MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kirby Puckett, the bubbly, barrel-shaped Hall of Famer who carried the Minnesota Twins to two World Series titles before his career was cut short by glaucoma, died Monday after a stroke. He was 45.

Puckett, whose weight gain in recent years concerned those close to him, was stricken early Sunday at his Arizona home. He died at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

"He was a Hall of Famer in every sense of the term," commissioner Bud Selig said. "He played his entire career with the Twins and was an icon in Minnesota. But he was revered throughout the country and will be remembered wherever the game is played. Kirby was taken from us much too soon -- and too quickly."

More here http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ao7nky4buCWi6DSPRU.tSpMRvLYF?slug=ap-obit-puckett&prov=ap&type=lgns

This floored me when I read it, felt like someone had taken a part of my past and tore it away, I used to collect baseball cards as a kid and have a few of his cards.

One hell of a player all around great guy he will be missed

RIP Bro!:(

wow how sad he was so young..that's scary

How sad and what a shock - I just heard yesterday that he had a stroke and to die at such a young age:( ...I really enjoyed watching him play.

I was going to post something similar. Glad to see you did & that the love for him is so far reaching. He was a great player & a great man.
All of Minnesota first felt the loss when his career was suddenly cut short. Now we have a hole in our hearts, left by his passing. :broken: :cry: As great as other players are, none could ever come close to the energy he brought to the game. I'm sure the Twins &/or the league will do something to honor him this coming season. His number is already retired & has a street named after him in front of the Metrodome in Minneapolis. So I'm not sure what they will do. But I know it will be special.
He was big into childrens charities, especially those involving baseball & would probably want well wishers to donate in his name.

"The respect for Puckett can been seen by the tributes that are already beginning. Rather than broadcast the Twins' Spring Training game against the Yankees in Tampa on Monday, WCCO radio will air a commercial-free tribute to Puckett from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. CT."

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/tributes/obit_kirby_puckett.jsp

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d161/LadySlipper76/misskirbycolor.gif

:cry: R.I.P. Twins # 34 :cry:

:( :( :( so sad....

We all love the puck

Just heard yesterday, that if the Twins get a new ballpark it will be named after Kirby. What a special honor for him & well deserved!:cool:

Did yall know he was also blind in one eye from glacouma? I didn't until I read a full report on him, I still have some of his baseball cards!