March 5, 200620 yr Hall of Famer Puckett suffers stroke Associated Press FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Former Minnesota Twins center fielder Kirby Puckett had surgery to relieve bleeding in the brain after suffering a stroke on Sunday, two sources familiar with the situation told the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis. The newspaper said Puckett, 44, required surgery to drain blood and relieve pressure. The Twins announced from their spring training camp that the Hall of Fame outfielder had a stroke at his Arizona home Sunday and was taken to a hospital for surgery. AP Photo The 44-year-old Puckett, who led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991, had surgery at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn, the team said, and was later moved to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. A spokeswoman at St. Joseph's confirmed that Puckett was there, but said the hospital had been asked not to release any information about his condition. "The Minnesota Twins and major league baseball ask fans to keep Kirby and his family in their thoughts and prayers," the team said in a statement. Ron Shapiro, who was Puckett's agent, said he had been in contact with Puckett's family Sunday but would not confirm his whereabouts. "We're all praying for his recovery," Shapiro said. The Twins played the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game Sunday at their spring training complex, winning 5-1. Star center fielder Torii Hunter sat out after learning of Puckett's stroke. Hunter, who is close to Puckett, took himself out the lineup, saying he "couldn't focus on anything," The Star-Tribune reported. He left the ballpark and spent the rest of the day getting updates on Puckett's condition. "I learned about this game from him," Hunter told the newspaper. "He's a guy I look to like he's an older brother. I've come up in this game just by watching what Kirby Puckett is all about." Puckett's former managers and coaches hoped for the best. "Our thoughts and our prayers are turned towards Puck in Arizona," current Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Star-Tribune. "We all heard about this before lunch and that pretty much takes away from anything you do at a ballpark. We did the best we could do today and the game was whatever ... it was a game." "The doctors said that if he has good luck, he'll be all right. You have to keep the faith," added former manager Tom Kelly, who won two World Series with Puckett. Puckett, who broke in with Minnesota in 1984, had a career batting average of .318. Glaucoma forced the Gold Glove center fielder and 10-time All-Star to retire in 1996 after 12 seasons with the Twins when he went blind in one eye. Three years ago, he was cleared of assault charges after being accused of groping a woman at a Twin Cities restaurant. He said then that he was retired and spent his time golfing, fishing and doing nothing. Puckett has maintained relationships with many people in the Twins organization. The team tried unsuccessfully to get him to come to spring training as a special instructor this year, something he hasn't done since 2002. Another former Twins great, Tony Oliva, a special instructor during spring training, said he has been worried about Puckett's weight. "The last few times I saw him, he kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger," Oliva said. "And we worried about him. I saw him about five months ago. He always tries to invite me. He says, 'Come to Arizona, and we'll play some golf.'" Puckett is divorced and has two children. Kirby Puckett, 44, dies day after suffering stroke ESPN.com news services Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett died Monday, a day after suffering a stroke at his Arizona home, a spokeswoman for St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., said. The 44-year-old Puckett, who led the Twins to two World Series titles before his career was cut short by glaucoma, was stricken Sunday morning at his Arizona home. "This is a sad day for the Minnesota Twins, Major League Baseball and baseball fans everywhere," Twins owner Carl Pohland said. "Kirby's impact on the Twins organization, state of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest is significant and goes well beyond his role in helping the Twins win two world championships."
March 5, 200620 yr Well, I bet he didn't see that coming. I guess you can only grope so many women and urinate in so many parking lots until your body says no more. Oh no wait, he is a Hall of Fame baseball player, so it's a tragedy he got his. Stupid double standard.
March 5, 200620 yr so it's a tragedy he got his. Stupid double standard. That "he got his"? What an ignorant and assanine comment.
March 5, 200620 yr Phish Phan, how many times have you been kicked out of this board? Don't you have any self respect whatsoever?
March 5, 200620 yr Phish Phan, how many times have you been kicked out of this board? Don't you have any self respect whatsoever? Apparently not.
March 5, 200620 yr Well we all knew how the guys thinks. What I did not knew was that he was a Pat Robertson fan. I mean, how does his statement differs from what Roberton said about Ariel Sharon?
March 5, 200620 yr Well, I bet he didn't see that coming. Yeah, that wasn't insensitive at all. Grow up.
March 6, 200620 yr I hope it isn't too severe and he is able to recover. Pretty scary stuff for sure.
March 6, 200620 yr Well, I bet he didn't see that coming. I guess you can only grope so many women and urinate in so many parking lots until your body says no more. Oh no wait, he is a Hall of Fame baseball player, so it's a tragedy he got his. Stupid double standard. You are a moron.
March 6, 200620 yr Here is just a bit of one article about him: Tonya gave police an account of the latest incident and laid out a pattern of violent behavior by Puckett ? although none of it recent ? over the course of their marriage, according to the police report. She told of Kirby putting a cocked gun to her head as she held their then-2-year-old daughter. She told of Kirby trying to strangle her with an electrical cord. She told of Kirby locking her in the basement. She told of Kirby using a power saw to cut through a door. Kirby denied all the allegations to police, saying they argued after Tonya threatened to keep him from seeing their two adopted children again. Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar declined to file a felony complaint because the alleged threat came on a long-distance call from Atlantic City, making it hard to prove Tonya was in imminent danger. Edina city attorney Marsh Halberg declined to file a misdemeanor complaint because Tonya waited six days to file her report and because the two participants were the only witnesses, and their stories were so conflicting. Even though the courts were out of it, the police report went public three weeks after the alleged threat. You guys can have the opinion you want of him. But when rumors hang around of him being a serial groper, harrassing women, openly cheating on his wife, having allegations of domestic violence, threatening to kill his wife and his mistress, this is not a good guy. He never was convicted of anything, then again I can think of other athletes who were never charged with anything, or never convicted of anything, but people know better. Where there is so much smoke, from so many different people, there has to be a fire somewhere. Fans build up these athletes and think of them of these great people because of what they do on the field. After he retired he could have tried to dispell the rumors surrounding him, or at least offer a counter point to interviews his ex-wife and his ex-mistress gave to news outlets, but he decided to live a secluded life in Arizona. He could have taken a job with the Twins, or done any number of things, but he decided to get out of the lime-light. Something to read into perhaps? You get out of this life what you put into it.
March 6, 200620 yr Alright, first off.... I'm not gonna say whether he did all those things or not, because we don't know. If you're gonna believe everything you read, then you're gonna come to a lot of quick judgements about a lot of people.. many of them false. I hold off on judgemtnt until I get some hard facts. Secondly, as a human being, to rejoice as you are while someone is sitting in the hospital in critical condition after suffering a heart attack is just totally heartless.
March 6, 200620 yr I hold off on judgemtnt until I get some hard facts. In Kirby's case the only thing we know for sure is that there have been all sorts of allegations and rumors around him for a while. We have the words of his ex-wife, and his ex-mistress. We also have the words and testimony of the one woman who brought him to court, but he got off for that. These are not new revelations by any stretch of the imagination, it was the cover story for SI a few years back. to rejoice So pointing out that the world is not losing some savior or great man, and pointing out this is not a tragedy is rejoicing?
March 6, 200620 yr I wish this board would lose you as a member... Wishes were made to be granted. Admin waves the ban staff. :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy
March 6, 200620 yr I wish this board would lose you as a member... Wishes were made to be granted. :lol :notworthy
March 6, 200620 yr Author I wish this board would lose you as a member... Wishes were made to be granted. I wish for the Marlins to get a new stadium. :mischief Now get to work.
March 7, 200620 yr (WCCO) Minneapolis Kirby Puckett was expected to be taken off life support sometime Monday evening, multiple sources have told WCCO-TV's Mark Rosen. Puckett has been in critical condition after suffering a stroke and undergoing surgery because of it. The 44-year-old Puckett, who led the Twins to two World Series championships before his career was cut short by glaucoma, was stricken Sunday at his Arizona home. Puckett to be taken off life support tonight terrible, terrible news
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.