Twins legend, Hall of Famer Killebrew dies

Mild-mannered long-distance slugger beloved in Minnesota

By Marty Noble / MLB.com | 05/17/11 11:32 AM ET

A man who wielded significant power in Washington, D.C., in the 1950s and is generally recognized as the first player to admire the parabolic trajectories of self-launched baseballs has died. Harmon Killebrew, slugger supreme, Hall of Famer and civic treasure in the Twin Cities, has joined the great majority, among whom he will stand with distinction because of achievement, friendly persuasion, unusual name and "Killer" nickname.

Killebrew succumbed to esophageal cancer Tuesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., at age 74. Diagnosis of the rare disease was made public in late December and he underwent treatment in Arizona, his adopted home state. But he began hospice care on May 13, issuing a statement that said, in part, "I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease. My illness has progressed beyond my doctors' expectation of cure."

He is the fifth Hall of Famer to pass in slightly more than a year. The passing of Robin Roberts last May has been followed by the deaths of Sparky Anderson, Bob Feller, Duke Snider and now the slugger who, until 2009, had more home runs, 573, than any right-handed hitter in American League history.

"No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins Territory than Harmon Killebrew," Twins president Dave St. Peter said. "Harmon will long be remembered as one of the most prolific home run hitters in the history of the game and the leader of a group of players who helped lay the foundation for the long-term success of the Twins franchise and Major League Baseball in the Upper Midwest."

A native of Idaho, Killebrew made his name in baseball in the nation's capital near the end of the '50s, underscored it many times in 14 summers playing for the Twins in Minnesota, wrapped up his career with one final season in Kansas City, and eventually found a permanent baseball address in Cooperstown, N.Y., among the most prominent names in the game's long history.

Harmon Clayton Killebrew was a name of distinction, to be sure. The Major Leagues has had no other player with Harmon as a first name and no other with the same surname.

Though he and fellow Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry played in different leagues until the slugger's career was winding down, Perry once referred to Killebrew as "Ma Bell" because he hit for long distance. Killer, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey and Frank Howard were the primary practitioners of the mammoth home run in the 1960s, when Killebrew won five of his six American League home run championships and a Most Valuable Player Award, played in a World Series and hit 393 home runs. No one hit more home runs in the decade.

And no one at the time lingered so long in the batter's box to admire his power-ball handiwork. Though the behavior seemed contrary to his modest personality, Killebrew is widely regarded to have been the first player to delay his home run trot in order to monitor, and perhaps admire, his launches. Reggie Jackson, Dave Parker, Rickey Henderson and Barry Bonds took it to new levels, but they were mimicking Killer.

He hit the longest measured home runs at Metropolitan Stadium and Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, and in 1962 was the first to clear the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.

He was a farm-strong man readily recognizable because of his broad shoulders, relatively short frame -- he was generously listed at 5-foot-11 -- minimal hair, and, when in uniform, his signature No. 3. He emerged as the Babe Ruth of the Midwest, hitting more career home runs than all but Ruth, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson before his retirement at the end of the 1975 season. Until Alex Rodriguez passed him in 2009, Killebrew had hit more home runs in the American League than any right-handed hitter. His single-season home run total exceeded 40 eight times in his 14 seasons as a regular; he hit 39 once.

A nomad defensive player, he is one of three players to have hit at least 100 home runs at each of three positions -- first base, third base and left field.

Killebrew's 1,584 career RBIs rank in a tie for 36th place all-time. He led the league in RBIs three times, establishing his personal high, 140, in 1969, when he won the MVP. He placed in the top five in MVP balloting in five other years.

Hall of Fame status for Killebrew appeared to be a foregone conclusion when he retired, but he wasn't elected until 1984, his fourth year of eligibility.

Killer was revered in Minneapolis and St. Paul. A street alongside the Mall of America, built on the site of Metropolitan Stadium, where the Twins played, is named Killebrew Drive. His No. 3 was the first uniform number to be retired by the Twins in 1974, the year the team released him at age 38. His congeniality and unblemished personal resume only reinforced the popularity produced by his on-field achievements. He appeared in 2,435 games during his career and never was ejected. When his cancer was announced, former Twins teammate Tony Oliva said, "I tell everybody he's too nice to be a baseball player. He's a gentleman."

Earlier platitudes of that nature once prompted Killebrew to wonder aloud: "If I am such a nice guy, how'd I get this nickname?" He did so by bashing home runs to the farthest reaches of ballparks. He was as feared as any slugger. Dave DeBusschere, who made his athletic mark in the NBA, also pitched for the White Sox in 1962-63. He abandoned baseball, he said, for one reason: "Harmon Killebrew."

DeBusschere faced Killebrew four times -- struck him out, walked him and surrendered two home runs. The 443 other batters DeBusschere faced combined for eight. "I've got a better chance against Chamberlain," DeBusschere said years later. "Wilt's a lot bigger, but Harmon might have been stronger."

Killebrew's strength came from his Idaho upbringing, from hoisting 10-gallon milk cans onto trucks. Got milk? Indeed. It may be apocryphal, but his grandfather was said to be the strongest man in the Union army. He routinely won wrestling matches.

Killer's career was undermined by frequent debilitating injuries and also by the "bonus-baby" rule in effect when he signed with the Washington Senators in 1954. Because of the rule, the Senators were obligated to carry him on their big league roster for two seasons, so Killebrew didn't immediately benefit from the everyday Minor League schooling available to lesser prospects. Though his first turn at bat came at age 17 in '54, he had merely 280 plate appearances in the big leagues by the time he began playing regularly in 1959.

He hit 42 home runs that season, tying Rocky Colavito of the Indians for the league leadership and equaling the Senators' single-season record established two years earlier by Roy Sievers. Nine of the 11 highest single-season totals in Senators-Twins history were produced by Killebrew.

Idaho senator Herman Welker is said to have alerted the Senators of Killebrew's power and prowess. The Red Sox also pursued Killebrew as an amateur, but the Senators, at that time recognized for an ability to spot offensive potential, signed the Milkman for $50,000.

Injuries, the most prominent of which occurred in the 1968 All-Star Game, were an issue for Killebrew. He was assigned to the disabled list for 55 days that summer after tearing his left hamstring while stretching for a throw at first base. He had merely 371 plate appearances, 48 following his return Sept. 1. He walked 70 times, but hit merely 17 home runs. He produced his finest season in 1969, when the Twins won the first American League West championship.

Killebrew endured financial and medical problems after retiring. He was reported to be $700,000 in debt in 1989 following a foreclosure on his home the previous year. He suffered damage to his esophagus in 1990 when his lung collapsed. He was in serious condition and required a wheelchair during his convalescence.

But his health had been considered good until the announcement of cancer in December. Killebrew is survived by his second wife, Nita, and nine children from two marriages.

I well remember watching those Twins teams of the early 60s on their visits to Cleveland Municipal. I always liked Tony Oliva.

Quite a few of those players spent time with the Tribe: Mudcat Grant, Jimmie Hall, Dick Stigman, Jim Perry, Jerry Kindall, Ted Uhlaender, Lee Stange and of course, one of my early favs, Vic Power.

Ted Uhlaender was always a welcome on a team. Especially team flights. Everyone knew that if anything happened to the pilot they could say, "Ted...Uhlaender."


(that really was a vintage joke I heard more than once on broadcasts)

RIP Harmon

Royals are speeding up the future

By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star

The future is coming faster now, and more often, one after the other and the promise of more on the way.

First we saw an absurdly young and hard-throwing group of Royals relievers that bring blazing fastballs after cartoon sliders, enough of them that brand-new rookie Everett Teaford is actually the oldest of them all.

Next we saw Eric Hosmer, the big left-handed first baseman for whom a ruggedly handsome local newspaper columnist already suggested a long-term contract and about whom a scout said the other day, “if he’s not a star, I’ll get into the furniture business.”

And tonight we see Danny Duffy, the first of a conga line of talented left-handed starting pitchers, a 96-mph fastball complementing an overhand curve and good change-up. Introducing at least eight new foot soldiers of Mission 2012 within the span of six weeks is a heck of a way to distract from a miserable stretch of big-league baseball, huh?

The message here is clear, even if it’s not quite the going-for-it-this-year bet that Royals fans probably would like.

No, the message is that the Royals are fully sold out to putting their very best team in Kansas City every day.

That’s a subtle difference, but an important one. It also tells you a whole lot about the philosophy and values of general manager Dayton Moore.

Maybe you read here my concerns with this strategy, that Moore is potentially costing millions in financial flexibility down the road. Moore steadfastly refuses to play the nickel-and-dime games with baseball’s current salary structure like some other teams.

The rules are complicated and could change in the next collective bargaining agreement — the current one expires after this season — but the gist is that the Royals may have saved eight figures of future salaries by keeping Hosmer and Duffy in the minor leagues for three or four more weeks.

My feeling is that the Royals will regret this in three or four years when (they hope) the hard decisions start to form about which of these homegrown stars they can and should afford to sign long-term or even keep until free agency.

These choices soften if the team is winning and attendance is up, but under anything like the current system the Royals aren’t likely to ever have one of baseball’s 15 biggest payrolls.

So it only makes sense for them to spend each dollar carefully, and just waiting a few more weeks on two of the system’s biggest potential stars is a laughably easy way to save money that can be spent on other players.

Moore, of course, has a different philosophy, and it’s one that will earn him respect in important circles. This is a long quote, but it’s an important window into Moore’s thinking and the Royals’ operating strategy.

“We’re trying to build a model organization here and the rest will take care of itself,” Moore says. “When you sit in people’s homes, as we did the Hosmer family and others, before we select them, and we’re very honest.

“We tell them we may not offer the most money (to sign), but it will be life-changing money, and fair. And then you lay out a vision for their son and say, ‘The only thing we ever want is to create an environment we’d want our own sons to be a part of.’

“We tell them we will do everything in our power to help them be successful and help us win. That’s it. This system is all about the players, and it should be. Whatever else happens, happens, but we can’t worry about anything other than helping these players become successful.”

In the days since my column pointing out the financial consequences of calling up Hosmer (and other) top prospects this early in the season, I’ve continued to have conversations with people involved from all sides.

And even those who disagree — and there are plenty who do — admit that it makes financial sense to delay the promotions of the best prospects.

But what Moore is betting on is that there are intangible benefits to doing it his way. The first is that he feels more secure in the organization’s motives and values. But what’s more effectual if not more important is that a whole bunch of other players notice.

Because of the timing of Hosmer’s promotion, for example, Mike Moustakas can’t wonder if he’s being held down for anything other than pure reasons.

Because of the timing of Duffy’s promotion, Mike Montgomery knows that if he commands his fastball there are real rewards that don’t have to wait for any artificial deadlines.

And even if uberagent Scott Boras is almost certain to keep his clients — including Hosmer, Moustakas, and others — from signing any long-term contract before free agency, he still “advises” many of the best amateur players every year and is now more likely to steer his guys to Kansas City.

Maybe those intangible benefits are worth more than the future payroll flexibility the Royals are giving up.

There are strong arguments on each side, but this one is undeniable:

Right now, it’s a whole lot more fun that the Royals are doing it this way.

From near perfect to on the brink: D’Backs DFA Armando Galarraga


It has been 350 days since Armando Galarraga(notes) and umpire Jim Joyce made history at Detroit's Comerica Park with the perfect game that wasn't.

Now, one league and several thousand miles after that fateful game on June 2, 2010, Galarraga is on the verge of becoming history. The luckless right-hander was designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks after Tuesday night's game.

Traded from the Detroit Tigers to Arizona for two minor league prospects in the offseason, Galarraga did not excel in the National League like D'Backs GM Kevin Towers thought he might. He's 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA over eight starts this year and had 28 strikeouts to 22 walks in 42 2/3 innings. Going back to Joyce's blown call at first on that June night, Galarraga is a combined 5-12 with a 5.09 ERA.

The D'Backs now have 10 days to trade, release or outright Galarraga to the minors. If another pitching-desperate team wants to roll the dice that he'll get his fastball location back, Arizona would be on the hook for paying his $2.3 million salary.

Despite his struggles, the 29-year-old Venezuelan apparently didn't see the writing on the wall with the D'Backs. After his losing turn on Monday, a five-inning effort that saw him allow five earned runs to the San Diego Padres, he acted shocked when a reporter suggested his job was in jeopardy.

From MLB.com:
"Why would I be worried?" he said. "Something I have to worry about it? You think I have to be worried about it? You think? We'll talk about it at the end of the season. I'm disappointed for this start. I'm not disappointed for the rest of the season. What are you talking about? Are you saying I'm going to lose my job?"

Unfortunately for Galarraga, it turned out that's exactly what Towers was going to be saying just about a day later. With Dallas Braden(notes) of the Oakland Athletics just receiving news that he won't be pitching again in 2011, it hasn't been a good week for 2010's perfect pitchers — or near perfect, as it were — who are not named Roy Halladay(notes).

I sure hope the Tribe stays away from the recently released Russell the Muscle.

The Indians actually traded Branyan to Seattle last year for last night's hero, and a SS named Diaz.

If Branyan were right handed I'd say grab him but we really don't need another left handed bat right now.

Sabathia figures to use opt-out clause to extend his contract



Yankees ace pitcher CC Sabathia alluded to the opt-out clause in his seven-year, $161 million contract the other day, suggesting that he held "hope'' that it might cause the Yankees to offer to extend his deal.

Sabathia hasn't discussed the situation at length since declining to talk about the well-known clause upon arriving in spring training -- but competing executives say they are certain that he will use it to extend his deal or leave.

One competing American League exec said it's "100 percent'' that Sabathia will let the opt-out work for him.
"It was negotiated into the deal,'' another AL exec said of the opt-out that's available to Sabathia after this season. 'It would make no sense not to take advantage of it.''

Sabathia will have a healthy $92 million and four years to go on his deal after this season, but it's also known that his friend and former Indians teammate Cliff Lee was offered $148 million over seven years by the Yankees. And Lee was 32 years old at the time, two years older than Sabathia is now, at the time of that offer.
As the execs predict, the great likelihood is that Sabathia, who is 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA, uses the opt-out. And of course, once a player opts out, anything can happen -- though folks around the team, who are unanimous in their praise for Sabathia, think he's pretty well entrenched as a Yankee. When approached on Sunday, Sabathia seemed aware of Lee's negotiations with the Yankees (though he mistakenly thought the final offer to Lee was for six years). When it was suggested to Sabathia that the Yankees would surely give him another couple years or more, he responded, "I hope so.'' To be sure, it was a brief conversation. But it was the clearest direct indication of what has been assumed -- that Sabathia will seek a deal with more years.

Sabathia -- who said he is still laying off the Cap'n Crunch in the diet that shaved 25 pounds to get him to 290 -- fooled us all the first time by acting like the Yankees were down the list of teams he targeted. When it was mentioned what a great poker face he showed last time, he said, "a few" folks did know that he had the Yankees in mind. This time, it seems clear that he would like to stay. But based on the last time, he won't necessarily stay cheap. This time, he appears to have put down roots in the New York area. He and his wife, Amber, built a beautiful, highly detailed home across the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey that has been featured in magazines. He also seems entrenched with this storied team, a star who has been a remarkably consistent force with no issues since he left Milwaukee, after pitching the Brewers into the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.

"He's the heart of this team,'' one Yankee said, indicating that he believed Sabathia would stay in New York.
The conventional wisdom is that he stays. But if he does, it will surely be with at least another two years on his deal, maybe three.

When it was mentioned what a great poker face he showed last time, he said, "a few" folks did know that he had the Yankees in mind.

Lucky for the Indians that their GM was one of the guys that knew.

Eric Wedge's Mariners have rallied in the late innings and now lead Minnesota 8-7 as the bottom of the 10th is coming.


Despite Thome's two taters with the #3 on his sleeve.


Minnie is at risk of going 15.5 out a week before Memorial Day.

And it's official. Minnesota is 15-31 and 15 1/2 games out.

http://twitter.com/#!/search/white%20sox%20rangers

Tornado warnings/watches in TX, fans and players going to an underground shelter!

Nasty injury to Posey last night, looks like an ankle version of Carlos last season.

rocky raccoon wrote:Nasty injury to Posey last night, looks like an ankle version of Carlos last season.

His agent intends to lobby MLB for rule changes on catcher's blocking to set up the intentional collision.