Harmon Killebrew (2015, home, school)

[RedJacket]

Hall of Famer and Twins great Harmon Killebrew has entered into hospice care following unsuccessful treatments for esophageal cancer and issued a very sad and equally brave statement:

Harmon Killebrew: “My battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end” | HardballTalk

Sad sad sad. He's one of the really good guys.

[shotz90s]

I had the honor of meeting him a couple of years ago while doing some work for the Diamond Awards. He is truly one of the nicest, funniest guys around. I am so grateful that I was able to meet one of my heroes and a legend of the sport.

[Ghengis]

Grew up near Met Stadium in the 60's & 70's and spent a great deal of time there watching Harmon knocking balls over the fence. We would often wait outside the players entrance getting autographs and Harmon would sign and sign for every kid who stuck around to ask. What a great man and will surely be missed by his many fans.

[MplsTodd]

Harmon Killebrew (along with Rod Carew,Tony Oliva & Kirby Puckett) has always been an excellent ambassador for baseball and for the Minnesota Twins. I was lucky to see him at the dedication of his statue on 6th Street near Target Field. I won't forget him!

Here's Harmon talking about his days with the Twins:


YouTube - Harmon Killebrew presents - Harmonic History - Part 2



YouTube - 2004 David Letterman Top 10 Perks of being a National Baseball Hall of Fame Member

[Ghengis]

I too made a point to be present for Harmon's statue unveiling last year and what struck me aside from the obvious joy his fans were showing in being there to see him was how proud his wife was of him and their affection they showed for each other.

[Ghengis]

Really?

[captaincatfish]

Boy, the world lost a stellar, old-school baseball player and an even better man the other day...I am truly saddened by his passing...

Harmon Killebrew was a man from a time when you built your body the natural way---he got his unbelievable strength, I heard, from lifting loaded 10-gallon milk cans on the farm where he grew up, NOT from sticking himself with needles...

I never heard ANYONE in baseball utter an unkind word about him...not in the various sports columns I read, or the tons of player interviews I watched...when MLB would show specials about great home run hitters, I would sit slack-jawed as the Killer put ball after ball into orbit...and as I said above, his strength came from natural muscle mass, not steroids...

Every time I saw him do an interview, even long after his playing days were done, his lit up with an unabashed joy, as he talked about the game, and the woman, he loved...it was truly a pleasure to hear him, or read about him...

The world is just a little sadder and darker today, because one of its' truly bright lights has been extinguished...but every time I hear thunder rolling in now, I know it's not just thunder, but the Killer, hitting tape-measure shots out of some celestial ballpark, and the Almighty clapping His hands in amazement and joy...rest easy, number 3...you may be gone, but there's at least one old-school fan here, in whose heart and mind you will live forever...