. He opened 1971 on a tear, setting an April record with 11 dingers, and inspiring Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince to coin the phrase "spread chicken on the hill" (in reference to Willie's chain of chicken restaurants) each time he blasted a homer. He spread chicken 48 times in 1971 and had 125 RBIs, both career highs (as were his 154 strikeouts), to help the Pirates to a pennant. In the World Series dominated by Roberto Clemente, he hit a disappointing .132.