Oh no, Kirby Puckett has died

This is so sad.

I'd say he's my all-time favorite baseball player (Twins fan in '87 and '91), up there with Michael Jordan for basketball and Brett Favre for football.

Vividly remember The Catch.

Winter Wonderland in downtown Minneapolis.

Damn. Only 44.




Text of Hall of Fame plaque:

A proven team leader with an ever-present smile and infectious exuberance who led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. Over 12 seasons hit for power and average, batting .318 with 414 doubles, 207 home runs. Also a prolific run producer, scored 1,071 runs and drove in 1,085 in 1,783 games. A six-time Gold Glove winner who patrolled center field with elegance and style, routinely scaling outfield walls to take away home runs. The 10-time All-Stars career ended abruptly due to irreversible retina damage in his right eye.