ArchangelX
03-07-2006, 07:00 AM
Dayamz...lotta dead people this morning. So sad. :scared:
http://cbs4denver.com/entertainment/entertainment_story_065201451.html
[CBS) Phoenix, Ariz. Kirby Puckett died Monday, a day after the Hall of Fame outfielder had a stroke at his Arizona home, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 45.
His children, Catherine and Kirby Jr., traveled to his bedside in Arizona Sunday and said their final goodbyes Monday morning.
Puckett, who stood only 5 feet 8 inches, became the biggest of all ball players for the Minnesota Twins as an outfielder.
He broke into the lineup in 1984 and would end up playing 12 seasons before glaucoma cut his career short. He had a career .318 batting average, with more than 200 home runs.
Puckett played in 10 All-Star games and was one of the game's best defensive center fielders. He won six Gold Glove awards during his career.
He saved his best for the clutch situations, making game-winning plays that helped the Twins capture two World Series titles, in 1987 and 1991. Puckett was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1991.
Puckett, with his smile and charisma, became one of the most popular players in the game, but his career would come to a premature end during 1996's Spring Training.
Puckett complained about blurriness in his right eye and after a series of tests, he was diagnosed with glaucoma. On July 12, 1996, Puckett announced his retirement from baseball at age 36.
Life after baseball included a stint in the Twins front office, which he and his wife Tonya continued their notable charity work in the Twin Cities. He was also the team's goodwill ambassador and spent time with his two children.
In 2001, Puckett became the focus in the game again. He was named to baseball's Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, along with his good friend Dave Winfield.
A chink in the Ironman's armor was revealed in 2003, when he was charged with sexual assault from an incident at an Eden Prairie, Minn. restaurant. A subsequent article in Sports Illustrated also claimed Puckett had a pattern of sexual indiscretions and violence toward women.
While Puckett pleaded not guilty in the Eden Prairie case, and was ultimately acquitted, his reputation took a hit with Minnesotans.
Over the past few years, Puckett still suffered from problems in his right eye and continued to gain weight, which had led to some concern about his health.
Puckett has maintained relationships with many people in the Twins' organization. The team tried unsuccessfully to get him to come to spring training as a special instructor this year, something he hasn't done since 2002.
Another former Twins great, Tony Oliva, a special instructor during spring training, said he had been worried about Puckett's weight.
"The last few times I saw him, he kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Oliva said. "And we worried about him. I saw him about five months ago. He always tries to invite me. He says, 'Come to Arizona, and we'll play some golf.'"
Puckett would have been 46-years-old next week. He is divorced and his two children live with his ex-wife. He was engaged to be married this summer.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
http://cbs4denver.com/entertainment/entertainment_story_065201451.html
[CBS) Phoenix, Ariz. Kirby Puckett died Monday, a day after the Hall of Fame outfielder had a stroke at his Arizona home, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 45.
His children, Catherine and Kirby Jr., traveled to his bedside in Arizona Sunday and said their final goodbyes Monday morning.
Puckett, who stood only 5 feet 8 inches, became the biggest of all ball players for the Minnesota Twins as an outfielder.
He broke into the lineup in 1984 and would end up playing 12 seasons before glaucoma cut his career short. He had a career .318 batting average, with more than 200 home runs.
Puckett played in 10 All-Star games and was one of the game's best defensive center fielders. He won six Gold Glove awards during his career.
He saved his best for the clutch situations, making game-winning plays that helped the Twins capture two World Series titles, in 1987 and 1991. Puckett was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1991.
Puckett, with his smile and charisma, became one of the most popular players in the game, but his career would come to a premature end during 1996's Spring Training.
Puckett complained about blurriness in his right eye and after a series of tests, he was diagnosed with glaucoma. On July 12, 1996, Puckett announced his retirement from baseball at age 36.
Life after baseball included a stint in the Twins front office, which he and his wife Tonya continued their notable charity work in the Twin Cities. He was also the team's goodwill ambassador and spent time with his two children.
In 2001, Puckett became the focus in the game again. He was named to baseball's Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, along with his good friend Dave Winfield.
A chink in the Ironman's armor was revealed in 2003, when he was charged with sexual assault from an incident at an Eden Prairie, Minn. restaurant. A subsequent article in Sports Illustrated also claimed Puckett had a pattern of sexual indiscretions and violence toward women.
While Puckett pleaded not guilty in the Eden Prairie case, and was ultimately acquitted, his reputation took a hit with Minnesotans.
Over the past few years, Puckett still suffered from problems in his right eye and continued to gain weight, which had led to some concern about his health.
Puckett has maintained relationships with many people in the Twins' organization. The team tried unsuccessfully to get him to come to spring training as a special instructor this year, something he hasn't done since 2002.
Another former Twins great, Tony Oliva, a special instructor during spring training, said he had been worried about Puckett's weight.
"The last few times I saw him, he kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Oliva said. "And we worried about him. I saw him about five months ago. He always tries to invite me. He says, 'Come to Arizona, and we'll play some golf.'"
Puckett would have been 46-years-old next week. He is divorced and his two children live with his ex-wife. He was engaged to be married this summer.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)