Harmon Killebrew
5/21/2011
The death of Harmon Killebrew moved me more than I would have thought. I understand that Twins fans loved him. He was the hero for most of my peers in Minneapolis. I enjoyed watching “The Harmon Killebrew Show” on TV before each game. He was a nice guy with a warm friendly personality. He never said a bad word about anyone. Harmon was a great role model for kids in Minnesota. He shaped me personally more than I would believe.
Personally, I loved Pedro “Pete” Ramos, the Twins pitcher (1961). He came from Cuba (a distant almost unthinkable place on Earth at that time). I knew he was playing for almost no money at all and couldn’t return home. Clark Griffith loved to exploit the Cubans because he literally paid them minimum wages in the 60’s (it was tragic). Pete couldn’t speak a word of English when he was a Twin. I was his greatest fan. My Father would say, “The guys got an E.R.A. over 4.0, what do you see in him?” But I loved Pete and wouldn’t miss a game he pitched. Somehow I connected with the guy. This is what sports are all about.
Oh yes, Vic Powel. I loved Vic (1962-64). He was a first baseman. He was a very colorful character. He would catch the ball at first base (without his foot on base) and touch the base with his foot a fraction of a second before the runner would step on first base. The crowd would go wild. He had his own style of play. Vic was a showman and an artist. No one ever played first base like him. He copied no one. You couldn’t predict what he might do next. The guy always had a big smile on his face. He had so much fun. Vic was a great defensive player and an average hitter. I was his greatest fan of all time. I just loved watching him play.
Tony Oliva was another hero of mine. He was an amazing baseball player. I remember the first game he played at spring training in Florida (1961). He didn’t make the team until about 1963-64. I always believed that he should have been on the 1961 team (I think I was correct). I met Tony Oliva about twenty years ago in Seattle, Washington, at a restaurant (at the time, he was a batting coach for the Twins). I told him how much I enjoyed watching him play. I couldn’t thank him enough….he was one of my childhood heros!
Rod Carew, no doubt the greatest player for the Minnesota Twins. Everyone loved watching him play. It hurt when he left Minnesota. What a great player he was. He was also a first class person in my opinion.
Harmon Killebrew played with all my heros. I deeply respect him. He was a good man and a good athlete.
Harmon….Life without you doesn’t seem right. Thanks for all the great memories. You were a “great person” and Minneapolis will never be the same without YOU! God Bless you Harmon. I will offer Mass for you and pray for you.
The death of Harmon Killebrew moved me more than I would have thought. I understand that Twins fans loved him. He was the hero for most of my peers in Minneapolis. I enjoyed watching “The Harmon Killebrew Show” on TV before each game. He was a nice guy with a warm friendly personality. He never said a bad word about anyone. Harmon was a great role model for kids in Minnesota. He shaped me personally more than I would believe.
Personally, I loved Pedro “Pete” Ramos, the Twins pitcher (1961). He came from Cuba (a distant almost unthinkable place on Earth at that time). I knew he was playing for almost no money at all and couldn’t return home. Clark Griffith loved to exploit the Cubans because he literally paid them minimum wages in the 60’s (it was tragic). Pete couldn’t speak a word of English when he was a Twin. I was his greatest fan. My Father would say, “The guys got an E.R.A. over 4.0, what do you see in him?” But I loved Pete and wouldn’t miss a game he pitched. Somehow I connected with the guy. This is what sports are all about.
Oh yes, Vic Powel. I loved Vic (1962-64). He was a first baseman. He was a very colorful character. He would catch the ball at first base (without his foot on base) and touch the base with his foot a fraction of a second before the runner would step on first base. The crowd would go wild. He had his own style of play. Vic was a showman and an artist. No one ever played first base like him. He copied no one. You couldn’t predict what he might do next. The guy always had a big smile on his face. He had so much fun. Vic was a great defensive player and an average hitter. I was his greatest fan of all time. I just loved watching him play.
Tony Oliva was another hero of mine. He was an amazing baseball player. I remember the first game he played at spring training in Florida (1961). He didn’t make the team until about 1963-64. I always believed that he should have been on the 1961 team (I think I was correct). I met Tony Oliva about twenty years ago in Seattle, Washington, at a restaurant (at the time, he was a batting coach for the Twins). I told him how much I enjoyed watching him play. I couldn’t thank him enough….he was one of my childhood heros!
Rod Carew, no doubt the greatest player for the Minnesota Twins. Everyone loved watching him play. It hurt when he left Minnesota. What a great player he was. He was also a first class person in my opinion.
Harmon Killebrew played with all my heros. I deeply respect him. He was a good man and a good athlete.
Harmon….Life without you doesn’t seem right. Thanks for all the great memories. You were a “great person” and Minneapolis will never be the same without YOU! God Bless you Harmon. I will offer Mass for you and pray for you.
Labels: Baseball "Harmon Kellebrew" hero
posted by Steve Frank at
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