*** BREAKING *** Kirby Puckett has died

[no name no slogan]

Just heard on the news. How sad :cry:

EDIT: Link from KSTP-TV
http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S14649.html?cat=1

ON MORE EDIT:
I vividly remember the 1987 World Series. I was a freshman in college, and it was the first time in recent memory that the Twins (the hometown team) had gone that far. The Game 7 victory was a HUGE celebration.

In 1991 I was living in the UK, and watching the series on satellite TV on tape delay. Unfortunately, some knucklehead broke into our TV session in the 8th inning in game 7 to say "oh yeah, the Twins won".
:rofl:
Needless to say we were a little PO'd at that.

[Fenris]

1. That's fucking awful.

:(

[no name no slogan]

8. I was never a huge baseball fan, but everybody loved Kirby

he was a hero here locally in Minnesota. He was also quite generous with his time and energy for good causes. It really is a sad day here.

[deadparrot]

2. Wow.

So sad. He was far too young. :cry:

RIP.

[no name no slogan]

7. would have been 45 in a few days

far too young to die, IMHO.

[Maddy McCall]

3. Background info here.

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/03/06/ap/sports/d8g65s8gd.txt

PHOENIX - Kirby Puckett was in critical condition Monday after surgery for a stroke, and the Minnesota Twins asked fans to pray for the Hall of Fame outfielder.

The 44-year-old Puckett, who led the Twins to two World Series championships before his career was cut short by glaucoma, was stricken Sunday at his Arizona home.

He remained in intensive care at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Kimberly Lodge said. Puckett was moved to the hospital after surgery at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.

"Tough day," former Twins manager Tom Kelly said Monday at the Twins' training camp.

"The Minnesota Twins and major league baseball ask fans to keep Kirby and his family in their thoughts and prayers," the team said in a statement.


more at link above.

[no name no slogan]

10. Wow, Tom Kelly sounds downright verbose in that statement

I'm suprised they could pry that much out of that ol' bastid. I never liked Kelly much personally, but he did do a helluva job as manager.

I'm gonna miss Kirby, though...

[Deja Q]

4. At least it was quick.

Many people who have strokes live with debilitating encumbrances for years.

:cry:

[no name no slogan]

5. Yeah, it sounds like it was a serious stroke

It sounds fairly painless.

[alarimer]

9. too true

Still he was far too young. Somehow I feel like the world just got a little darker. He was such a breath of fresh air as a player. And a decent human being. More than most famous, rich sports stars anyway.

[pokerfan]

19. Yep

There are worse things than death.

[Left Is Write]

6. I vividly remember both of those World Series too.

I also remember when Kirby Puckett was a newbie. :(

[no name no slogan]

12. Yeah, he was quite the sensation when he came on board

It was also very cool of him to forego more $$ at another club and stay with the Twins for his final couple seasons. That made me respect him even more.

[StaggerLee]

11. R.I.P. Kirby

I was stationed on a cruiser in Pearl Harbor for the '87 series. One of my boys was from the twin cities and had called the Twins from the very beginning. (He was our sportscaster during our West Pac Cruise that spring and summer)

During the series the games were delayed because of the time difference. I remember some a**hole coming into the compartment and screaming out the final score when we were watching. It sucked but I can laugh about it now.

Godspeed Kirby.

[AussieDave]

13. Very sad news - he was one of my favorite players

I watched both the 1987 and 1991 World Series - RIP Kirby - far too young.............

[SeattleGirl]

14. Damn, damn, damn

He was such a great player, and a great person. Damn, this makes me so sad. :cry:

[bigwillq]

15. Such sad news.

RIP Kirby. :cry:

[Blue_Tires]

16. very sad

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

17. Very, very sad

Scary, too (I'll be 44 in August). I was never a big baseball fan, but I do remember him as a character and all-around good guy. This is truly sad.

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. Oh, man...

Damn.



Just... damn.

[Blue-Jay]

20. sad.

This saddens me in a way I haven't felt since Willie Stargell bought the farm.

Kirby was a true classic.

[eyepaddle]

21. Well, it' been said, but the world is a bit of a darker place today

:(

However for a little perspective, he was a kid from the projects who became (ever so briefly) the highest paid athlete in history, led his team to two world championships and made it into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot--it was too short, but that is one heckuva good run. And he clearly did not take it for granted, he enjoyed his life.

Farewell Puck.

[KitchenWitch]

22. I am in mourning!

:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

[eyepaddle]

23. I knew you'd be here soon,

:hug:

My goodness but 1987 was an epic series, decades of Minnesota sports futility exorcised in seven intensely dramatic games. 1991, while not as much of an unknown commodity still matched it in intensity.

I hope one day to see such times again. :cry:

[KitchenWitch]

24. I hope they do it this year, for Kirby!

:cry:

[JackDragna]

25. I hope the Twins play for themselves.

After what came about the person Puckett really was when not flashing his smile for the cameras, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the man as a human being. It's too bad he's gone, but I'm willing to bet nearly all of the current Twins are better people than Puckett was.

[KitchenWitch]

26. He really was cleaning up his act in the last couple years of his life

I, for one, am willing to give people a second chance.

[no name no slogan]

36. He was accused of rape, but acquitted.

He also funded scholarships at the U of Minnesota for underprivileged kids from Minnesota-- most of whom are not athletes. Sure, he made mistakes in his personal life. But show me a person who hasn't.

The man just died, suddenly, and very young, at that. Have a little respect.

[kick-ass-bob]

38. There always has to be one, doesn't there?

I hope people don't say the same about you when you are dead.

Because everyone makes mistakes.

[WeRQ4U]

39. He had his flaws, for sure.

And to discount those flaws would be irresponsible and disrespectful to the people he hurt. But to discount his life in a couple sentences, based on mistakes he made throughout that life would be ignorant as well.

This is a man who came from absolutely NOTHING and left as the face of an organization. I speak from experience when I say that this man CREATED fans for MInnesota and for baseball in general. I remember going to the Metrodome as a kid and hearing Bob Casey announce his name. There was NOTHING like it. I remember emulating his high leg kick as a kid on the playground. I remember him taking HOURS to sign autographs for little kids. When asked if he ever got tired of signing autographs for people he reported once said "If you can take 30 seconds to make someone happy, why not do it?" Torii Hunter has said that he actually changed the way he signed autographs for kids on Puckett's suggestion. Puckett stated that in doing so, it would be more legible, and therefore kids would get more enjoyment from it. He set up scholarship foundations at Minnesota Universities. He regularly particpated in charity events and donated dollars and immeasurable time and spirit to the same. He was not above anyone. The equipment manager for the Minnesota Timberwolves considers him a friend. A person could talk for hours about what Kirby Puckett meant to them and not mention his baseball stats. I know it might be hard for a person who isn't a Twins fan to realize truly what this man meant to people. If you really want to get a small, small taste of this, take a jaunt over to the streaming radio at KFAN.com. http://www.kfan.com/main.html. People named their children, boys and girls, after him. Their children had Twins pajamas with #34 emblazoned on the back. They named a street after him. You know, I have many heros and I rarely cry. But today has been just surreal. He was such a huge part of my childhood. It's very hard, as it is for many.

As I said before...he did have his faults and frailty. But who doesn't? I don't fault the critics for analyzing some of the questionable decisions he made. However, let his family, friends, and fans have this day to remember him for what we love. Their will be an eternity for the rest.

:toast:

[SaveElmer]

34. Very bad day...

I can't get that 6th game of the '91 series out of my mind today. I remember how overwhelmingly excited I was that day, and how bad I feel this evening. Gonna be hard to watch those replays for a while!!!

[WCGreen]

27. I saw him play at least ten times......~

I use to go down to the Municpal Stadium here in Cleveland...

Watching the Twin was one of my favorite things to do....

That, and the Red Sox....

But Kirby always played the game heads up... Balls to the wall....

Babe Ruth, Lou Gerhig, Roberto Clemente....

Make room for Kirby....

[KitchenWitch]

28. yes he did

He played the game out of love for it, sure he was paid handsomely, but I believe he would have played for peanuts.

[WCGreen]

31. Like Shoeless Joe.....

[WeRQ4U]

37. He was an american success story.

He went from the housing projects of Chicago, to getting 4 hits in his first MLB game against the Angels, to the baseball hall of fame. He did something that many current superstars don't do.......and that's have some fun at the ballpark. It WASN'T just business and money.

[Redstone]

29. God damn, just like the hockey player for the Phila. Flyers in the

1970s, forget his name, took a shot to the eye that almost killed his career, then a couple of years later was dead from leukemia.

I'm not a big baseball fan, but I do remember Mr Puckett as being a good player and not a loudmouth.

My condolences to his family and fans.

Redstone

[flamingyouth]

30. Very sad

RIP, Kirby :(

[indigo32]

32. RIP

I am very saddened by this. I was a Junior in High School in 1987 and we got out of school to go to the parade. That team, and Kirby especially, hold a special place in my heart for those memories.

Peace Kirby

[reyd reid reed]

33. Damn

So sad. Way too young. He was getting married in June.

Just...

Damn...

[no name no slogan]

35. Kirby is also donating his organs, too

he'll keep on giving, even though he's no longer with us.

RIP, #34.