Harmon Killebrew has passed away

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | May 17, 2011 | La Velle E. Neal III

[ConservativeStatement]

With his family by his side, Twins great Harmon Killebrew, one of the all-time great sluggers and one of the all-time great gentlemen, passed away Tuesday morning.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

When you learn what hospice is, feel free to condemn. Until then, feel free to continue to amuse with your ignorance.

[Arrowhead1952]

R I P Harmon.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

True ‘nuf. His glove was not his friend. However, it was also not his sworn enemy, like a Soriano or too many others today.

[conservaterian]

Not condemning hospice, condemning the statement that hospice nursed participate in assisted suicide. They DO NOT.

[Spruce]

On June 3, 1967, Killebrew hit a 520-foot home run, the longest measured home run ever hit at the Twins' Metropolitan Stadium and the longest in Twins history. That event is commemorated at the Mall of America, which includes a plaque marking home plate, and one red-painted seat from the Met which was placed at the location and elevation of the landing spot of the home run.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>No, I’m not trying to diminish his impact, I’m calling it objectively.

Your idea of objective is subjective. It’s a damn shame you couldn’t practice the adage of staying silent when you can’t say anything nice.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Sorry - I thought you were echoing the pingman’s nonsense. Amen to what you said then, and my apolgies.

[Keith in Iowa]

Home Plate’s GPS Coordinates - give or take 10 feet or so...

N44.85508 W93.24270

:)

[PieterCasparzen]

Got any stats, references to back that up?

Just a pamphlet and some googling I did during some personal experience with it. It was a real eye-opener as I was completely unaware of how it works nowadays and one learns it sitting in the room. I, like many Americans, tend to want to never give up especially when we are young, least of all on loved ones. I guess as we mature we come to accept all phases of life.

The only thing that concerned me was, again, like most people, when one considers the possibility of recovery and how that is really kind of written off, as the pamphlet told me. The drugs administered reduce pain, and the science apparently shows that the patient under these drugs tends to surrender and this hastens the process much more than no care, where the body will continue to try to fight on in all sorts of ways that can be very painful. Patients tend to come in communicative and all that stops very quickly. From what I've read, IMHO, it's getting into a gray area that starts sounding Kevorkian. I completely understand this with pets and do not want them to suffer, but with people it is obviously much more unsettling.

It's just one of those things, I guess. All I can say is a word to the wise, it's something to read up on and think about before you're in the situation, because it's a fairly irreversible decision.

[Vigilanteman]

You're a schmuck. Harmon Killebrew is in the Hall of Fame because he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Yeah, Babe Ruth could field better and run better, but he couldn't play three infield positions.

A .256 lifetime batting average might look mediocre, but much of that was earned during the pitcher's era at the peak of Killebrew's career. Mike Schmidt managed a whole .011 points better after they lowered the pitcher's mound and ended the pitcher's era. Their lifetime on base percentages were .004 points different.

Sandy Koufax was exceptional at one aspect of the game only: superb pitching. He was only an average fielder and a terrible hitter. But he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame too.

[04-Bravo]

Indeed, Stan Musial.

I can’t believe I forgot Stan “The Man.”

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Well, Ruth could outpitch Harmon too... ;)

I don't know what knotted that other guy's panties about Killebrew, but looking up his stats on baseball-reference.com was a real eye-opener. When you start looking at things that matter and take all offense into account - not just batting average like Bud-Selig-Is-Making-Bad-Logos Boy did, you really see Killebrew's place among the immortals. Not first string, not second string. But to be one of the hundred best hitters in a game that has been around for more than a century, that ain't too shabby.

[pingman]

My only first hand experience with hospice was the death of my mother, who was terminal, and expressed her wish for it all to come to an end. She was being administered morphine for the pain. We said our goodbyes, kissed her, wept and waited in the lobby.

We were called in 15 minutes later when she had passed.

Call it what you will, but I have nothing but fond regards for the hospice nurses. Bless ‘em all.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

I wonder if he was the last Senator. Old Walter Johnson-legacy Senators I mean - not the ones who became the Rangers.

[Osage Orange]

Thanks.

I actually have first hand experience with Hospice Care...and have never seen or heard of what you are describing.

[Osage Orange]

Would have been a .390 hitter with 'roids........

Killer was and is a Hall of Famer.

[justiceseeker93]

I never said that Killebrew doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, just that he excelled at only one aspect of the game.

BTW, Mike Schmidt was a better all-around third baseman than Killebrew, because, although both hit a ton of home runs, Schmidt could field and run better.

And who said that pitchers have to anything more than pitch superbly to get into the Hall of Fame? Of course pitchers who were also decent hitters helped themselves win more games (and still can do so, if the powers that be would let them bat, despite the designated hitter rule).

Hey, why can't baseball baseball fans have differences of opinion without the name calling?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>Hey, why can’t baseball baseball fans have differences of opinion without the name calling?

I get the impression you would have been one to ask Mrs. Lincoln how the play was despite all that other distraction... smh.

[Spruce]

I think the problem folks are having with your posts is simple.

A man that many of us looked-up to as children, a real-life idol has passed away . While we post anecdotes, condolences, and such, you come in here with your snarky post and attempt to convince us that he wasn’t that great. We do not care.

So you deserve, and should expect, a bit of flaming.

At least it’s not as bad as the fine posters that feel compelled to use this particular thread to have a pissing-match about hospice care, or Mr. Killebrews’ choice of religion.

Good day.

[justiceseeker93]

...Would have been a .390 hitter with 'roids.

May have broken Maris' home run record, but 'roids wouldn't improve one's BA 132 points.