Kirby Puckett, the Hall-of-Fame center fielder for the Minnesota Twins from 1984-1995, has died at age 45, one day after suffering a massive stroke.
I remember watching Kirby Puckett play. And I can’t think of another baseball player who seemed to be having as much fun as he did. He always seemed like someone who just loved the game – in addition to being one of its most talented players.
And I like what Red Sox great Carlton Fisk had to say:
“There was no player I enjoyed playing against more than Kirby. He brought such joy to the game. He elevated the play of everyone around him.”
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I was shocked to hear that he died. If you were a kid baseball fan in the 80’s, you loved Kirby Puckett. Somehow managed to win two championships with the Twins — the first a fluke, and the second a team of misfits and codgers (Jack Morris, Dave Winfield) hanging on for one last run at it.
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Baseball needs a lot of guys like that — notwithstanding his later brush with the law.
That’s really sad. I loved Kirby Puckett, he brought such joy to the world. How could you not smile watching a guy like him?
in early 90s when a free agent at end of his career.
Boy was he fun to watch when he was in his prime.