Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett was a beloved Hall of Fame Minnesota Twins center fielder whose career was cut short by glaucoma.

Kirby Puckett was born on March 14, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of William and Catherine Puckett's nine children, arriving 22 years after his oldest sibling. His father worked two full-time jobs, at a department store and the post office, while his mother raised the family in a cramped three-bedroom apartment in the Robert Taylor Homes, one of Chicago's largest public housing projects. With little formal coaching available, Puckett essentially taught himself to play baseball, spending countless hours practicing his hitting and throwing against the side of his building. Despite his unassuming, stocky frame — he stood just 5-foot-8 — Puckett's talent eventually carried him through junior college and Triton College before the Minnesota Twins selected him in the first round of the 1982 draft. He debuted with the Twins in 1984 and quickly became one of baseball's most beloved players, combining genuine joy for the game with elite all-around ability in center field. Puckett led the Twins to two World Series championships, in 1987 and 1991, cementing his status as a franchise icon. His signature moment came in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves: with Minnesota facing elimination, Puckett made a spectacular leaping catch against the outfield wall and then won the game with an 11th-inning walk-off home run, prompting broadcaster Jack Buck's iconic call, "And we'll see you tomorrow night!" The Twins won the deciding Game 7 the following evening, in what many regard as the greatest World Series ever played. Puckett's career was cut tragically short in 1996, at age 35, when he woke up one morning unable to see out of his right eye — the result of glaucoma that led to permanent vision loss and forced his immediate retirement, still near the height of his abilities. He finished with a .318 career batting average, 2,304 hits, and ten All-Star selections across just 12 seasons. Puckett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, his first year of eligibility, and the Twins retired his No. 34. He died on March 6, 2006, at age 45, following a stroke, and remains one of the most cherished figures in Minnesota sports history.

Aggressive hitter, excellent fielder, clutch performer in big moments

Hall of Fame center fielder, beloved Twins icon who helped bring two championships to Minnesota

• HOF 2001
• 10x All-Star
• 6x Gold Glove
• 6x Silver Slugger
• 2x World Series champion (1987, 1991)
• AL batting title 1989