Kirby Puckett tribute

This is one of those stories that sucks to write but I have a duty to report it. Unfortunately, today I learned that my favorite baseball player as a kid, Minnesota Twins great Kirby Puckett passed away due to complications of a massive stroke. Puckett was 45 years old at his time of death.

The 5-foot-8, 230-pound Puckett was born in Chicago and went on to play 12 seasons in the majors, all with the Twins. He was not only one of the best, but also one of the most beloved players in the game. Puckett was a first round pick back in 1982 and quickly tore up minor league pitching with a .382 average in his first full season. He made it to the big leagues for good by 1984. By 1986 he was the American League's All Star in centerfield, a distinction he would hold for 10 consecutive seasons. Kirby was an instrumental figure in the Twins teams that won the World Series both in 1987 and in 1991. Puckett had his statistically best season in 1988, hitting .356 with 24 home runs and 121 RBI, to finish third in the MVP balloting for a second straight season. He finished top 10 in the MVP ballot seven times and won six Gold Gloves. His biggest individual highlight has to be his dramatic game winning homer off of Charlie Leibrant in the 10th inning of game 6 of the 1991 World Series. He won the RBI crown in the strike shortened 1994 season by knocking in 112 runs in only 108 games. Puckett's career came to an abrupt end in 1995 due to irreversible retina damage. Puckett retired with the highest career batting average for a right handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio (.318) he also finished with 207 home runs, 1,085 RBIs and 134 stolen bases. He is the third youngest person inducted into the Hall of Fame (41 at the time), was rated number 86 in the top 100 players ever.

Awards: All-Star (10): 1986-1995; All-Star Game MVP 1993; Gold Glove (6): 1986-1989, 1991-1992; 1991 ALCS Most Valuable Player


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