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March 05, 2006
I bet you didn't expect an entry like this from me.
One of the top headlines in the Star Tribune for most of the day today has been Kirby Puckett's stroke. I've been checking regularly for any updates, although there really haven't been many. For the most part, the stories have been more about people's reactions and prayers.
I'm not big on praying for people, but I gotta admit that I'm keeping him in my thoughts. I can't speak for any other kids growing up in Minnesota around the same time I did, but Kirby Puckett was a pretty major part of my childhood. I was almost 7 during the 1987 World Series, and almost 11 during the 1991 series, and Kirby Puckett was a total star in my eyes. I was always into baseball, but I've never been interested in knowing players' names or stats. I knew that the Twins had Kent Hrbek, Chuck Knoblauch, Greg Gagne, Gene Larkin, and Rick Aguilera, but I just didn't care. Kirby Puckett, though, was another story. He was my baseball hero.
I couldn't tell you, for the life of me, what his stats were, what part he played in the series wins, or even his number. But I loved to watch him every time. I loved his homeruns. I loved him in the outfield. I loved how they said his name. If you don't believe me, I can dig out the cassette tape I made in first grade when I was home with the chicken pox during the World Series. In the middle of a tape of songs about Barbie and not scratching my pox was an entire song about my love for the Twins, especially Kirrrrrrrrrrrby Puckett!
He's the only professional athlete I've ever cared about. I was devastated when that sexual harrassment case came up a few years ago (in fact, it's completely verboten to bring that up in our household). He's my childhood sports hero, and the reason I collected baseball cards and loved Twins games all through elementary and middle school. He's only 44, and I really and truly hope he's able to make it through this stroke and surgery and recover fully. I'm sure he's got a lot of people pulling for him, but it sure couldn't hurt to add me to the list.
Posted to Minnesota & Nostalgia at March 5, 2006 11:30 PM
Comments
Rebecca, you have my sympathies on Kirby's passing. I remember it well when the Twins won the World Series in 1987. I was never a huge baseball fan -- always more into the other three sports -- but Kirby Puckett was one player I'll always remember. He always seemed to be having so much fun out there on the field -- so boisterous and happy. Clearly, retiring from baseball wasn't good for him; and he's gone much sooner than he should have been. RIP, Kirby.
Posted by: Eric at March 7, 2006 04:37 PM