Harmon Killebrew RIP

[HouWarrior]

   As a child in Edina, I'd get my older brother to pitch to me in the extreme corner of our big backyard, off Minehaha Creek. I of course, had to be Harmon Killebrew. I'd stretch my front leg out, and toe into the pitch, trying to hit it with all I could. My brother would finally quit pitching when all the balls were driven over the fence/bushes of our neighbors yard, and I'd have to go fetch them. I didnt care, as I floated in the moment of imagining I was Harmon Killebrew, and my brothers anger with me was simply the frustation all pitchers faced when facing the likes of Harmon Killebrew, my first and best sports hero.

  In spring,  my dad got us tickets to a Twins/Tigers game-- my first ballgame, ever. It was a cool drizzly night, and Camilo Pascual shut down the Tigers all night..but the Twinkies bats were quiet too. Tied 0-0 going into the eighth, my mom wanted us to head for home and bed-it was a school night. Dad explained that the top of the order was coming up and we should stay. I knew what that meant. Harmon was due up. With one crack of the bat he hit a towering 500 foot shot over right center... Twins won 1-0. The best night of my life, to that point. Why not? Tony Oliva, Zoilo Versailles, and Bob Allison were good, but only my hero, Harmon Killebrew, could hit a baseball as far as the moon.
Thanks to him I love everything about sports. He was a man worthy of a young boy's admiration, a heroic sportsman, and a very nice, good person.

My First Boyhood Hero died today--Rest in peace.

In the ESPN article, today, It was fun to see that Paul Molitor, who was also my age, growing up over in St. Paul, tracked the same path of Harmon hero worship.  The difference must have been Paul had an older brother who was willing to keep pitching to him, and get better(and that Paul actually had talent).lol

To best understand what Harmon meant to Twin Cities kids in the sixties, please read ESPNs tribute piece, below:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=6549955

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Pretty funny article here about Harm trying to hit a ball 600 ft. across the Mississippi vs. Sandy Koufax in 1985.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/122036779.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#

[HouWarrior]

Pretty funny article here about Harm trying to hit a ball 600 ft. across the Mississippi vs. Sandy Koufax in 1985.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/122036779.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#

Wow 1985--he retired in 1975, and had tailed off pretty badly, even before that.
This reminds me of my great uncle Ed, a retired Danish baker, born in the old country, who scoffed, late in his career, that:

"Awww, dat darn Keeleebrews, uf he dant hitta homa, he dant effen git to tha first base no more"

[Jay Bee]

houwarrior - did you attend high school in the Twin Cities?

I was still in diapers when Killer retired (of course I was for awhile in college as well - if Depends counts... crypto got me good, bro), but I remember him being around at functions in the mid-to-late 80s.  I always thought of him and Twig as grandpa-like... super friendly guy.  As I recall, he didn't seem to be a huge
guy...

[ChicosBailBonds]

RIP....one of the first serious collectible baseball cards I bought 20+ years ago when I was into that hobby.  Looking forward to passing that collection down to my son.  Will probably pull out Herm tonight to show him that card.

[HouWarrior]

houwarrior - did you attend high school in the Twin Cities?

I was still in diapers when Killer retired (of course I was for awhile in college as well - if Depends counts... crypto got me good, bro), but I remember him being around at functions in the mid-to-late 80s.  I always thought of him and Twig as grandpa-like... super friendly guy.  As I recall, he didn't seem to be a huge
guy...

No, HS (went to HS in Milw.), as  we moved to Madison, when I was in third grade.

Yes, Harmon wasnt tall. Listed at 6 foot, he was likely closer to 5' 9-10", but with a very strong upper body, and stocky legs. He swang from his heels, and toed into the ball, getting his full body weight behind every swing, thereby generating inordinate power for his size. Rumor had it, it was his swing profile used in the MLB logo(like Jerry West is for the NBA).
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/081118

I'd like to think it was.

If you get the chance ESPN classic still airs the old black and white show, Home Run Derby, and you'll see the way the older power hitters generated homers (Killebrew, Frank Howard, Willie McCovey, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, etc.)

[HouWarrior]

BTW, here is a logo for sure done from  Killebrew photos...which even shows, in the middle, his famous toeing into the ball, and weight shift into the impact--his key to the power.

Its for the MLB players alumni Assn.

[HouWarrior]

Harmon's memorial Service, at Target Field:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6OthWqZR4E&feature=related

...including Tony Oliva's son accompanying Jim Mudcat Grant singing, Harmon's favorite song..."Its a Wonderful World":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu8iu4xTDMU&NR=1

I cried.