Rest In Peace Kirby Puckett

It's a very sad day here in Minnesota. Minnesota Twins legend,and baseball Hall of fame member Kirby Puckett passed away at the young age of 45. He was taken of life support monday afternoon after suffering a stroke on Sunday. It can't be put into words how much Kirby meant to the people of Minnesota over the years. For myself I grew up as a Twins fan,but kind of became a fair weather fan after Rod Carew left the team for the California Angels, because of problems with team ownership. But Kirby made me a true fan again. From his very first game as a rookie you knew there was something special about Kirby Puckett. He got four hits in his very first game in the big leagues.Only the 9th player in history to accomplish this feat. In 1985 he hit his first carrer home run a three run homer.In 1986 he transformed to a power hitter after developing his "leg kick" and hit 31 homers that year. He batted .332 in 1987, and went on to win his first world series that year. 1988 was the year of Kirby Puckett in which he batted an incredible .356 and also got his 1000th hit.Only one of four players in history to do so in his first five seasons! In 1989 Kirby tied a major league record when he hit four doubles in one game in a 10 to 8 win. The next night Kirby hit 2 more doubles. That same year Kirby Signed the biggest contract in baseball history (at the time) in which he would be paid $9 million over three years. But most remeber Kirby for the 1991 World Series. Most notably game 6 the Twins were down in the series 3 games to 2. In the locker room that night Kirby told his teammates jump on my back I'm driving the bus tonight. Kirby made a leaping catch at the warning track to rob the Atlanta Braves of a run,and in the 11th inning he homered to force the seventh and final game. The next night The Twins captured their 2nd World series. In 1996 Kirby woke up with blurred vision,and found he had glaucoma in his right eye. In 1997 In a game in which I attended The Twins honered Kirby with a 90 minute pregame show in which the Twins retired his #34. In 2001 he was named to the baseball hall of fame with over 80% of the votes in his first year on the ballot. He was the third youngest player ever named to the Hall.He had a lifetime batting average of .318 was named to the all-star team 10 consecutiove years,won six golden gloves. led the league in batting average in 1989. Led the league in hits in 1987,1988,1989,and 1992. and led the league in rbi's in 1994. Everyone in Minnesota has a fond memorie of Kirby Puckett about the things he did on the field. Off the field he was very involved in the make a wish foundation,and every year held a pool tournament to help raise money for children with cancer. People in Minnesota thought of Kirby as a member of the family. Even if you never met him you just loved him. We loved him,and he loved us. He proved that by taking less money ($5 Million less) and stayed with the Twins instead of signing with the Boston Red Sox. Kirby said he would be a Twin for life,and stayed with us. He is survived by a fiance,and his two children. Touch em all Kirby Puckett....it's time to go home. We love you.