Harmon Killebrew has announced he is going to give up his fight against esophageal cancer and will enter a hospice. He authored a wonderful and dignified goodbye statement that reflects the man he is. In it he continues to try and benefit others by his praise of hospices. He could have ended his last days in privacy, which I think he would have preferred, but he sought to encourage others in the use of hospices. I’m sure that future terminal patients will take Harmon’s words to heart.
Many have praised Harmon and his life, but I think Joe Nathan said it best: "Hopefully we can honor what he’s done in the game and outside the game, and I hope he can continue to fight a little longer and especially be comfortable right now and at peace."
I regret that I never had the opportunity to say hello to Harmon. I’m sure he would have treated me as well as he did all others who approached him. And although I never met him I feel a certain closeness to Killebrew. I have been his fan since 1961 when the Twins moved to Minnesota. Harmon was the face of the franchise and as he went, so did the team. I’ll never forget listening to the radio, (probably Ray Scott), on a hot summer night in 1965. Our Twins were playing the New York Yankees. It was midway through the season and the Yankees with Mickey Mantle were the team to beat. The Twins were trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth with one on and two out when Killebrew came to bat. Killer hit a long home run with a three-ball, two-strike count. The Twins won the game and eventually the pennant. Killebrew’s home run was the turning point of the pennant race.
In keeping with baseball’s tradition of handing down the love of the game from generation to generation, their grandmother and grandfather once took our boys to see the Twins and Killebrew play. He was seeking his 500th home run. Killebrew was a little past his prime and home runs were not coming as easily as they once had. On that summer day at Met Stadium with grandma and grandpa and their two grandsons watching, Harmon Killebrew hit his 500th and 501st home runs. What a thrill for everyone concerned, including Harmon.
The last time I saw Harmon Killebrew was at a Twinsfest. I’m sorry now that I didn’t stop and get his autograph, but he looked tired and I know Swede and I were bushed.
Killebrew was not a perfect baseball player. He was slow afoot and during the years he played left field he had worn a patch in the grass where he usually stood. But while he wasn’t fleet, he had good hands and if he could get to a ball he caught it. But fielding was not why Killebrew was a fan favorite. It was because of his ability at the plate.
Not that we didn’t get mad at Killebrew from time to time, for he was human and would on occasion not perform up to our expectations. But he came through most of the time. And like a favorite uncle that the family might grouse about, we forgave Harmon any shortcomings. And we might complain once in a while, but we were quick to defend Harmon against any outsider putting him down. He was our Harmon and in the end could do little wrong.
But perhaps the meaningful legacy Harmon will be leaving is the kind of man he is. Often times when a star retires, fans forget about him. Not so with Harmon Killebrew. As time went on he became more and more loved. I along with thousands and thousands of others know that at the end, God will hold Harmon in the light.
