Loss of a Boyhood Idol

Hall of Famer, Rod Carew, said it best:

"This is a sad day for all of baseball and even harder for those of us who are fortunate enough to be a friend of Harmon's," as he was traveling from Hawaii to California. "Harmon Killebrew is a gem. I can never thank him enough for all I learned from him. He is a consummate professional who treats everyone from the brashest of rookies to the groundskeepers to the ushers in the stadium with the utmost of respect. I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for Harmon Killebrew. He is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word."

Number 3 of the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins will forever be remembered by this young boy for all the thrills I got from watching him hit some majestic home runs. To this day only Babe Ruth has had more 40 home run seasons than Killerbrew. What's more important than any feast he accomplished in baseball was what he accomplished as a man. He was a true Hall-of-Famer on and off the field.

This from pitcher Jim Kaat; "I think he's the main reason the Twins have a reputation for being a gentlemanly organization. I think it all started with him."

Pitcher Jack Morris said, "Harmon is so many things to so many people here in Minnesota, but to me he was my boyhood idol. Everybody wanted to be Harmon Killebrew when they were a little kid. But he was an even a better person once I got to know him."

Simon and Garfukel would ask in song, "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio," and now I say, "Thank you, Mr. Killerbrew, for all the wonderful memories." You did it with raw power and not with the help of today's 'performance enhancing drugs.'