How Killebrew perished after 74 years

Previous Minnesota Twins All-Star Harmon Killebrew has succumbed to throat cancer. The imposing slugger from Payette, Idaho, was 74 years old. As indicated by Associated Press reports, Killebrew passed in his sleep at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home while wife Nita and loved ones were present.

Killebrew left the Mayo Clinic and entered Hospice

Monday, a statement was released by Killebrew. It said that the esophageal cancer is in advanced stages so the Mayo Clinic can no longer help. Killebrew said he would be in Hospice care until he dies. The cancer was only announced six months before.

Information on ‘The Killer’ and the game

Pitchers were never comfortable facing the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Killebrew as he swung mightily from the right-hand side of the plate. Harmon “The Killer” Killebrew had huge arms and hands. The power in his swings was something everybody wanted to see. He led the American League six times, once as a Washington Senator and five times as a Minnesota Twin, in home runs while leading the RBI only three times in his 22 year career from 1954 to 1975 where he had 573 home runs making him number 11 on the all-time list. The swing of Killebrew some believe is the silhouette on the Major League Baseball logo. This is only speculation.

“He hit line drives that put the opposition in jeopardy,” former Washington Senators scout Ossie Bluege once said. “And I don’t mean the infielders. I mean the outfielders.”

Killebrew was so soft-spoken in nature though. Fans loved this.

“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. “Killebrew’s legacy will be the class, dignity and humility he demonstrated each and every day as a Hall of Fame-quality husband, father, friend, teammate and man.”

Jeff Idelson is the Baseball Hall of Fame President. He even said, “It’s ironic that his nickname was ‘Killer,’ as he was one of the nicest, most generous individuals to ever walk the earth.”

Articles cited

Associated Press

nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/43062969/ns/sports-baseball/

Baseball Reference

baseball-reference.com/players/k/killeha01.shtml

Boston Globe

bo.st/iLkYND

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

startribune.com/sports/twins/122004519.html

‘We’re here to love and help one other,’ said Killebrew

youtube.com/watch?v=GV9oEeKhI6s