March 7, 2006
Twins Legend Passes at Forty-Five
Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett died Monday afternoon following a stroke in his Arizona home this past Sunday. Puckett, who's face is synonymous with the Minnesota Twins franchise shared a special history with our city. It was during the 1991 American League Championship Series that Puckett showed Toronto just how good he actually was. Homering in games 4 and 5 at the Skydome, the Twins easily beat the Jays to advance to and win their second World Series in five years. Puckett finished that ALCS with a .429 batting average and was the series MVP.
Loved as much off the field as he was on, it's hard to find a negative word spoken about the 10-time all-star (minus a few exceptions). Sadly, it was in 1995 that glaucoma tore him away from the game that he loved. Even more sad, yesterday's passing has tore him away from the world that loved him.
|
"Loved as much off the field as he was on, it's hard to find a negative word spoken about the 10-time all-star."
Obviously you don't remember this -
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/puckett1.html
Nonetheless, he will be missed. He was one of the brightest and best in my formative years. No doubt a sad way to go.
Im not even opening that link.. you're clearly talking about his marraige..
Right on, I remember that series from when I was a kid! I thought Kirb was soooo cool, a short fat guy who could run fast. Like Pac-man but a real person.
Amazing comparison Brad!!
fyi - he was cleared of those charges....
kirby was a class act - and so incredibly cute and cuddly.
Kirby was most definitely a class act during his time in the game. But his time spent outside of the big show was far from trappist. If I could find it, I'd post the SI article from about three years ago that painted one of the most despondent, violent and disparaging pictures of a former athlete I've ever read. And I've scrutinized every word known to man that's been written about Bo Belinsky.
Not to take anything away from KP as a player; he was a magician and a huge part of my childhood to boot.