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View Full Version : Kirby Puckett- RIP

banquo's_bumble_puppy
07-March-2006, 02:40 PM
One of my Dad's favourite baseball players.

Rest in peace
farmerjumperdon
07-March-2006, 02:52 PM
Yes indeed, very big news around here last evening and today. I actually expected to see the flags at half mast today; maybe they'll do it yet. Biggest name in MN sports in a long time - some say the biggest of all time.
Taks
07-March-2006, 06:40 PM
sad indeed.
taks
Swift
07-March-2006, 10:45 PM
Made me very sad too. Even when he played against teams I was for, you always admired the guy - he always played hard and you could tell he loved the game. I heard on the news this morning that he is the second youngest Hall of Famer to die, Lou Gehrig was the youngest.
SeanF
08-March-2006, 02:38 PM
I was pretty sad when I heard about Puck. Never met him, but got the chance to seem him play live a couple times. He was a heck of a ballplayer, and an inspiration to those of a less then athletic build everywhere. :)

I heard on the news this morning that he is the second youngest Hall of Famer to die, Lou Gehrig was the youngest.
I heard this, too, and it can't be right. Roberto Clemente wasn't yet 40 when he died.

The only way I can see calling Puckett the second-youngest instead of Clemente is if they discount Clemente because he wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame until after he died (so he didn't die a Hall of Famer), but that sure seems like a technicality.
Swift
08-March-2006, 03:50 PM
The only way I can see calling Puckett the second-youngest instead of Clemente is if they discount Clemente because he wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame until after he died (so he didn't die a Hall of Famer), but that sure seems like a technicality.
I think that is exactly what they mean - second youngest and already in. Doesn't take anything away from Clemente - baseball just loves trivia.
farmerjumperdon
09-March-2006, 01:21 PM
There is a memorial tribute to Kirby planned for Sunday at the Metrodome, and I heard this morning that at least 2 dozen Hall of Famers will be on hand. A few of the names I heard were Ripken, Molitor, Carew, Killebrew, Hrbek, Blyleven, and so on. His childhood hero (and mine) was Ernie Banks. Would be something if he showed; but I wonder what his health status is these days. I think we are going to go.
Swift
09-March-2006, 03:08 PM
There was a very nice piece in the Cleveland Plain Dealer (newspaper) yesterday, an interview with the Indians pitching coach, Carl Willis, who was a teammate of Puckett's in the early 90s. LINKY (http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1141810240172520.xml&coll=2)

Farmerjumperdon - if you do go, let us know what it was like.