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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2357158

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kirby Puckett died Monday, a day after the Hall of Fame outfielder had a stroke at his Arizona home, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 44.

Puckett died at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Kimberly Lodge said. He had been in intensive care since having surgery at another hospital following his stroke Sunday morning.

It's funny, even though he retired years ago, the one time I went to Twins games while in MN for the IAs, I kinda thought about him being there on the field. You can't think of the Twins of the past without thinking of him.

I grew up watching "Twins Win" over and over again. The image of Kirby rounding first base in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series will stick in my mind always... arguably one of the greatest walk off home runs of all time. I'm sure that Brandon Carlson will chime in with the call from that home run.

A tough loss for baseball...

Kirby Puckett was truly a classy baseball player, and he will be missed dearly by most of us especially the fans of Minnesota Twins.

"And we'll see you...TOMORROW NIGHT!" Words immortalized in Minnesota (and I believe baseball) history. Puckett rounding first in game six in 91, walk off homer, man did it get any better. And slamming off the glass in left field in one of his signature leaping grabs. Call me hopelessly nastalgic, but I will never forget that, in spite of his legal troubles. If I didn't think emoticons were really stupid I would insert the sad one here.

I got to meet Puck once when I was out to eat in Minneapolis for my birthday; I haven't met many (or any) really big-named athletes, and was really suprised at how cool and nice he was to a little kid just out celebrating his birthday. May he rest in peace..

I remember watching the NBC Game 0f The Week back in '87, when Bob Costas bet Kirby Puckett that if he was hitting .300 by the All-Star Break, Costas would name his soon-to-be-born child after him.

Puckett, on the field, was great. The WS in '91 was the greatest WS of my lifetime. I know that there were some issues later in his life, but that does not take away from the player he was and what he means to the Twins organisation. R.I.P. #34!

A few years ago, I got to meet Keith Kirby Costas and Kirby Puckett at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

I pulled the old box of Wheaties out of the closet to honor Puck today. Rest in peace Kirby...

Please see this story my buddy wrote for the AP and I think you will feel my feelings as I grew up with Puckett and for most of us in our 20's and 30's in Minnesota he did a good job of putting them in words Really touching.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/b ... irby.0892/