Kirby Puckett, 1960-2006.
KIRBY PUCKETT
MINNESOTA, A.L., 1984-1995
A PROVEN TEAM LEADER WITH AN EVER-PRESENT SMILE AND
INFECTIOUS EXUBERANCE WHO LED THE TWINS TO WORLD SERIES
TITLES IN 1987 AND 1991. OVER 12 SEASONS HIT FOR POWER AND
AVERAGE, BATTING .318 WITH 414 DOUBLES AND 207 HOME RUNS. ALSO
A PROLIFIC RUN PRODUCER, SCORED 1,071 RUNS AND DROVE IN 1,085 IN
1,783 GAMES. A SIX-TIME GOLD GLOVE WINNER WHO PATROLLED
CENTER FIELD WITH ELEGANCE AND STYLE, ROUTINELY SCALING
OUTFIELD WALLS TO TAKE AWAY HOME RUNS. THE 10-TIME
ALL-STAR'S CAREER ENDED ABRUPTLY DUE TO IRREVERSIBLE RETINAL
DAMAGE IN HIS RIGHT EYE.
From The Associated Press.
PHOENIX -- Kirby Puckett, whose bright personality outshined even his Hall of Fame performance, died yesterday in nearby Scottsdale one day after suffering a stroke. The former Minnesota Twins outfielder was 45.An official from St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center announced the news. The stroke occurred Sunday morning at Puckett's Scottsdale home.
Even the online editions of the local papers failed to note that Kirby Puckett was also noted for being the first person to hit a ball out of Memorial Stadium (and onto Coliseum Boulevard) during an 1994 exhibition game with the Fort Wayne Wizards (then a Twins farm team.)
Although he was later found to be as flawed as most mortals, he hit a baseball with a strength and speed seldom matched in the major leagues; and was the second youngest Hall of Famer to die (after Lou Gehrig.) Rest in peace, Kirby. You brightened lots of lives.
posted by Steve "Tiny" Michaels at 11:25 AM
2 Comments:
I will take a hundred Kirbys over one Barroid Bonds..
I was at that game at the now "obsolete" memorial stadium and that was one of the most incredible displays of hitting ever. It went something like this: X amount of the entire MINNESOTA TWINS regular team could only manage about 8-9 home runs in a 15 swing derby. What that means is that you got 15 swings. If you didn't like the pitch, you ignored it. No balls, no strikes. Nobody on the Twins could hit squat and some triple AAA talent on the Wizards knocked 12 homers out of the park (sorry, no offense intended just can't remember who). Lots of cheering and clapping for the Wizard boy until Puck stepped up to the plate. First pitch, a long shot foul along the left field line. The next 14, out of the park. Over the "tater sack"? I'd say at least 5 were on the other side of Coliseum Boulevard. Absolutely one of the greatest baseball moments I've ever seen live, filmed etc. The crowd there went insane at that point. Had to be one of T Kelly's proudest moments for writing the $25,000 check to bring the team in. RIP Puck.
RH
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