Harmon Killebrew

From BR Bullpen

Harmon Clayton Killebrew (Killer)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 213 lb.

• Debut June 23, 1954
• Final Game September 26, 1975
• Born June 29, 1936 in Payette, ID USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1984

BR page

[edit] Biographical Information

Harmon Killebrew hit 573 lifetime home runs and was in the top 5 in the MVP voting six times, but nevertheless was a bit controversial as a Hall of Fame selection due to his low batting average of .256. However, he played during the second dead-ball era and drew copious walks, so his lifetime Adjusted OPS is 143, definitely in Hall of Fame range.

His #3 is retired by the Minnesota Twins.

In 1962, Harmon Killebrew set the major league record for most home runs (48) by a batter who failed to hit .250 (.243). In 1963, he set the major league record for most home runs (43) by a batter who had fewer than 100 RBI (96).

Along with Lou Gehrig, he hit 49 home runs in a season twice but was never able to hit 50 in a single season.

The seat that Killebrew hit with the longest home run at Metropolitan Stadium is suspended from the roof of the Mall of America, the former site of Met Stadium in Bloomington, MN.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 10, 1984 by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Was a television broadcaster for the Twins from 1976 to 1978 and again from 1984 to 1988.

Although Killebrew supposedly was the model for the Major League Baseball logo, MLB.com says, "No one player has ever been identified as the model of the 1969 Major League Baseball batter logo."

Quote: "If Harmon Killebrew isn't this league's #1 player, I've never seen one. He's one of the greatest of all time." Reggie Jackson, 1969.

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 11-time AL All-Star (1959, 1961 & 1963-1971)
• AL MVP (1969)
• AL On-Base Percentage Leader (1969)
• AL Slugging Percentage Leader (1963)
• 6-time AL Home Runs Leader (1959, 1962-1964, 1967 & 1969)
• 3-time AL RBI Leader (1962, 1969 & 1971)
• 4-time AL Bases on Balls Leader (1966, 1967, 1969 & 1971)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 13 (1959-1967 & 1969-1972)
• 30-Home Run Seasons: 10 (1959-1964, 1966, 1967, 1969 & 1970)
• 40-Home Run Seasons: 8 (1959, 1961-1964, 1967, 1969 & 1970)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 9 (1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967 & 1969-1971)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 2 (1967 & 1969)
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1984

AL MVP
1968	1969	1970
Denny McLain	Harmon Killebrew	Boog Powell

[edit] Related Sites