Post by The Hammer on Mar 5, 2006 17:50:58 GMT -5
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/03/05/puckett.stroke/index.html?cnn=yes
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Former Minnesota Twins great Kirby Puckett had a stroke at his Arizona home Sunday and was taken to a hospital for surgery, the team announced from its spring training camp.
The 44-year-old Puckett, who led Minnesota to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991 and is a member of the Hall of Fame, was taken to a Scottsdale hospital.
"The Minnesota Twins and major league baseball ask fans to keep Kirby and his family in their thoughts and prayers," the team said in a statement.
Perhaps the most popular player in franchise history, Puckett played his entire career with the Twins (1984-95).
Despite having his career cut short by irreversible retina damage to his right eye, Puckett was inducted to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.
Fun-loving as a player, the 5-6, 190-pound Puckett was a lifetime .318 hitter with 207 home runs and 1,085 RBI. He retired as the Twins' all-time leader in hits (2,304), doubles (414), total bases (3,453), at-bats (7,244) and runs (1,071).
Puckett, 46, was selected to 10 consecutive All-Star Games from 1986-95 and won six Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger Awards.
Puckett announced his retirement in July 1996 due to the eye injury and had his number 34 formally retired by the team in May 1997.
Also one of baseball's great community leaders, Puckett won the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year award in 1996.
© 2006 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Former Minnesota Twins great Kirby Puckett had a stroke at his Arizona home Sunday and was taken to a hospital for surgery, the team announced from its spring training camp.
The 44-year-old Puckett, who led Minnesota to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991 and is a member of the Hall of Fame, was taken to a Scottsdale hospital.
"The Minnesota Twins and major league baseball ask fans to keep Kirby and his family in their thoughts and prayers," the team said in a statement.
Perhaps the most popular player in franchise history, Puckett played his entire career with the Twins (1984-95).
Despite having his career cut short by irreversible retina damage to his right eye, Puckett was inducted to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.
Fun-loving as a player, the 5-6, 190-pound Puckett was a lifetime .318 hitter with 207 home runs and 1,085 RBI. He retired as the Twins' all-time leader in hits (2,304), doubles (414), total bases (3,453), at-bats (7,244) and runs (1,071).
Puckett, 46, was selected to 10 consecutive All-Star Games from 1986-95 and won six Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger Awards.
Puckett announced his retirement in July 1996 due to the eye injury and had his number 34 formally retired by the team in May 1997.
Also one of baseball's great community leaders, Puckett won the Roberto Clemente Man of the Year award in 1996.
© 2006 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
