Hey Wait A Minute
Just as I am waxing philosophical about the past, one of youth’s role models goes and dies. Nothing tells you you are getting older like people from your generation dying. But I say this with tongue in cheek - I do not really put the “facing aging” thing in front of a life lost. I do not know what exactly Kirby Puckett did in his later life (there were some scandals), nor do I care all that much. I do, however, remember being a little kid, new to sports (unlike many boys my age), suddenly finding a touchstone to talk with people about: “He climbed that plexiglass!” I, of course, refer to the unbelievable (and now classic) footage of Puckett chasing down a fly ball and leaping to a seemingly impossbile height to snatch the dang thing out of the air. Wikipedia (personally, I welcome our new referential overloads):
The World Series which followed is considered by many to be the most exciting ever. Both the Twins and their opponent, the Atlanta Braves, had finished last in their respective divisions in the year before winning their league pennant, something that had never been done before. Going into Game 6, the Twins trailed three games to two and had to win to stay alive. Puckett helped to hold off a late Atlanta rally with a leaping catch off the outfield wall that stole a sure double by Ron Gant. The game went into extra innings, and in the first at-bat of the bottom of the 11th, Puckett hit a dramatic walk-off home run off Charlie Leibrandt to keep his team alive. This dramatic game has been widely remembered as the high point in Puckett’s career.
Dan: kirby puckett died
Alex: what the
Alex: garbage
Alex: i’m going back to get him
Alex: the role models from our youth can’t die
Dan: i agree
Dan: to all of the above
We will miss you, Kirby Puckett. Your spirit will live on in future role models and history-makers.
Comments
Dan McKeown
Thanks for making a second post today Alex, I think it was well done. Kirby Puckett was one of my childhood heroes and it really breaks my heart that he has died, especially so suddenly. Perhaps we could post a favorite memory or two (if you have one) of #34? Just throwing that out there if I may be so bold.
Markoe
He'll always be "Dirty Bucket" to me.
Shayla
I named my first barbie doll Kirby Puckett. Not even kidding.
Mykala
I sat in his lap when I was four… that somehow is not even close to being as cool as naming a barbie after him. Dangit.
Nils
Sweet Jesus, I can't believe that Puckett is dead. I have to credit TubleDry for informing me, though. I have been out on a ski trip for a week and couldn't see any US news, so I am not sure if it garnered much national attention, but regardless I wouldn't have found out if it wasn't for this awesome website. That said, I will always remember hearing Puckett's name being yelled over the PA at the 1990's Twins games that I attended frequently when I was younger. "Kirbyyyyyy PUCKEEEEETTTT!!!"
Shayla
Mykala - sitting on his lap is WAY cooler than having a barbie named after him… You actually were in contact with him… I was only in contact with a barbie named after him…