Touch 'em all, Kirby.

[Dr. Neau]

 

[indypoker]

I just heard about it....

[TimmyP]

The reason I had season tickets for ten years.

[NLHEfanatic]

 

Kirby, you will be missed, but never forgotten.

 

[Pops28]

My Twins flag is at half mast. Kirby your the man.

[HanahanStan©]

A class act all the way. You'll be missed Kirby and this from a Braves fan. 

[austin5string]

Back in the day, I hated the Twins and I hated Kirby Puckett, but always had the utmost respect for him.  Truly a sad loss for the sport.

[Fireman Dan]

I too am a huge Kirby fan and have missed watching him since he left the game.  He handled his eye condition with class (something a lot of current players could learn from).  And from what I can tell, Tori Hunter (a fellow Arkansan I'm proud to say) is keeping up the tradition both in center field and off the field as well.

"Kirby back to the wall......oh my!"

[Dr. Neau]

Of course, the radio around here has been nothing but Kirby tributes all day long.

Two different stations played an audio of something I had forgotten.  Letterman's Top Ten list from May 9th, 1997 (after Kirby had retired)...

Top Ten Ways to Mispronounce Kirby Puckett (Kirby came out on stage to pronounce these, and it was hilarious):

10. Kooby Pickett

9. Creepy Pockets

8. Bernie Crumpet

7. Turkey Bucket

6. Buddy Hackett

5. The Puckett Formerly Known as Kirby

4. Punky Brewster

3. Kent Hrbek

2. There once was a man from Nantucket who Kirbied his very own Puckett

1. Englepuck Kirbydink

[Jaxen]

Child of the '80s here ... Kirby, Schmitty, Donnie Baseball, Dale Murphy, Boggs and Gwynn winnin' batting titles ... and on the hill we had Fernando, Jack Morris, Roger the Rocket and the Nolan Ryan Express, with Willie Hernandez coming on to close it out.

I think I just summed up baseball in the 80s.

Kirby Puckett ... averaged 204 hits a year his first ten years. Better than DiMaggio. But dude was clutch ... Game 6 of '91 World Series ... game-saving 9th inning catch against the wall, then in the bottom of the 11th ...

...Puckett swings and a drive to left center field, back goes Smith ... and we'll see you tomorrow night! -- Jack Buck's call on CBS

[urnotstr8]

Yes a great man whos carrer ended too early because of his eye. Will be missed

[austin5string]

I think I just summed up baseball in the 80s.

Ahh, baseball in the '80s.. back when it was still about the game..  I miss that..

[Dr. Neau]

A class act all the way. You'll be missed Kirby and this from a Braves fan. 

You could argue that the play of the series was Hrbek's wrestling move...

[HellmuthJr.]

RIP

[Yankee]

The world has just lost a great wife beater.  2304 hits, 965 strikeouts, .318 batting average, 6 gold gloves, 10 time all-star. 

[HanahanStan©]

Yeah dr I gotta agree that was pretty good series. Yankee as a southern man I now recall why we only allow you to visit our fair cities and beachs

[Yankee]

Hanahan Stan, as a conservative I realize why the south lost the war with their selective memory.

[Dr. Neau]

The world has just lost a great wife beater.

I don't know what went on in the Puckett household.

What I do know is that when a marriage breaks down..and especially when children are involved...people do and say things that they wouldn't normally do.

I also know that Tonya has gotten past what happened in their marriage...and wishes everyone else would too.

Tonya Puckett said Tuesday that it's been difficult for her and family members to hear the media and public rehash the low points in their relationship.

"I know that I've made peace with Kirby," she said. "I really have. And for me, that came a long time ago. I can tell you that I've never loved a man like I loved him," she said through tears Tuesday.

I'll admit that my opinion of Kirby took a sharp downturn after all that came out a few years back.

At the same time, all of the stories I'm hearing now make it clear that he was the most kind, humble and generous professional atheletes that the state (and probably the country) will ever know.

[Yankee]

I understand what you are saying good doctor.  But just because some say don't worry about what he did doesn't mean it didn't happen.  He was a good baseball player.  It's unfortionate that he made some horrible desisions off the field.

[NLHEfanatic]

The problem with the media and athletes is that the are always quick to report the negative, but they never report the follow up/retraction when they are found not guilty.

Yes, his wife made allegations that Kirby was abusing her at the time of their divorce.  He was never charged for these allegations.

Yes, he was arrested and tried for dragging a women into a bathroom and groping her.  He was found not guilty.

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty.

[Nanook]

I am a child of the 80s and early 90s.  I feel like I lost a bit of childhood this week. 

I caught a bit of ESPN radio and think they are the biggest bunch of jerks that sat in front of a mic.  They only talked about the post retirement stuff.  He made mistakes but if you met him on the streets he was the nicest guy you wanted to run into.  Kirby was the model of how any game should be played.  Play as hard as you can but have fun doing it.  He will be missed.

[Dragggon13]

I remember once back in the day when I was a kid collecting baseball cards, I went to a few convetions, and I had to pay $25 bucks to get an autograph from Griffey Jr.  Later, I went to one with Kirby, and he said that he would not charge kids for autographs.  That was pretty cool.  It's not often you find that kind of generosity out there.

[Dr. Neau]

I remember once back in the day when I was a kid collecting baseball cards, I went to a few convetions, and I had to pay $25 bucks to get an autograph from Griffey Jr.  Later, I went to one with Kirby, and he said that he would not charge kids for autographs.  That was pretty cool.  It's not often you find that kind of generosity out there.

Heard something else I didn't know.  He would never take a home game off (unless injured).  His take: There were a lot of families from outstate who go to one game a year, and he didn't want kids to be disappointed that he didn't play for that one game they went to.

[Scuba Oz]

The problem with the media and athletes is that the are always quick to report the negative, but they never report the follow up/retraction when they are found not guilty.

Yes, his wife made allegations that Kirby was abusing her at the time of their divorce.  He was never charged for these allegations.

Yes, he was arrested and tried for dragging a women into a bathroom and groping her.  He was found not guilty.

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty.

No such thing with the slanted press today, they Tell You what they want you to hear and no more!!

[Wedge Rock]

I can't believe Dr. Neau hasn't called for Selig's head yet...

MLB bans Puckett uniform tributes

[austin5string]

I can't believe Dr. Neau hasn't called for Selig's head yet...

MLB bans Puckett uniform tributes

That's outrageous.. I understand wanting to keep the uniforms consistent (which is, by definition, "uniform"), but c'mon.. When it's a tiny tribute thing like that, gimme a break..

[HanahanStan©]

Selig and Stern must be twins.

[Pops28]

Just another in a long line of reasons people in Minnesota detest Bud Selig. The guy has been as bad for baseball as steroids have. It amazes me that you can't have a tiny number on your hat in respect for someone yet they allow some players to wear stirrups (traditional and classy) and others just wear the pants down over the shoes (modern and sloppy).

[Nanook]

Pops said it best.  Bud does only what is good for the owners and not what would help the game.