However he was only the fourth-best centerfielder of his generation and retired a few years too soon, before acquiring the necessary career totals to gain entry. The induction ceremony will be June 20 during the league All-Star game in Visalia which, fittingly enough, is where Puckett starred in the league as he made his way on the fast track to the Twins. [10], In 1987, the Twins reached the postseason for the first time since 1970 despite finishing with a mark of 8577. Puckett Puckett, Kirby Inducted to the Hall of Fame in: 2001 Primary team: Minnesota Twins Primary position: Center Fielder Few men have played the game of baseball with the youthful enthusiasm of Kirby Puckett. Draft: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (3rd) of the 1982 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase from Triton College (River Grove, IL). The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. $1.99. When he debuted in the Majors in 1984, it was no surprise that he would do Reserve your tickets, map your route, and work out all the details for your arrival in Cooperstown. "Puckett, Kirby (1960-2006)." The hero of the 1960 World Series will always be remembered as the only player to hit a walk-off home run in Game 7 of the World Series. 51.2 Wins Above Replacement Twins legend Kirby Puckett was a first-ballot baseball Hall of Famer who was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2001. 34 jersey in the process. According toThe New York Times, the Hall of Famers official cause of death was listed as cerebral hemorrhage due to hypertension.. The baseball world caught another glimpse of his razor-sharp focus on winning in the bottom of the 11th inning. He reached the magical plateau of 3,000 career hits, but did so only by extending his career a number of seasons being a DH. Mostly pitching on bad teams throughout his career, many felt he didnt get the recognition he deserved. He was very consistent, hitting .310 in twenty seasons with the club. In his final hours, Puckett was surrounded by his two children, Kirby Jr. and Catherine; his fiance; and former teammates, including Shane Mack and Kent Hrbek. While Mr. Puckett was at work, Kirbys mother, Catherine, raised nine children in a three-room apartment. May 8, 1984 The game went into extra innings, and in the first at-bat of the bottom of the 11th, Puckett hit a dramatic game-winning home run on a 21 count off of Charlie Leibrandt to send the Series to Game 7. In 1996, Puckett was forced to retire at the age of 36 because of vision loss in one eye. (National Baseball Hall of Fame), When he made the catch and when he hit the home run, you could tell the whole thing had turned, Atlanta Braves starter John Smoltz recalled to the media, after the game. Puckett was the fourth baseball player during the 20th century to record 1,000 hits in his first five full calendar years in Major League Baseball, and was the second to record 2,000 hits during his first ten full calendar years. For the season, Puckett batted .332 with 28 home runs and 99 RBIs[12][13] Although he hit only .208 in the Twins' five game AL Championship Series win over the Detroit Tigers, Puckett would produce in the seven-game World Series upset over the St. Louis Cardinals, where he batted .357. [16], Puckett won the AL batting title in 1989 with a mark of .339, while also finishing fifth in at-bats, second in doubles, first in hits, and second in singles. 3. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett's Minnesota home is about to hit the market for $485,000 with Puckett Wheaties and other memorabilia included. After being forced to retire in 1996 at age 36 due to loss of vision in one eye from a central retinal vein occlusion,[1] Puckett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, his first year of eligibility. Per ESPN, Kirby Puckett, 45, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at his Scottsdale, Arizona home on March 5, 2006 and was promptly rushed to emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. Puckett's career is a question of what was as much as what could have been. I just went for the ball.. baseball.". As the Washington Post reports, a jury cleared Kirby. He endured four eye operations in a four-month period, A private memorial service was held in the Twin Cities suburb of Wayzata on the afternoon of March 12 (declared "Kirby Puckett Day" in Minneapolis), followed by a public ceremony held at the Metrodome attended by family, friends, ballplayers past and present, and approximately 15,000 fans (an anticipated capacity crowd dwindled through the day due to an impending blizzard). All rights reserved. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. In 1987, Puckett led the team to its first World Series title in more than 60 years, hitting .357 throughout seven games played against the St. Louis Cardinals. And with the game tied at three in the bottom of the 11th inning, Puckett homered to give the Twins a win and force Game 7 where Minnesota would win on the strength of Jack Morris' 10 shutout innings. collected 25 bunt singles that season and only 17 extra-base hits. Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1982 as the third overall pick in the January Draft, Puckett raced through the minor leagues and made his big league debut on May 8, 1984, recording four hits in his big league debut. Since that time, millions of baseball fans around the world have subscribed to MLB.TV, the live video streaming product that airs every game in HD to nearly 400 different devices. 34 becomes 10th retired Red Sox jersey number", Official Major League Baseball tribute site, American League season runs batted in leaders, Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Award, American League Championship Series MVP Award, 2001 Major League Baseball contraction plan, American League Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, American League Outfielder Gold Glove Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kirby_Puckett&oldid=1132401342, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, Baseball players from Scottsdale, Arizona, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 28,1995,for theMinnesota Twins, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 18:31. As the third youngest player Luke Appling was a very good shortstop for the White Sox near mid-century. Read more The Basics Year inducted 2001 Puckett suffered a stroke on March 5, 2006, and died the following day. [30] Later that same month, another woman asked for protection from Puckett himself, claiming in court documents that he had shoved her in his Bloomington condominium during the course of an 18-year relationship. In March 2002, a woman filed for an order of protection against Puckett's wife, Tonya Puckett, claiming that Tonya had threatened to kill her over an alleged affair with Puckett. One of the Veterans Committees first mistakes was a shortstop named Rabbit Maranville who played mostly for the Braves in the early part of the century. His career 3.15 ERA resonates more today than it did then, and he had a few 20-loss seasons at a time when Wins and Loses mattered for pitchers. photo credit. But the 1994 season was cut short by a players' strike, ending his chances for two consecutive titles. In 1986, Puckett added power to his game, belting a career-high 31 home runs while earning the first of six Silver Slugger Awards. [31] He was found not guilty of all counts. Show your love of the game and play a part in preserving past and ensuring the future of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Peak 50% Longevity 50% Articles Mentioning Kirby Puckett. 2. [18], In 1991, the Twins got back on the winning track and Puckett led the way by batting .319, eighth in the league and Minnesota surged past Oakland midseason to capture the division title. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York States Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. [8], In 1986, Puckett began to emerge as more than just a singles hitter. Many thanks to him. or Discover one-of-a-kind artifacts and get lost in sweeping exhibitions that explore pivotal moments in the game and its impact far beyond the field. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Stats Awards Keith Hernandez MVP 5x All-Star 2x World Series 11x Gold Glove 2x Silver Slugger Batting Title Kirby Puckett 10x All-Star 2x World Press J to jump to the feed. Puckett was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001. Baseball-Reference.com. The Golden Era Ballot is Out: Let's Get Mioso In, Personal Hall of Fame, Part 6: Filling in the Gaps, Personal Hall of Fame, Part 5: The Outfield, Personal Hall of Fame, Part 2: Spending Time on the Borderline, 50 Best Players Not in the Hall of Fameand the 8 Best Not in the Hall of Stats. Kirby Puckett sprinted, leaped and extended his glove two feet above the Plexiglas fence in left-center field right over Tony Olivas retired No. hit .319 with 15 home runs, 89 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. continued in 1990 as the Twins went to last place in the division, finishing Barely a .500 career pitcher, he won 300+ games simply because he stuck around long enough and got good enough run support to do so. Then, WAA is adjusted by ignoring negative seasons Its so draining, these games weve been playing, Puckett told the Post after hitting his walk-off home run. According toThe New York Times, the Hall of Famer's official cause of death was listed as "cerebral hemorrhage due to hypertension.". [30] In September 2002, Puckett was accused of groping a woman in a restaurant bathroom and was charged with false imprisonment, fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, and fifth-degree assault. Print. The Minnesota Twins dubbed Kirby the executive vice president of the team shortly after he stepped down, retiring his No. He finished with a .318 batting average, 414 doubles, 207 home runs and 1,085 RBI in 1,783 games. career came to an early end due to glaucoma. World Series over the Braves, 403, and Puckett added another 2 home runs vs. CAL 5 AB, 4 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, Last Game: Kirby Puckett was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2001. Twins to a 4-1 series win over the Blue Jays in the ALCS. Puckett was not charged, but the couple was swiftly divorced afterward amid accusations of Kirby's infidelity. (National Baseball Hall of Fame), Similarly to how they won the 1987 World Series, the Twins rallied back when they were down three-games-to-two, winning Games 6 and 7 to clinch the 1991 World Series title. Kirby Puckett had 207 home runs over his career. Facing Atlanta southpaw Charlie Leibrandt, the odds were stacked against Puckett, as he had struck out twice against the left-handed pitcher in Game 1. 34 jersey in the process. Puckett underwent neurosurgery Sunday and was transported to St. Joseph's . Puckett announced his retirement from baseball on July 12, 1996 at the age of Puckett finished the season The Twins fell even farther in 1989, finishing 80-82 and 19 games out of first. [33], In the March 17, 2003 edition of Sports Illustrated, columnist Frank Deford wrote an article entitled "The Rise and Fall of Kirby Puckett", that documented Puckett's alleged indiscretions and attempted to contrast his private image with the much-revered public image he maintained before his arrest. Many, including 1991 Twins teammates Shane Mack and Kent Hrbek, flew to Phoenix to be at his bedside during his final hours along with his two children Kirby Jr. and Catherine. in Chicago, IL on March 30, he awoke to find he couldn't see out of his right eye. The Twins, however, only finished 53-60 in the strike-shortened Puckett hit .298 that season with 12 However he never had much extra-base power, was never an MVPnor did he score 100+ runs very consistently. He led the team to the World Series in 1987 and 1991. Puckett spent his entire major league career with the Minnesota Twins. Puckett was not charged, but the couple was swiftly divorced afterward amid accusations of Kirbys infidelity. [24], After spending the spring of 1996 continuing to blister Grapefruit League batting with a .344 average,[2] Puckett woke up on March 28 without vision in his right eye. After signing with the team, he went to the rookie-league Elizabethton Twins in the Appalachian League, hitting .382, with 3 home runs, 35 RBI, and 43 steals in 65 games. In the same general era of play, Albert Belle was a much more dominant a force on the baseball field and has never received anywhere near enough votes to be elected. [17] He continued to play well in 1990, but had a down season, finishing with a .298 batting average, and the Twins mirrored his performance as the team slipped all the way to last place in the AL West with a record of 7488. In 1991, Puckett led the Twins back to the postseason, winning ALCS MVP honors after hitting .429 to lead Minnesota past the Blue Jays. At the time of his retirement, his batting average was considered the highest by any right-handed American League batter since Joe DiMaggio. However, (Age 24-055d, he earned respect for his defense. Puckett's major league career jumped out to a quick start when the Twins made But, Ill tell you this was a game I will never forget., Kirby Puckett made his historic Game 6 catch and home run in the Metrodome, former home of the Minnesota Twins. [27], The Twins retired Puckett's number 34 in 1997. 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His style of play caught While Mr. Puckett was at work, Kirby's mother, Catherine, raised nine children in a three-room apartment. Puckett worked with Partnership for a Drug Free America, the Children's Heart Fund, the Glaucoma Foundation, and other organizations. RIchie Ashburn was a terrific player, winning two batting titles and playing spotless defense in center field, mostly for the Phillies in the 1950s. The Twins, two years removed from the championship season, slumped, going 8082 and finishing in fifth place, 19 games behind the Athletics. Puckett hit .296 with 22 After these adjustments, the 25.7 WAA becomes 26.7 adjWAA. Minnesota Twins. Per ESPN, Puckett suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at his Scottsdale, Arizona home on March 5, 2006 and was promptly rushed to emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Ortiz began his MLB career with the Twins.[40]. With the series now tied at three games apiece, and a final game to be played in Minnesotas beloved Metrodome, a World Series win didnt seem too far out of reach. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live full length MLB game. His ever-present smile, leadership skills and outgoing personality made him a fan-favorite in Minnesota. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Per Smoltzs prediction, the Twins took Game 7 in dramatic fashion after 10 shutout innings from Series MVP Jack Morris, with Smoltz matching him for more than seven innings Gene Larkin ended it with a fly ball to deep left-center field, driving in Dan Gladden. Join our linker program. Kirby Puckett, listed at Puckett was Kirby Puckett's walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series sent the Minnesota Twins to Game 7 - and an eventual championship win. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility in 2001. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. He led the team to the World Series in 1987 and 1991. The result Three surgeries in the mid-1990s could not restore vision in his right eye, and Puckett announced his retirement in July of 1996. hitting .329 with 19 home runs, 110 runs batted in and 17 stolen bases. Sutton was a very good, consistent pitcher but never great nor dominant. Entdecke Hall of Fame Kirby Puckett 12 Karten Posten 1986 Topps # 329, KOSTENLOSER VERSAND in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 12:52AM. The Twins beat Detroit, 4-1. vs. CLE 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB. Puckett can now add a smaller but not insignificant honor to his lifetime of achievements, albeit this one posthumous after his death in 2006. Reggie Jackson Questions Whether Rice, Puckett, Carter Belong In Hall Of Fame. All Wins Above Replacement and Wins Above Average data comes from That fall Buy from many sellers and get your cards all in one shipment! Puckett's career was cut short because of retina damage in his right eye, ending his playing days following the 1995 season. the face by a Dennis Martinez pitch. 1. Puckett was remembered via a private memorial service in the Twin Cities suburb of Wayzata on March 12 (dubbed "Kirby Puckett Day" in Minneapolis) and a public ceremony at the Metrodome with approximately 15,000 fans. In 1987, Puckett led the team to its first World Series title in more than 60 years, hitting .357 throughout seven games played against the St. Louis . 6 stolen bases. Usually, Im a free swinger I just get up there and forget, Puckett recalled to the Post after the game. After receiving no scholarship offers following graduation, Puckett went to work on an assembly line for Ford Motor Company. This unique collectible is a finely crafted replica of Puckett's original plaque that hangs in Hall of Fame Gallery in Cooperstown. inducted into the Hall of Fame (Only Lou Gehrig and Sandy Koufax were younger), In 1993, At the time of his retirement, his batting average was considered the highest by any right-handed American League batter since Joe DiMaggio. St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. The Minnesota Twins dubbed Kirby the executive vice president of the team shortly after he stepped down, retiring his No. Kirby Puckett is one of the 15 Hall of Fame Famers who did not receive a plaque. Kirby Puckett's walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series sent the Minnesota Twins to Game 7 - and an eventual championship win. After adjusting for length of schedule, catchers, and relief pitchers, the 51.2 WAR becomes Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the Internet. H: 5'8" | W: 210 | B: R | T: R. >> Visit the On September 28, however, Puckett was struck in He was 45. Kirby Puckett had a .318 average over his career. For one moment in time he was the best, but that moment is long past and does not make a career. In September 2002, Puckett was accused of groping and holding a woman against her will in a restaurant bathroom.