Harmon Killebrew

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Harmon Clayton Killebrew (born June 29, 1936 in Payette, Idaho) is a former Major League Baseball player and member of the Hall of Fame. He was famous for his ability to hit home runs, primarily during the 1960s.

Killebrew was an all-state quarterback at Payette High School when Washington Senators scout Ossie Bluege saw him playing in an impromptu baseball game in 1954. After seeing Killebrew's raw power, Bluege reported back to the Senators who immediately signed him up to a $30,000 contract. Because of his large bonus, Killebrew was a bonus baby. Because of the Bonus Rule, he was immediately added to the big league roster in 1954 at the age of 18. He played only small parts for five seasons, bouncing back and forth between the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts and Washington. While Killebrew was in Chattanooga, he became the only player to hit a home run over the 471-foot deep center field wall at Engel Stadium. He finally made it into the regular lineup in 1959, and hit 42 homers. The Senators became the Minnesota Twins in 1961.

Harmon Killebrew is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame

Killebrew was a stocky 5 ft 11 in, 210 pounds (95 kg) hitter with a short, compact swing that generated tremendous power. Killebrew became one of the American League's most feared power hitters of the 1960s, belting 40 homers in a season eight times. In 1965 he helped the Twins reach the World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Killebrew had his finest season in 1969, hitting 49 home runs, driving in 140 RBI's, and winning the MVP Award. Killebrew led the league in home runs six times, in RBI three times, and was named to eleven All Star teams. As a result, he was nicknamed "Killer" - a portmanteau linking the first 5 letters of his last name with his legendary hitting ability.

On June 3, 1967, Killebrew blasted the longest home run ever hit at the Twins' Metropolitan Stadium, a shot that landed in the second deck of the bleachers, and four years later on August 10, 1971, he hit his 500th career home run, also at The Met.

Despite his "Killer" nickname and his powerful style of play, Killebrew was in fact a quiet, kind man who was not much given to the partying lifestyle enjoyed by his peers. Asked once what he liked to do for fun, Killebrew replied, "Well, I like to wash dishes, I guess."

Injuries reduced his effectiveness in the early 1970s, and after a one-year stint with the Kansas City Royals he chose to retire. Killebrew hit 573 home runs in his career (eighth best all time, most by an American League right-hander, and second in the AL only to Babe Ruth, as of 2005) and drove in 1,584 runs. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the first Minnesota Twin to be so honored. The street along the south side of the enormous Mall of America, the former site of the Metropolitan Stadium ("The Met"), has been named "Killebrew Drive" in honor of Harmon Killebrew. His uniform number 3 was the first to be retired by the Twins, and is only one of five Twins to have their jersey retired — Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett are the others. He is, by a wide margin, the all-time home run leader among players born in the state of Idaho.

Following his retirement, Killebrew became a successful entrepreneur in insurance, financial planning, and car sales. In 1990 he retired from business to pursue endorsement and charity work, especially in the fields of preventive and palliative health care charities and causes. Killebrew currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 1999, he was ranked 69th on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

[edit] Trivia

• Common Folklore suggests that the silhouette of Harmon Killebrew swinging a bat is the official logo of Major League Baseball(right). However, MLB.com states the following: "The MLB logo: No one player has ever been identified as the model of the 1969 Major League Baseball batter logo".
• On the list of lowest batting averages for league RBI champions, Killebrew holds both the number one spot and the number three spot. In 1962, he won the RBI title while batting just .243 – the lowest ever for an RBI champion — and, in 1971, he again led the league in RBI but hit only .254 — the third-lowest ever.
• As non-pitchers, only Killebrew, Bill Mazeroski and Rabbit Maranville have been elected into the Hall of Fame while never once batting .300 (over a full season) in their careers.
• One seat from Metropolitan Stadium was placed in the Mall of America at the exact location (including elevation) it occupied in the stadium, to commemorate a 520 foot home run hit by Killebrew on June 3, 1967.
• Killebrew has never hit 50 home runs in a single season, but did hit 49 homers in a season twice (1964, 1969).

[edit] See also

• MLB players who have hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break
• 500 home run club

[edit] External links

• Baseball Hall of Fame
• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis