Kirby Puckett
From SoSH
Kirby Puckett
| Born: | March 14, 1960 |
| Birthplace: | Chicago, Illinois |
| Height: | 5' 8" |
| Weight: | 210 lbs |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | 1982: 1st Round (3rd) by the Minnesota Twins |
| College: | Bradley University |
| High School: | Calumet High School (IL) |
| Teams: | Minnesota Twins 1984 - 1995 |
Contents |
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Overall Career
Kirby Puckett (March 14, 1960 – March 6, 2006), was a fun-loving and gregarious ball player. Puckett totaled 12 solid seasons with the Minnesota Twins. The 1982 first-round draft choice hit for power and average, batting .318 with 207 home runs. A true team leader, Puckett led the Twins to a pair of World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. The six-time Gold Glove winner was named to 10 consecutive All-Star teams from 1986 to 1995. Puckett finished among the top 10 in MVP voting seven times, only to have his career end prematurely after the 1995 season due to irreversible retina damage in his right eye.
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Awards
- Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 2001 (82.14%)
- 1991 ALCS Most Valuable Player
- 1993 All-Star Game MVP
- 1993 Branch Rickey Award
- 6-time American League Gold Glove - OF (1986-1989, 1991-1992)
- 6-time American League Silver Slugger - OF (1986-1989, 1992, 1994)
- 10-time American League All-Star (1986-1995)
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Achievements
- AL Batting Average Leader (1989)
- 2-time AL At Bats Leader (1985 & 1988)
- 4-time AL Hits Leader (1987, 1988, 1989 & 1992)
- 2-time AL Total Bases Leader (1988 & 1992)
- AL Singles Leader (1988)
- AL RBI Leader (1994)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 6 (1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994 & 1995)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1986)
- 100-RBI Seasons: 3 (1988, 1992 & 1994)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1986, 1988 & 1992)
- 200-Hit Seasons: 5 (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 & 1992)
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Trivia
- His #34 is retired by the Minnesota Twins.
- Won 2 World Series Rings with the Minnesota Twins in 1987 and 1991.
- When Kirby Puckett retired following the 1995 season, he had attained the highest career batting average (.318) for a right-handed batter since Joe DiMaggio.
- He is the inspiration for David Ortiz wearing the jersey #34
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Transactions
- January 12, 1982: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1982 amateur draft.
- October 28, 1992: Granted Free Agency.
- December 4, 1992: Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins.
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External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
- Kirby Pucket: Hall of Fame Page
- 2001 Hall of Fame Class
