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Souhan: An era passes with a graceful giant

Article by: JIM SOUHAN , Star Tribune
Updated: May 18, 2011 - 10:29 AM

Call him an Everyman. Call him a gentleman. But Harmon Killebrew lived up to the lofty expectations thrust on stars in baseball's golden age.

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longtimefanMay. 17, 11 9:17 PM

Thanks Jim. Thanks Harmon. Baseball was why the newspaper was invented, or did the newspaper invent the game to keep us reading? It doesn't matter. Harmon was one giant reason we came to the park. Oh Harmon, thanks for the memories. We will see ya in heaven with those towering home runs.

slmitchellMay. 17, 11 9:20 PM

So long Harmon. You were the absolute best! Say Hi to Herb Carneal, Earl Battey, Cesar Tovar and a couple other that evade me right now. You've gone to a better place but will be remembered here as the nicest man I ever met, the greatest Twin and among the all-time greatest players in the game. RIP my friend.

tmack24May. 18, 11 1:58 AM

Great column, the previous entries here summed it up very well, I will only add that we will miss him as an athlete, hero, and role model. He did everything the right way. May he rest in peace.

BrHarmonMay. 18, 11 9:18 AM

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in Anaheim on the day Rod Carew got his 3,000th hit against the Minnesota Twins. I believe he hit it off Frank Viola. I was watching the game on TV that day. The announcers were Bob Kurtz and Harmon Killebrew. After Carew got the hit, they stopped the game and did the usual festivities after such a landmark. Kurtz was doing all the talking about it on the air. After about 5 minutes, Kurtz gently announced that he was doing all the talking because Harmon was too overcome with emotion to contribute - he was crying. I took two things away from that incident that showed what a wonderful human being Harmon Killebrew was. The first and most obvious was the depth of emotion that he felt for his friend and former teammate. But I also sensed that Kurtz felt comfortable relaying what Harmon was feeling because he knew that Harmon was comfortable with the world knowing how he felt and what a gentle soul he truly was. A truly amazing man...

marcus100254May. 18, 1110:24 AM

Good column Jimmy....

jimbogopherMay. 18, 1112:28 PM

Thank you, Jim. Well-written in honor of a well-deserving man.

slundberMay. 18, 1112:59 PM

Thanks, Jim. What a great honor it is for each man - Harmon & Brooks - to be compared to the other. They were both the best, on and off the field.

rednusMay. 18, 11 2:07 PM

Mr. Souhan, I ALWAYS love reading your column. This one was exceptional. R.I.P. Killer!

HenryRhettMay. 18, 11 2:43 PM

2 things people forget: 1) He was a great CLUTCH hitter; and 2) He played in a pitcher's era exceeded only by the pre-1920's "dead-ball" era. So if he had played in any other era he easily would have hit 700 homers and averaged over .280. You put that together with the fact he was a great teammate and could play multiple positions, and he was one of the 10 greatest (most valuable to his team) players of all time.

jjaymzMay. 18, 11 5:59 PM

My boyhood hero. Never met him, but he was the reason I became a Twins fan. "Speak softly and carry a "Big Stick." Jim

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Souhan: An era passes with a graceful giant

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