The Pittsburgh Pirates' legendary second baseman Bill Mazeroski has gotten the statue he deserves, just like Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell before him.

Also having had his Number 9 retired in 1987 and having been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2001, it would seem that all of the honors that could be accorded the eight-time Gold Glove winner have been bestowed.

Not so. Unfortunately, one remains elusive, and hopefully "Maz" will live long enough to witness it.

That's a dramatic victory in a World Series dedicated to Mazeroski and his achievement nearly 50 years ago.

It probably won't be happening anytime soon, judging from the Pirates' poor performance during the last two decades. However, Pirates fans are hopeful that better things will start to happen with the opening of the 2011 season and that a World Series-contending team will be in place within a few years.

For now, Pittsburgh baseball fans will have to be content recalling the greatness of 1960, when the Pirates beat the heavily favored New York Yankees in one of the strangest World Series in history. The Pirates won the Fall Classic despite losing three games by the lopsided scores of 16-3, 10-0 and 12-0.

The statue honoring Maz-eroski, depicting him rounding second base after hitting his Game 7-ending home run that sent the Yanks back to New York as losers, was unveiled last Sunday outside PNC Park. Mazeroski still is the only player to have ended a World Series Game 7 with a home run.

Mazeroski brought the Pirates glory 50 years ago, 35 years after the Bucs beat Washington in the 1925 Series. Thirty-one years have elapsed since Pittsburgh's most recent Series victory, in 1979 against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Bucs should strive to honor Maz before this latest World Series drought reaches 35 years.

It might be true that there is cause for some optimisim regarding the U.S. economy.However, those who believe that the nation's economic fears will soon fade away are responding prematurely. There still is abundant economic stress in this country, and there remains the serious possibility that the positive signs currently being realized could take a turn in the wrong direction.Those less cautious than the current situation warrants point to better-than-anticipated hirings by private companies over the summer, improving stock market results, lower gas prices, fewer applicants for unemployment benefits and a narrowing of the trade deficit.Based on these facts, they're becoming more confident that the economy will continue to grow.But it's worth reflecting on the experience of 1980 and 1981, when the country experienced a recession, began to bounce back, but then sunk into a severe recession that lasted until November 1982.Although many Americans would dispute the claim, due to their dire circumstances, many economists believe the latest recession ended last year. Still, other economists warn that the threat of a classic double-dip recession is real.Those who are being very optimistic about what the near-term future holds should rethink that position, and opt for a more cautious outlook.There's no clear evidence that the nation is out of the economic woods just yet.

People who consider themselves incapable of making a big positive impact should reflect on an article about Bob Nuttle in Thursday's Butler Eagle.Nuttle, 70, who has a permanent residence in Moon Township but who also lives at Buttercup Woodlands Campground, has, over the past 16 years, raised more than $51,000 for the Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Department through the sale of raffle tickets.Nuttle was inspired to embark on his fundraising efforts after a department boot drive at the campground in 1994 fizzled, with only $40 being collected — $20 of which was contributed by Nuttle.But Nuttle had a better idea than just asking for donations. He opted for selling $2 tickets — half of the money from the ticket sales going to the winner and the other half to the fire department.He has been able to sell about 200 tickets on regular weekends, and close to 400 on holiday weekends.Nuttle is the face for the big fundraising accomplishment, but many other people, whose main goal might have been only to take a chance at winning money, have in the process been fire department financial supporters as well."One time there was a fire at the campgrounds and they (fire department) responded in six minutes; I figured they deserved more," Nuttle said.From Nuttle's perspective, much, much more.Nuttle is an excellent example that even one person acting alone can achieve a great result.