Monday, 06 March 2006
Beth: 'Batting next, number 34...'
I need to pause for a moment to remember probably the only guy who ever made me truly excited about baseball: Kirby Puckett.
Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett (b. 1960) was a center fielder who played his entire career with the Minnesota Twins, from 1984 to 1995. He led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. After being forced to retire in 1996 (at age 35) due to a loss of vision in one eye and the diagnosis of glaucoma, and the Twins retired his number, 34, in 1997. When Puckett retired, he had attained the highest career batting average (.318) for a right-handed batter since Joe DiMaggio. In 2001, he became the third youngest individual ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, going in at age 41 in his first year of eligibility.
In the late 1980's, as residents of the greater Twin Cities area, my family attended our fair share of Minnesota Twins games in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. We always sat along the first base line, and Kirby Puckett was our star. The Metrodome's cheerful organ would get our attention as the announcer would say over the crowd, "Batting next, number 34, Kirrrrrrrbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy PUCKETT!!!" I remember my dad laughing about how short and stout Puckett was, and it was true, but he always delivered. Home runs, awesome catches in the outfield - he was the only player that I, at the tender age of 6 or 7, really watched. We were even there during a few games of the notable 1987 World Series games, Homer Hankies in hand, cheering Kirby and the Twins on to a national championship. And when we moved to Michigan in 1991 and Kirby led the Twins to their second championship that fall, it was a comforting feeling to be able to cheer for my hometown from afar and be reminded of where I was from. For the longest time I defined myself as "from Minnesota and a Twins fan," and I know that my allegiances in major league baseball will always be with the Twins because of Kirby.
Yesterday, Kirby Puckett suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona and underwent emergency surgery. He died of complications from the stroke today, just 8 days away from his 46th birthday.
Thanks for playing a great game, Kirby. I was just a little kid, but I had a great time.
What other people had to say
Rebecca wrote:
and mom always said he had a big butt :)
Emily K. wrote:
This is so sad. Curtis said he was truly one of the greatest, nicest, baseball players ever. He said he always had more integrity as a person than the game allowed for. I am pausing for your moment of silence too!
Cathy wrote:
Those of us who live 45 minutes from Cooperstown will miss Kirby, too!
His death was big news for our sports section, and we won't forget him.
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