Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett (born March 14, 1960, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died March 6, 2006, Phoenix, Arizona) was an American professional baseball player known for being one of the greatest right-handed hitters in the sport’s history. Before his career was cut short by glaucoma, Puckett compiled 2,304 hits, 1,085 runs batted in (RBIs), 207 home runs, and a .318 lifetime batting average. He spent all 12 of his major-league seasons (1984–1995) with the Minnesota Twins of the American League (AL), endearing himself to fans with his enthusiasm for the game and his dedication to the organization.

Puckett, the youngest of nine children, was encouraged to play baseball by his parents as a way of keeping him away from the problems many youths confronted in their housing project. Without any collegiate baseball offers after high school, Puckett worked on an automobile assembly line and as a census taker. He remained committed to his dream of becoming a professional athlete, however, and tried out for the Kansas City Royals. Though he was rejected, his abilities attracted the attention of the coach from Bradley University (Peoria, Illinois), and Puckett soon began playing college ball there. Puckett later transferred to Triton Community College in River Grove, Illinois, to be closer to home after the death of his father.

The Twins selected Puckett as the third overall pick of the January draft in 1982. When he came up to the major leagues in May 1984, he promptly responded with four hits in his first game. After leading the league with 207 hits in the 1987 season, he helped the franchise capture its first-ever World Series title in a seven-game triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1989 Puckett won the AL batting championship with a .339 average. The Twins then signed him to a three-year, $9-million deal that made him baseball’s highest-paid player at the time. The team’s investment paid off, as Puckett was integral to another World Series run in 1991, hitting an 11th-inning home run in game six to force a decisive game seven, in which the Twins defeated the Atlanta Braves for their second championship.

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Though he was not a typically thin centre fielder—the 5-foot, 8-inch (1.7-metre) Puckett was known for his particularly husky build—his deceptive speed and power led him to win six Gold Glove Awards for his defensive ability. His .329 batting average and league-leading 210 hits in 1992 made him attractive to other teams when his contract expired, but his happiness with the Twins and his family’s love of Minneapolis led him to remain with Minnesota instead of accepting a more lucrative contract elsewhere.

Puckett led the league in RBIs in 1994 with 112. His season ended prematurely in 1995 when a fastball struck his face and shattered his jaw. Though he recovered and went to spring training in 1996, he woke up on the last day of camp unable to see out of his right eye and was soon diagnosed with glaucoma. Despite several surgeries, doctors could not improve his vision, and the 36-year-old announced his retirement in July of that year. His work to raise awareness about glaucoma and his continued dedication to children’s charities led him to be given the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award in 1996.

Puckett later became an executive vice president with the Twins. He resigned in 2002 amid several scandals, including being charged with sexual assault, for which he was tried and acquitted in 2003. The 10-time All-Star was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. He died at age 45 following a stroke.