Kirby Puckett was one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball history.
His path to the Majors was not an easy one. He was raised in the Robert Taylor Homes, a project on Chicago’s south side, and played college baseball at Triton Community College. Though built more like a football player, Puckett would go on to have a career batting average of .318 with over 2,300 hits.
He played his entire Major League career with the Minnesota Twins. A 10-time all-star, he led the Twins to two World Series wins. And there might have been more if Puckett had not been forced to retire at the age of 36 due to vision loss associated with glaucoma.
We remember Puckett on his 60th birthday, March 14, with highlights from his baseball career.
1. 1991 World Series, Game 6: Puckett makes the catch
Some call it the greatest World Series in history: three of the games went into extra innings, and five games were decided by just one run. Puckett and the Twins would defeat the Atlanta Braves 4 games to 3 and win the championship.
With the Braves up 3 games to 2, game 6 was a must-win at home for the Twins. And Puckett showed he was not just a hitter — he could also play great defense. Puckett made a leaping catch at the fence and robbed the Braves’ Ron Gant of a home run.
2. 1991 World Series, Game 6, 11th Inning: Puckett hits a home run
In that same exciting must-win game for the Twins in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series, Puckett hit a game-winning walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning. When he did, announcer Jack Buck made the famous call, “And We’ll See You Tomorrow Night!” A statue celebrating Puckett’s home run stands outside of gate 34 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
3. August 1987: Puckett goes 6/6 at bat including two home runs
Puckett had an all-time fantastic game on Aug. 30, 1987 against the Milwaukee Brewers. He went a perfect 6 for 6 at the plate with two home runs.
4. 1987 World Series: Puckett hits .357 en route to championship
Puckett helped the Twins upset the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series in 1987. The Twins at the time had the worst regular season record ever for World Series champs. Puckett led them to victory hitting an incredible .357 at the plate as the Twins won 4 games to 3.
5. 1989: Puckett is No. 1 hitter in the American League
In 1989, Puckett won the league batting title with an average of .339. He was first in hits, and second in singles and doubles.
6. Puckett hits 1,000 mark
Puckett was the fourth player in MLB history to get to 1,000 hits in his first five seasons.
7. Puckett inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
Puckett was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.
8. Puckett’s biggest fan: David Ortiz
Kirby Puckett was a hero to future Hall of Famer David Ortiz. Ortiz became a Puckett fan when he and his dad watched the Twins win the 1991 World Series. Later, when Ortiz signed with the Red Sox, he asked for number 34 on his uniform — just like Puckett.
