No link yet. They just announced it on the local news. He suffered a massive stroke yesterday morning and was taken offf life support this afternoon.
I juste heard it on Countdown.
Damn, the man was only 44!!!
One of my favourite players growing up. Behind my hometown Jays, I was always a Twins fan second because of Kirby.
A little blurb on the front of espn.com says:
Damn. I was really hoping that he’d be able to pull through.
I’m damn near devastated.
Dang it all this stinks. He was a class act on the field. We’ll miss him.
I’ll never forget Game 6. That homerun in the 11th was probably the most excited I’ve ever gotten watching a sporting event.
He was well known in these parts for his unflagging generosity and kindness to fans. He never turned anyone down for an autograph and always talked to Joe Fan off the street the same way he would talk to Roger Clemons or Barry Bonds. He seemed to have no ego and always talked about how lucky he felt just to be a Major league ballplayer.
He was also probably the most well liked player in the game among other Major league ballplayers.
RIP, Kirby. We’ll see you tomorrow night.
- Jack Buck, calling Kirby Puckett’s game-winning home run, Game 6, 1991 World Series
I saw him play in Elizabethton when I was just a teenager. I knew he was special. He just had a zeal for the game that everybody noticed and commented on in the stands. I wasn’t a bit surprised to see him in the big leagues soon after and in the world series a few years later, and winning it.
From FoxSports
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5387228?GT1=7934
I’ll miss ya’ Kirby. (even as a Texas Rangers fan)
e3
As a young Braves fan, it was pretty hard for me to appreciate Puckett. I wish he’d been able to play a little longer, because I think I’d have been able to see and enjoy the characteristics that endeared him to so many people. His career ended too soon and his life ended too soon.
Kirby made an art form out of snagging balls that would’ve otherwise been homers into long, loud outs. He had an amazing vertical for a short, round guy.
He always played hard, and he always gave it his best. Damn fine ballplayer. Damn fine.
And, anyone who was ever at the Metrodome during his stint will never forget his introduction:
“Wearing number 34, playing center field…KIRBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE PUCKETT!”
I got to see a number of games in both '87 and '91 (I was laid off both years just in time for the season.) I won’t forget what he meant to those teams.
See ya, Puck. We had fun watching you have fun.
So sad when one of the really talented good nice guys goes out so young.
Here’s his Hall of Fame plaque:
**KIRBY PUCKETT
MINNESOTA, A.L., 1984-1995
A proven team leader with an ever-present smile and infectious exuberance who led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. Over 12 seasons hit for power and average, batting .318 with 414 doubles, 207 home runs. Also a prolific run producer, scored 1,071 runs and drove in 1,085 in 1,783 games. A six-time Gold Glove winner who patrolled center field with elegance and style, routinely scaling outfield walls to take away home runs. The 10-time All-Star’s career ended abruptly due to irreversible retina damage in his right eye.**
So glad he gave us a fine game; RIP, Kirby.
He was always one of my favorites, too. Short, round, smiley, fast. What’s not to like.
Not a huge surprise, though. That dude looked like Violet Beuregarde after he left baseball.
It was always funny going to County Stadium in Milwaukee and hearing the announcer say “Kirby Puckett, Puckett” in that standard monotone voice of his. (Note: the in-stadium announcer for the Brewers is not Uecker, more’s the pity. He’s the radio announcer instead. I always thought they should lose the boring guy and just pipe in Uecker, but there you are.) That’s not how you announce Kirby! Geez. Guy should know better.
It’s too bad, and it’s too soon. You couldn’t not like baseball with Kirby was playing.
bat-girl.com has a good memorial piece about Kirby Puckett.
I grew up a Twins fan and Kirby was the player I loved the most. He is on my extremely extremely short list of my favorite all-time players in any sport. Baseball cancelled the World Series in 94 and Kirby retired soon after that and I lost all zeal I had for the game. And I have not been back.
This is a sad day. RIP 34.
Sad stuff. He seemed to enjoy life. I wasn’t a sports fan until I got into college, but I always appreciated Kirby after the fact.