A Tribute

When Bob Casey would shout, "Hitting 3rd, the center fielder, #34, Kirby Puckett!" over the loudspeaker at the Metrodome, every single person in the stadium jumped out of his or her seat and roared. It didn't matter if there were 10,000 people at the game or 40,000. It didn't matter if it was a game that meant nothing or the 7th game of the World Series. Kirby Puckett always took the field ready to play as if it were his last game. He became the 9th player in history to have 4 hits in his first full major league game. He won the batting title in 1989, RBI title in 1994, and had 6 gold gloves. Kirby appeared in 10 straight all star games and was the MVP of the all star game in 1993.

He added 2 World Series championships to his resume in 1987 and 1991. His performance in the 1991 series was probably his most notable. The Twins were down 2 games to 3 against the Atlanta Braves and needed to win game 6 in order to have a chance at beating the Braves in the series. The Braves looked as if they were going to rally and pull ahead when Kirby leapt over the outfield wall and robbed Ron Gant of a double. The game went into extra innings and when Kirby lead off the bottom of the 11th inning with a walk-off homerun, he forced the game 7 that most consider the best World Series game ever.

In 1995, Kirby was hit on the side of the head with a fastball from Dennis Martinez. Although most people think that this was what caused the end of his career, Kirby was actually able to come back to spring training in 1996. When he woke up one morning during spring training and couldn't see out of his right eye, the doctors found that he had glaucoma. During his press conference to announce the end of his days playing major league baseball, Kirby said, "I was told that I'd never make it because I was too short. Well, I'm still too short, but I've got 10 all star games, 2 world series championships, and I'm a very happy and contented guy. It doesn't matter what your height is, it's what's in your heart."

On July 2, 2003, Kirby Puckett walked into my friend Jason's fireworks store where I was working for the summer. Every single person in the store dropped what they were doing and stared at him. Where I'm from, Kirby is a legend. He ended up taking my friend to his cabin up the road where he asked my friend if he would put on a fireworks show for Kirby's family on the 4th of July. Of course my friend agreed. When Jason got back to the store, I immediately pounced and nearly demanded that Jason allow me to come with him when he went back to do the show.

We closed the store early on the 4th so that we would have enough time to get ready for Kirby. The three of us that were going each grabbed a shopping cart and started filling it up with our favorite fireworks. Then Jason and Juice hooked up all of the fireworks so that we could light them by flipping a switch instead of having to take a match to the wick. We loaded up Jason's truck and drove over to Kirby's cabin. When we got out of the car, we saw Kirby's uncle sitting on a folding chair in the garage. He looked at us like we were some crazy white kids that were about to start some shit, but when we let him know what we were there for, he immediately warmed up and even offered us a beer. We declined (because it's probably not a good idea to be drinking while playing with explosives) and started to unload the fireworks from the truck. That's when Kirby came out of the cabin to say hi. He was listed on all of my old baseball cards as being 5'8", but I swear that he couldn't have been taller than 5'6". His right eye was barely able to open and he was about 3 times wider than I was. Jason introduced Juice and me to Kirby and I don't think I've ever been so excited to shake someone's hand. I pride myself on having a firm handshake, but compared to Kirby's, mine probably feels like trying to shake hands with a wet noodle. His handshake consisted of squeezing so hard that I thought he might have broken my hand. But I didn't want to let on to that. I'd never want my hero to think that I was a wimp. Jason definitely didn't charge Kirby as much as the fireworks would've costed if someone were to come buy them in the store, but he didn't mind losing a little bit of money. It was worth it to be able to meet someone that you had looked up to your whole life.

After hearing that Kirby had suffered a massive stroke yesterday and was in critical condition, my mom was pretty sure that he wasn't going to make it. I think somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it too, but I always viewed Kirby as an invincible super hero. If you would've asked me when I was younger, I probably would've told you that Kirby would never die. A guy like him should've been immortal. He was just the kind of guy that had the spirit and drive to fight through anything. Unfortunately, despite the millions of prayers being said for him throughout the country, he couldn't pull through. Kirby was read his last rites and passed away this afternoon.

I must admit that my eyes got misty when reading about his passing today. My sister and I grew up wanting to be like him, and I know we weren't the only kids that loved baseball simply because of Kirby.

We're going to miss you, #34.