Kirby Puckett, Mn Twins Series hero, dead at 44....of a stroke..

...
www.kstp.com


oh, damn. this makes me want to weep!
he was this state's biggest sports hero...

from kstp tv:

Kirby Puckett, a Minnesota Twins legend, is dead after suffering a stroke according to sources. He was 44. Puckett died at a Phoenix hospital after surgery Sunday to try and repair damage done by the stroke.

Kirby Puckett made a real impression on Minnesota fans, starting with four hits in his first game as a Twin. Over the next 12 years Puckett was a one man-highlight reel, hitting homeruns, and stealing them from opponents.

A lifelong dream come true for this kid from the Chicago projects. Puckett told fans that he had wanted to play baseball ever since he was 5-years-old; but he did much more than play, Puckett succeeded in nearly every way possible, breaking records and winning two world championships. Many find it hard to forget that clutch homerun in the 10th inning of Game Six of 1991 World Series.

Puckett's play on the field made him a fan favorite; his treatment of fans off the field clinched it. He always seemed to find time to sign an autograph, and plenty of fans wanted them.

But even Puckett couldn't overcome what would hit him in 1996; retina damage stole sight from his right eye, forcing him to retire early. But even as fans, friends and family were overcome with emotion, Puckett kept his calm telling them, "It's going to be alright. Kirby Puckett's going to be all right. Don't worry about me."

Just five years later, the first year he was eligible, writers voted Puckett into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 2001.

RIP Kirby

He was way too young to be dying of a stroke.

World Series, it was like he wasn't going to let gravity get in the way of his catching that ball. What a shame-he dies and Dick Cheney lives.

I loved Kirby.......he was a great player.

Too young.

...never forget "the catch" and then his home run to win the sixth game of the '91 series.


http://www.startribune.com/10017/story/287541.html

came here to post after hearing about it on MPR.

http://www.startribune.com/10017/story/287541.html
Puckett dies after massive stroke
Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: March 06, 2006 – 7:08 PM
Printer friendly E-mail this storyE-mail this story

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Kirby Puckett
On the day Kirby Puckett retired from baseball, he tried reassuring everyone that the sadness of losing sight in his right eye wouldn't diminish the spirit fans had seen him show for 12 seasons in a Twins uniform.

"Kirby Puckett's going to be all right," he said in 1996. "Don't worry about me. I'll show up, and I'll have a smile on my face. The only thing I won't have is this uniform on. But you guys can have the memories of what I did when I did have it on."

That sucks. Kirby was such a great hitter.

I didn't expect he would pass away so soon after his stroke...

I was at the game where they retired his jesrsy! It was a Twins/Indians game. Godspeed, Kirby!!!

He was a joy to see play, he was well aware of how rare his gift was. Kirby, you were what baseball should always be about. Fun.

You loved the game and we will always love you.

RIP :cry:

this is really, really sad..

Kirby Puckett was a great baseball player and even though I didn't know him personally, I'm sure he was an even better person.

This sad news reminds of the day that "Sweetness", Walter Payton died.

These two men were far too young to die, but I know in my soul that they both rest in peace with perpetual light shining on them.

Kirby, you'll be missed... :cry: :cry:

that I hoped he could make a complete recovery. He was a great ball player and 44 is way too young (especially since it is younger than my age). :cry:

I felt for him as his life spiraled out of control. Hopefully he is able to rest in peace.

My boss would get tickets for us (4 of us worked in a small picture framing shop) and we would take the afternoon off and go to the ball game. Any time I could I would go see baseball...

Kirby and Kent...great times.

Kirby was simply a great ball player. They guy could hit anything. Junk ballers were no good against him. He would just reach out and swat hits from anyplace on the plate. Fastballers challenged him and there was nothing Kirby liked better than junk balls was heaters. He ushered in the new era of strong man hitters. Fearless. Low and inside, high and away and a real strong change up was the only hope pitchers had against Kirby. ONly the best of the best could call it an even match against him and still he could hit anything anywhere anytime and he did.

And as remarkable was his ability at the plate so too was his arm in the outfield. His was a cannon. Tagging up from 3nd with Kirby deep was no easy score...base runners who were lazy were picked off at the plate on a sacrifice as Kirby was able rocket a ball from deep center and one hop it to the plate. No easy sacfly when Kirby was in the outfield. Opponents soon learned that. Forget about extra bases. And teams changed the way they approached the game becsaue of Kirby's deep threat. The Cardinals took them to all the way playing hit and run against the power hitting Twins. It was one of the best series ever.

And the giant glove against the hefty bag that was his signature. His whole body stretched nabbing a ball at the plastic wall in the HHH Dome. He would bound off the stretchy wall and in one motion fire the ball to home using the momentun of the bag to intiate the energy in the throw. One of the most graceful and creative uses of a ballpark ever. SOmetimes he did throw to home needlessly and could of hit his cutoff man and still held the runners but the awesome show of unleashing a ball from 400 feet all the way to the plate was somehting that set shadows of doubt in the base runners mind. Tagging was not always given. Only the fastest runners tried.

All in all it was a great team and a great time for baseball and the Minesota Twins. Kirby will be missed. But he will always be remembered as the kind and gentle man who with power, class and grace brought baseball back to countless fans.

Baseball has suffered a great loss at his early death. But more importantly, baseball is better because of his life.

That is what I will remember.

I live in K.C. and have been a Royals fan since they came to town in 1969. But I am also a fan of Kirby. Once, when Kirby and the Twins came to Royals statium, I had the pleasure (pain) of watching him hit an inside-the-park homerun. It was fascinating to watch that little butterball of a man motor around the bases.

It's a damn shame that his career and his life were cut short.

Touch 'em all!

:cry: