Harmon Killebrew
1936 – 2011
Harmon Clayton Killebrew, an iconic Minnesota Twin known for his prodigious home runs and humble demeanor, passed away Tuesday morning at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home at the age of 74 after a nearly five-month battle with esophageal cancer.
I’m sure it’s urban myth, but a favorite back home is the story of a reporter speaking with Killer during the height of the steroids controversy. The young man asked Killebrew how many home runs he could hit if he were playing today? Killebrew kinda looked past the reporter, pondered the question for a second, sighed and said, “Well, I think I could hit 15, probably a few more if I was lucky.”
“15!?!”, responded the reporter? “Only 15? Are the pitchers that tough today? You just don’t think you could hit ’em?”
Killer kinda grinned at the reporter “Son, theyre no tougher today than when I was YOUR age. But you have to know, I’m 65!”
Damn!
RIP Mr. Killebrew