The 1960 World Series pitted the heavy-hitting lineup of the New York Yankees against the Pittsburgh Pirates in one of the greatest Fall Classics ever played.

The underdog Pirates won Game 1 at Forbes Field, gaining some confidence against the Bronx Bombers. But it didn't last long as the Yankees unleashed their bats in Game 2, beating the Pirates, 16-3, behind two monster home runs by slugger Mickey Mantle. Game 3 in New York wasn't much better for the Pirates, as 70,000 fans watched Yankees ace Whitey Ford blank Pirates batters in a 10-0 Yankees win.

The Pirates clawed back to tie the series in a scrappy 3-2 win in New York, as Pirates pitcher and Cy Young Award winner Vernon Law tossed seven innings for his second win of the series. Despite a home run by league MVP Roger Maris, the Pirates took Game 5, and a 3-2 series lead back to Pittsburgh for a shot at the title. But Whitey Ford pitched his second shutout of the series, winning Game 6, 12-0.

Although the Pirates had been outscored 55-27, the series was tied at three games apiece, setting the stage for one of the most exciting games in baseball history. Hal Smith's dramatic eighth inning, three-run home run briefly gave the Pirates the lead before the Yankees surged back in the ninth to make the score 9-9.

Leading off in the bottom of the ninth, young Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski stepped into the batter's box. With the count one ball and no strikes, Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry delivered a pitch that Maz smashed to left field.

Yankees' left fielder Yogi Berra wheeled back to make the catch, then watched in disbelief as the ball cleared the wall at the 406-foot mark, crowning the Pirates as World Series champions over the seemingly unbeatable Yankees.

Maz danced his way around the bases, as thousands of jubilant fans took to the streets of Pittsburgh to celebrate the Pirates' third World Series championship.

Learn more about the '60 World Series and see unique artifacts from the historic season, including a new life-like figure of Bill Mazeroski, as part of the History Center's newest exhibition, "Beat 'Em Bucs -- The Story of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates," opening Labor Day.

Doug Oster writes a blog, "Growing With Doug," exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.