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March 6, 2006
Kirby Puckett, Baseball great, 1960-2006
I don't think I will ever forget the sound of the Metrodome announcer (Bob Casey, who passed away almost a year ago) calling out his name, "Kiiiiirrrrbyyyyy Puckett!" If the Twins were in need of a hit, there were few things that sounded sweeter. Perhaps the only sweeter sound was radio announcer John Gordon saying, "Touch 'em all, Kirby Puckett!" after a home run.
My Dad became a Twins fan in the days of Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew. I never saw them play. But we shared Kirby.
Puckett was short, stocky, and played for a small market team. Looking at him in the outfield, you wouldn't suspect him of being able to make leaping catches at the wall the way he did. But inside that 5'8" package was one of the hardest working players around. He made it look easy. Talent and hard work made him a great player. But what made him beloved by Twins fans was that he played the game like he really enjoyed it. How could you not smile when you saw him grinning from ear-to-ear? When Kirby stepped to the plate, anything was possible. He made it exciting. He made it fun to be a fan.
History will remember his game ending home run in game 6 of the 1991 World Series. Minnesota will remember seeing #34 mature over the years into an integral part of a team that would win it all--twice. I will remember all of that and so much more. So much more because Kirby Puckett and the Twins were always on AM radio and cable TV in our house (and car) on those warm summer nights and cool autumn evenings. It was as if he provided the background music for the memories of my teenage and college years. Thanks, Kirby. Touch 'em all.
Kirby Puckett's Hall of Fame Page
King (SCSU Scholars) has a eulogy here.
Posted by William Polley at March 6, 2006 11:53 PM
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Comments
My Kirby memory (warning, I'm a Braves fan) was from the 1991 World Series where he picked up the runners leg and then tagged him "out" (per that clueless umpire). C-H-E-A-T-E-R was the greetings during game 3 in Atlanta. Oh well, a great player who suckered a blind umpire!
Posted by: pgl at March 7, 2006 1:54 PM