One of the Greatest

Baseball used to be the heart beat of the nation. The game was not played for money, it was not played for fame, it was not played for endoresement deals and BMW's . . . it was played for love. There is a romanticism in the heart of all baseball fans that used to drive the game. Grown men still watch Field of Dreams for the 72nd time and get tears in thier eyes. There used to be a beauty about the game that fans held closely. We did not tolerate lazy ballplayers insulting the great game by jogging out a routine groundball or letting a catchable linedrive fall for a single. We did not tolerate anyone who showed the game the slightest disrespect.

Something happend 30 years ago, baseball started losing its soul. Futures and money became the primary reason to play the game. The number of endoresement deals slowly became more important than the number of hits you had. Steroids began rearing it ugly head as a replacement for effort. Running out a groundball only meant that you might pull a hamstring. The soul of baseball, the beauty, the romanticism, the blue collar aspect of the game began to erode. Players became selfish, not caring about the communities they played in, but instead chasing the all mighty dollar. Fans lost touch with thier local teams and began following the great players. Baseball seemed all but lost.

Kirby Puckett never became one of the standard, garden variety ball players. Kirby loved the game, he played the game the way it was supposed to be played, he played the game as if it were still the national pastime. He was a torch bearer that illuminated the greatness of baseball in an ever darkening era. He ran out every groundball no matter what the score was, no matter how many games the Twins were out of first. He chased down fly balls that most centerfielders today would assume were uncatchable. He made leaps that defyed gravity, he hit balls over fences in the most clutch of situations, he ran the bases aggressively without regard for pulling hammies, . . . he played the game like he was 12 years old. His smile lit up an otherwise gloomy domed staduim, the mere mention of his first name made a staduim erput and rise to its feet no matter what the score was. Kirby represented everything that was great about baseball, the hitting mastery, the fielding wizardry, and most importantly . . . he was the soul of the game at a time when it was more important to look good than to play good.

Kirby never played for anyone but the Twins. He remained loyal to the community that loved him so much. Kirby Puckett was the Twins. In an era where great ballplayers jetted off to wealthier teams in nicer locations following the money, Puckett stayed in Minnesota. Ask any Twins fan who was the greatest centerfield to play the game and the name Puckett will be dropped more than Cobb. My father and a few uncles were all Twins fans, and when I was growing up that is all you ever heard . . . Pucket did this, Puckett did that, did you see that catch Puckett made, Puckett, Puckett, Puckett. Kirby was more than just a ballplayer to Twins fans, he was the spirit of "Field of Dreams", he represented the love of the game, he was the reason why kids played little league and the cause of many school yard fights over who got to wear number 34. Kirby was the reason to love baseball.

Baseball's health began declining in the mid 70's, men like Kirby Puckett tried like hell to keep the original spirit of the game alive. Baseball's heart kept ticking because of players like Puckett, and it went into cardiac arrest the day he had to quit. The heart and soul of baseball has barely been sputtering since his retirement, we have lost the beauty of the game without him. He was the last of the greats that deserved our applause. Puckett was the last player to play the game like it is supposed to be played. The last sports star that should ever be called a role model. He was an inspiration for millions, not because of his skill but because of his hustle. . . the true spirit of the game. With Kirby's death, baseball not only loses a Hall of Famer, but it also loses the last man to play the game right.

Thank you Kirby for being the standard by which the game should be played, thank you for keeping baseball's soul alive.

Kirby Puckett, he gave the gift of baseball to one last generation.

All-Star Games : 1986-1995
Gold Gloves : 1986-1989, 1991-1992
Silver Sluggers (OF) : 1986-1989, 1992, 1994

Complete Kirby Puckett stats http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/puckeki01.shtml