Hall of Fame Baseball player Kirby Puckett died today at the age of 45. He died due to complications from a stroke suffered over the weekend. From MLB.com:
Hall of Famer and Twins great Kirby Puckett passed away Monday afternoon at a Phoenix hospital, one day after suffering a massive stroke. He was 45.
"The entire Minnesota Twins organization is saddened by the loss of Twins great Kirby Puckett," the team said in a statement.
Considered one of the greatest players ever to don a Twins uniform, Puckett spent 12 years with the club before his career was cut short in 1996 when glaucoma caused him to lose sight in his right eye. Puckett retired as the club's all-time leader in hits (2,304), doubles (414), total bases (3,453), at-bats (7,244) and runs (1,071). The 10-time All-Star was then selected as a first-ballot inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
"This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins, Major League Baseball and baseball fans everywhere," Twins owner Carl Pohlad said.
Puckett was a six-time Gold Glove outfielder and five-time Silver Slugger. He led the American League in hitting in 1989, batting .339. But, aside from his affable personality, he was best known for his unforgettable walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series, which the Twins won in seven games. He was the MVP of the ALCS that year and also was a key member of the Twins 1987 championship team.
He was a leader off the field as well, being honored with the Roberto Clemente Award in 1996. Puckett is survived by his daughter Catherine, son Kirby, Jr., and his fiancée Jodi Olson and her son Cameron. Funeral arrangements have not yet been released.
"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am terribly saddened by the sudden passing of Kirby Puckett," Commission Allan H. "Bud" Selig said in a statement Monday night. "Kirby was one of the great players of the 1980s and 1990s. I admired Kirby throughout his career. He was a Hall of Famer in every sense of the term.
"He played his entire career with the Twins and was an icon in Minnesota. But he was revered throughout the country and will be remembered wherever the game is played. Kirby was taken from us much too soon -- and too quickly. My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to his family and friends."
Link to Twins official statement
Mark's Remarks
Even though I bleed Cincinnati Red, I always admired Kirby Puckett. He was the Minnesota equivalent to Pete Rose. I mean, look at the guy. He was short and chubby. Yet he excelled in the outfield, stole bases, and hustled his way to all of those stats listed above and also two world championships. He was the heart and soul of the Twins in the 1980s and 1990s, and I admired him greatly. The Twins had their ups and downs, but you could always count on Kirby Puckett.
I admired him so much that in the twilight of my own baseball career, in high school, I chose his number 34 to wear in honor of him. You see, I had always worn 39 in honor of my favorite player, Dave Parker. However, a member of the team my youth league contract was traded to had seniority, and I had to choose a new number. Well, I had always been a bit chubby, even after I lost a lot of weight in junior high. And, I admired Kirby's game. So, I figured, let's be like Kirby. So I proudly chose 34, even though my mom wanted me to pick 24 to honor Tony Perez.
Those last two years I played were some of the best of my life. My whole youth league career, around 7 years, had been filled with losing, much as Kirby's career in Minnesota had experience with. However, like the latter stages of Kirby's career, the team I was traded to was a good one, and even though I was more utilityman than starter, I kept Kirby's positive outlook and team first mentality in mind. And, like Kirby, I had a dramatic moment in our championship series. Down to 8 players due to injury, I had to play both second base and rightfield. I made the gamewinning dramatic over the shoulder catch to seal our championship in my final game. I thought of Kirby, who just a year before had hit that gamewinning homerun in game 7. I am sure he would have been proud. Thanks for being a role model in dealing with good and bad, and in being an ambassador to our game.
Kirby Puckett was a wonderful ballplayer. He did great things for charity. His career ended much too soon, due to his eyesight failing. Likewise, the light that was his joyful life was snuffed out way too soon. Kirby, there will never be another chubby, barrelchested hustler like you. The Twins, baseball, and sport are just not the same anymore. Godspeed, Kirby. We here at WMD offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and his teammates. We lost a favorite player, they lost a father, fiancee, mentor and friend. God bless you, Kirby Puckett.
