Puckett dies after massive stroke

Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | March 6, 2006 | Joe Christensen

[daler]

PHOENIX — Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett died tonight.

Puckett suffered a massive stroke Sunday morning at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and underwent surgery. He had been transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

Family members assembled at the hospital Monday to make the decision on life support. The people with knowledge of Puckett’s condition said he was expected to be removed from the life support sometime Monday.

[NewLand]

Kirby as a rookie...

Kirby patrolling center like no other...

[vikzilla]

See posts 137 Admin MAN.

[Earl]

I have been a Twins fan my entire life and twice this has brought tears to my eyes. The first time was on the final day of the '67 season when they lost the pennant on the final day of the season to the Red Sox. I was nine years old. The second time was when Kirby annouced his retirement. I was 38 years old.
Last month my 12 year old daughter asked me what number she should wear this season for her softball team. I suggested 3 (Killebrew), 6 (Oliva), 29 (Carew), and 34 (Kirby).
Without knowing why I had picked these numbers she chose 34. At the time I was indifferent but now am very happy with her choice.

[Pharmboy]

Yeah...I just saw it on Drudge. Damn...I was hoping his stroke was a minor one. What a shame...RIP is right. How profoundly sad this is...

[speedy]

RIP to a fine ballplayer who was always well-liked even by fans of opposing teams. So sorry to hear this news.

[Rakkasan1]

the Rev. Phelps of baseball , I guess.

[vox_freedom]

Thanks for relating your families story...
I had a lot of respect for Kirby as a player and as a man. May he rest in the embrace of GOD, RIP.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Earl, like you, I'm a life-long Twins fan. My pre-Kirby story has always been the day I attended the game when Cesar Tovar played all nine positions on the last day of the season when the Twins were out of the race.

I sat in the left field (wooden) bleachers, in the rain, with my Mom.

When the Kirby story broke over the weekend, she said, "Remember the game we went to in 1968?"

She'll be 89 in November.

[Ticonderoga34]

Number 34, rounding third and heading toward home.......RIP Kirby.

[Rakkasan1]

watched him play a game with the Saint Paul Saints and still have the signed ball and program.( him and Darryl Strawberry both).

[Ditto]

RIP.

[JCEccles]

The reports that Puckett was prone to fits of rage and to exhibit crude, grossly inappropriate behavior in public suggests that he may have suffered organic brain injury, especially given that this sort of behavior apparently was not typical of Puckett earlier in his life. It is conceivable that this deterioration had its genesis in his getting struck in the head by 95 MPH hardball.

What I remember about Puckett in his glory years is that he had a reputation for for never refusing to give his autograph to any kid who asked for it. He was often held up as the class act of professional baseball for his humility and graciousness.

[Chi-townChief]

Really sad news.

[daler]

Jack's performance in game 7 was the single greatest pitching performance I ever saw.

Not being old enough to remember Don Larsen's day in the sun, I have to agree with you.

Someone who seemed to be knowledgable (I don't remember who) told me a couple years back that Jack's adversarial relationship with the media is what has kept him out of the Hall.

I certainly can't come up with any other sensible reason why he isn't in there.

[Radix]

Kirby Puckett died? At his age?

That is too bad. I'm so sorry for his family.

I think that the Red Sox tried real hard to get him way back around the late eighties early nineties. He was that good.

Not sure it was him because I really don't follow baseball much any more, but dying at his young age is just horrible.

[BluesDuke]

The reports that Puckett was prone to fits of rage and to exhibit crude, grossly inappropriate behavior in public suggests that he may have suffered organic brain injury, especially given that this sort of behavior apparently was not typical of Puckett earlier in his life. It is conceivable that this deterioration had its genesis in his getting struck in the head by 95 MPH hardball

You refer, of course, to the pitch Puckett took in the face from Dennis Martinez, a season before Puckett's glaucoma diagnosis forced his retirement. (Martinez to this day is said to have regretted the pitch, particularly since he wasn't trying to brush Puckett back with the pitch, and Puckett had seen his share of brushback pitches.) The pitch broke Puckett's jaw and an artery in his mouth and was likely unrelated to the glaucoma, but it could well have had other effects on the man.

[over3Owithabrain]

I am torn up upon just finding out this news. Kirby was one of my all-time favorite players - in talent, accomplishment to be sure - but mainly in his love and exhuberance in playing the game.

I don't know what is fact or fiction regarding his post-career personal life, but I choose to remember the man at his best, a great ballplayer and a wonderful ambassador of the sport.

[BluesDuke]

Jack's performance in game 7 was the single greatest pitching performance I ever saw.

Second best, to Sandy Koufax's two-days-rest/no-repertoire-left Game Seven shutout (against the Twins, ironically), 1965 World Series.

[Christian4Bush]

In keeping with your Jim Rome PING list, I suggest giving the poster in #9 the lifelong buzzer. Unless, of course, the AM already did.

Thoughts and prayers with the Puckett family, and with the city of Minnesota.

[MikefromOhio]

Oh yeah, the Mods ran him like Willie in KC.....