harmon killebrew family tree

Eugene Faris Killebrew in FamilySearch Family Tree Eugene Killebrew in 1940 United States Federal Census Eugene Faris Killebrew in BillionGraves Eugene F Killebrew in MyHeritage family trees (Shaw Web Site) Eugene F. Killebrew in MyHeritage family trees (Whaley Web Site) view all Immediate Family Ann M. Killebrew wife Katherine Pearl Killebrew [70] He spent most of the season's first half continuing his success, and found Baltimore's Brooks Robinson rivalling him for the third base spot during the All-Star voting process; the two were neck-and-neck throughout. June 29, 1936 Idaho. [57] The baseball season proved unsuccessful for Killebrew, whose batting average barely passed .200 most of the year; after a strong start, he hit below .200 in both May and June and his average stood at .204 with 13 home runs going into the all-star break. It was one of the longest home runs I ever hit. WASHINGTON SENATORS Walter Johnson Harmon Killebrew Christmas tree ornament baseball xmas figure unique gift idea mlb record 110 shutouts Santasportsornaments. Having to win only once to clinch the pennant, Killebrew hit a home run in the first game and recorded two hits in each game, but Boston won twice and Minnesota finished in a second place tie with the Detroit Tigers. On Tuesday, esophageal cancer claimed the life of. Lelands expects the top bid to be in the $50,000 range. [30][40] Killebrew finished the season with a .258 batting average, 45 home runs, and 96 RBI, and led the league in home runs and slugging percentage (.555). The. [86], Killebrew was first eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1981 and received 239 votes, or 59.6% of the vote; 75% of the vote is required for induction. Following his retirement, Killebrew was a television broadcaster for the Twins at WCCO-TV from 1976 to 1978, the Oakland Athletics from 1979 to 1982, the California Angels in 1983 and back with Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. [100] On May 24, 1964, Harmon hit the longest measured homer at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, 471 feet (144m) to deep left center. Killebrew was named to both 1961 All-Star games. Born in Payette, Idaho, Harmon Killebrew was youngest of four children to Harmon Clayton, Sr. and Katherine Pearl (May) Killebrew. On July 11, the day before the All-Star break, defending AL champion Yankees had a one-run lead over the Twins going into the bottom of the 9th inning, but Killebrew hit a two-run home run for the win. [33] Killebrew moved to left field, where he started off the season slowly. GK252. [85] In March 1976, he formally announced his retirement and stated that he would become an announcer and color commentator for Twins games. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Minnesota Twins, Killebrew was a prolific power hitter who, at the time of his retirement, had the fourth-most home runs in major league history. Joe Orlando - May 5, 2000. Killebrew finished the season with 38 games played in Indianapolis and 86 in Chattanooga, where he hit .308 with 17 home runs. "[2], On December 29, 2010, Killebrew announced that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and started treatment. Harmon Killebrew was a baseball legend for his exploits on the field alone. Killebrew founded the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament in 1977 with former Idaho congressman Ralph Harding, which is played annually in late August in Sun Valley, Idaho, and has donated more than $8.6 million to leukemia and cancer research. To honor Killebrew, the Twins wore their 1961 throwback alternate jerseys at home for the remainder of the 2011 season; he was also honored by the Washington Nationals, who hung a jersey with Killebrew's name and number 3 in their home dugout. [85] In March 1976, he formally announced his retirement and said he would become an announcer and color commentator for Twins games. [39] On September 21, Killebrew hit three home runs in a game for the only time in his career in the first game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. Making his major league debut four days after signing and six days from his 18th birthday (becoming the youngest active player in the majors at the time), Killebrew was called on to run for Clyde Vollmer, who had drawn a bases loaded walk off of Chicago White Sox starter Jack Harshman while pinch hitting for Senators reliever Chuck Stobbs. [73], Killebrew reached 40 home runs in a season for the final time in 1970 and also made his last appearance in the postseason. The 11-time All-Star was the American League's Most Valuable Player . [29] He responded by hitting 46 home runs, breaking the franchise record he had tied two years earlier. Baseball Hall of Fame (1984) Most Valuable Player (1969) Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1984) 1x MVP 13x All-Star. The saga of Harmon Killebrew's red chair. Killebrew, the affable, big-swinging Hall of Famer whose tape-measure home runs made him the cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins, died Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after. killebrew - Ancestry.com All Census & Voter Lists results for killebrew 1-20 of 12,270 Browse by collection To get better results, add more information such as First Name, Birth Info, Death Info and Location even a guess will help. Even so, he was selected as the starting first baseman in the All-Star Game and Killebrew stated that, owing to his poor start, he was "surprised" and "embarrassed" by the selection. Despite not making the team, Killebrew's home run total continued to climb, and by the end of July he had Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle career marks in his sights; he went on to pass both in August. [8] With 28 home runs by mid-season, he started the first 1959 All-Star Game and was a reserve in the second. Killebrew's efforts were rewarded in 1963 when he agreed to a contract for about $40,000 ($286,936 today). He chose to be released, ending his 21-season tenure with the Twins. [12][66] As of 2021, Killebrew's home run, RBI, and walk totals from 1969 remain team records,[15] and his 145 walks are tied for the 20th highest single season total in MLB history and 7th highest for a right-handed batter. [12][34] On July 18 in a game against the Cleveland Indians, Killebrew and Bob Allison became the first teammates since 1890 to hit grand slams in the same inning as the Twins scored 11 runs in the first. In his first two seasons, Killebrew struck out 34 times in only 93 at bats, contributing to a .215 batting average with four home runs. [36] Killebrew's 48 home runs also broke the franchise record for the second year in a row. Following his death, the Twins released a statement: "No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins Territory than Harmon Killebrew. In 1965, he played in the World Series with the Twins, who lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Griffith traded the 32-year-old Eddie Yost to the Detroit Tigers on December 6, 1958, and Killebrew became the starting third baseman. At the time, the injury was considered career-threatening, but after missing about six weeks, he returned to limited action in September. Birth of Harmon Clayton Killebrew, Jr. Payette, Payette County, Idaho, United States. He hit number 499 more than a month later and finally hit number 500 off a Mike Cuellar slow curveball in the first inning of an August 10 home game; at the time, he was the 10th player in history to hit 500 home runs. A year and one day after making his major league debut, Killebrew hit his first major league home run on June 24, 1955 in the 5th inning off Detroit Tigers starter Billy Hoeft, five days shy of his 19th birthday. In addition, he had a career-high seven triples, tying for the team lead, and led his team in runs, total bases and walks. [61] Baltimore avoided Killebrew by walking him six times in the three games to avoid pitching to him, which was as many times as they walked the rest of the Twins team. And he never did this to get help on close plays, as some players do. [68], After his MVP season, Killebrew signed a new contract with the Twins worth $90,000 ($627,995 today). Starting in 1954, he amassed career totals of 1,283 runs scored, 2,086 hits, 573 home runs, 1,584. In 1982, Killebrew received 59.3% of the vote, taking a backseat to Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, who made it in their first year of eligibility. I didnt know whether to believe him or not. Harmon Killebrew: The Kansas City Royal On January 24, 1975, eight days after being released by the Twins, Killebrew signed a one-year $125,000 contract with the Kansas City Royals. He had reportedly gained his strength by lifting 95-pound milk cans while working on his father's farm. When I came to the plate, he said, 'Kid, we're going to throw you a fastball.' Associated PressThis April 12 file photo shows former Minnesota Twins baseball player and Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew getting a hug from current Twins player Michael Cuddyer (5) in the dugout . I'd call a tough strike on him and he would turn around and say approvingly, "Good call." Baltimore avoided Killebrew by walking him six times in the three games to avoid pitching to him, which was as many times as they walked the rest of the Twins team. [8] He made his major league debut four days after signing and six days from his 18th birthday (becoming the youngest active player in the majors at the time), running for pinch-hitter Clyde Vollmer, who had been hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by Chicago White Sox starter Jack Harshman. [108] He moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1990, where he chaired the Harmon Killebrew Foundation, which he created in 1998. [12] Killebrew hit his 498th home run on June 22, 1971, but a sprained right toe made his run to milestone number 500 a slow one. [81] In his honor, the Twins held Harmon Killebrew Day in August, when it was announced that they would retire his number; Killebrew responded by leading the Twins to a 54 victory over the Orioles. [22] Killebrew finished the season with 42 home runs to tie for the American League lead; it also tied the Senators' single-season record set by his teammate Roy Sievers two years earlier. Said former Washington Senators player, manager and coach Ossie Bluege: "He hit line drives that put the opposition in jeopardy. "He's one of the greatest of all time. During his return to Minnesota in early May, the Twins formally retired his No. MINNEAPOLIS Harmon Killebrew, the affable, big-swinging Hall of Famer whose tape-measure home runs made him the cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins and perhaps the most popular player in the team's 51-year history, died Tuesday after battling esophageal cancer. Research genealogy for Harmon Clayton Killebrew of Nebo, Pike, Illinois, as well as other members of the Killebrew family, on Ancestry. Killebrew was involved in a Boise, Idaho insurance and securities business. The Twins were again swept, though Killebrew's performance improved as he hit two home runs in three games. The Twins again faced Powell and the Orioles in the 1970 American League Championship Series, a rematch of the previous season. Killebrew's journey to Cooperstown, N.Y., began in Payette on June 29, 1936. With quick hands and exceptional upper body strength, Killebrew was known for both the frequency and distance of his homers. He continued his success through the second half of the year, and at season's end Killebrew had hit 41 home runs with 113 RBIs and finished third in MVP voting behind teammate Tony Oliva and Baltimore's Boog Powell, who won the award. Killebrew is the model for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, an organization which Killebrew helped found in 1982. [44] Elected to play first base on his fifth All-Star team, Killebrew became the first player in All-Star game history to be elected at three different positions, having previously been selected to play third base (1959 and 1961) and left field (1963 and 1964). . His father, a painter and sheriff, was a member of an undefeated Millikin College football team who was later named an All-American under eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Greasy Neale. Minnesota was shut out in three games and the Dodgers won the series in seven.[51]. 3 jersey. He was a bruising fullback at West Virginia Wesleyan University. ", Ron Luciano, Umpire Strikes Back, page 59, Harmon Killebrew's red bleacher seat showing where his 520-foot (160 m) home run was hit, overlooking the flume ride at the MOA's Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington, Minnesota.Killebrew was known for his quick hands and exceptional upper-body strength, demonstrated by several "tape measure" home runs that he hit in the prime of his career. Killebrew Canyon at Heavenly Mountain Resort is also named after Killebrew, who skied the resort's outer limits after his retirement from baseball. Harmon Killebrew Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Leftfielder Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-0 , 195lb (183cm, 88kg) Born: June 29, 1936 in Payette, ID us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame MVP 13x All-Star 25 12 3 3 3 3 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. [45], Killebrew drove in the tying or winning run seven times in 1965 before suffering an injury on August 2. [55] Killebrew finished the season with a .269 batting average and 113 RBIs, tied AL Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski with 44 home runs, and led the league with 131 walks. Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out the detail of Harmon Killebrew in your family tree. [12] In the 1965 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Killebrew and Zoilo Versalles led the Twins with .286 batting averages, and Killebrew hit a home run off Don Drysdale in Game 4. [44] On July 5, Killebrew set a career-high with six RBIs in a game against the Oakland Athletics. retrieved. (Photo by Louis Requena/MLB Photos) Harmon Killebrew, surrounded by family . Harmon Killebrew, a Hall of Fame baseball slugger with the old Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins whose brute strength enabled him to hit more home runs in . Sievers was not jealous, but plenty of players, making peanuts in '54 . The man hit 573 major league home runs and no umpire ever swung a bat for him. Slugger hit 573 home runs during his 22-year career, the 11th-most in major league history. His wife, Nita, and family were with him . He did not play in the second game, but in the first game, he hit a pinch hit home run in the sixth inning. Over the course of the season, Killebrew hit 48 home runs, 126 RBIs, and had 107 walks, all career highs at the time. [61][62], After enduring seven months of rehabilitation for his injury, Killebrew remained in pain but rebounded to have his best season in 1969. 1949), American academic, 10th President of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi On June 12, 1961, Killebrew had the only five-hit game of his career in a losing effort by the Twins. Elaine Killebrew (born Roberts) Elaine Killebrew married Harmon Clayton Killebrew on month day 1955, at marriage place, Idaho. As I crossed the plate, House said, 'Thats the last time I ever tell you what pitch is coming'.". Along with being a beautiful card, its price is also budget friendly. May 17, 2011. FREE shipping Add to Favorites Harmon Killebrew Repurposed Baseball Glove Leather Wallet, Minimalist Leather Wallet, Horween, Minnesota Twins . Asked once what hobbies he had, Killebrew replied, "Just washing the dishes, I guess.". Culver was the grandfather of Harmon Killebrew, Jr., a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Clay Killebrew son Thomas Killebrew son About Culver Killebrew According to family legend, Culver was the strongest man in the Union Army, winning every available heavyweight wrestling championship. After the season ended, Killebrew took part in a home run hitting contest with Jim Gentile and Roger Maris, whose 61 home runs that year broke the single-season record; Killebrew hit 20 to win the contest. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harmon Killebrew (18836531)? He said of it, "Frank House was the catcher. He's one of the greatest of all time." Harmon Killebrew was regarded as one of the most feared sluggers of the 1960s. Harmon Killebrew, the Legend of the Killer. This MLB logo sure looks like Harmon Killebrew! imported from Wikimedia project. 29 June 1936. Tennessee had the highest population of Killebrew families in 1840. Harmon was born June 29, 1936, the fifth child of Katherine Pearl May Killebrew and Clayton Killebrew, Sr. in a house in Payette, ID. [56], In April 1968 Killebrew served as a prosecution witness in a case where his name was being used to fraudulently sell stocks in Idaho. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Harmon Killebrew, the affable, big-swinging Hall of Famer whose tape-measure home runs made him the cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins and perhaps the most popular player in the team's 51-year history, died Tuesday after battling esophageal cancer. In the All-Star Game itself, he stretched for a ball while playing first base and slipped on the Astrodome turf, rupturing his left medial hamstring. On August 3, 1962, he was the first batter ever to hit a baseball over the left field roof at Tiger Stadium, a seldom-reached target as contrasted with the old ballpark's smaller right field area. Not only is he a great player, but he's a great individual. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. [16][18] Killebrew spent most of the 1957 season with the Southern Association's Chattanooga Lookouts, where he hit a league-high 29 home runs with 101 RBIs and was named to the All-Star Game. Born and raised in Payette, Idaho, Killebrew was youngest of four children of Harmon Clayton Sr. and Katherine Pearl (May) Killebrew. [8] Killebrew also had defensive difficulties at third base, where he played behind veteran Eddie Yost. Killebrew was known as an all-around gentleman during his playing career. For other people of the same surname, see, Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball, List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders, List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders, List of Major League Baseball home run records, "Harmon Killebrew, Twins' Hall of Fame Slugger, Dies at 74", "June 23, 1954, Senators at White Sox Box Score and Play by Play", "June 24, 1955, Tigers at Senators Play by Play and Box Score", "Minnesota Twins Retired numbers3: Harmon Killebrew", "The 1956 WAS A Regular Season Batting Log for Harmon Killebrew", "Harmon Killebrew Minor League Statistics & History", "Baltimore Orioles at Minnesota Twins Box Score, July 30, 1964", "July 11, 1961 All-Star Game Play-By-Play", "Killebrew Puts Maris In Shade In Homer Derby", "The 1962 MIN A Batting Splits for Harmon Killebrew", "Minnesota Twins 14, Cleveland Indians 3", "1962 American League Expanded Leaderboards", "Minnesota Twins 13, Boston Red Sox 4 (1)", "Killebrew was 'Paul Bunyan with a uniform on', "The 1965 MIN A Regular Season Batting Log for Harmon Killebrew", "Harmon Killebrew Off to Slow Start in Home Run Department", "Killebrew Testifies at Boise Fraud Trial Year", "The 1968 MIN A Batting Splits for Harmon Killebrew", "The 1968 MIN A Regular Season Batting Log for Harmon Killebrew", "Minnesota Twins 16, Oakland Athletics 4", "1969 Minnesota Twins Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics", "Single-Season Leaders & Records for Bases on Balls", "1969 AL Championship SeriesBAL vs. MIN", "1970 AL Championship SeriesBAL vs. MIN", "Health of Killebrew, Oliva Keys To Twins Chances in AL West", "Surgery Sidelines Harmon Killebrew For Six Weeks", "Harmon Killebrew Still Has His Big Moments", "Harmon Killebrew Retires, Broadcasting Career Next", "Harmon Killebrew dies at 74; Hall of Famer was one of baseball's premier home-run hitters", "Career Leaders & Records for Bases on Balls", "Players by birthplace: Idaho Baseball Stats and Info", "Legend of MLB logo: Designer Says Not Killebrew", "Harmon Killebrew: The Minnesota Twins say goodbye to a legend", "Baseball Hall of FameFrick VotingRetired Broadcasters", "Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament", "Twins great Harmon Killebrew diagnosed with cancer", "Twins' vintage jerseys will honor Killebrew", "Nationals, Twins pay tribute to Harmon Killebrew", "Harmon C. Killebrew Jr.: 29 Jun 1936 - 17 May 2011", "Quotes about the death of Twins great Harmon Killebrew", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harmon_Killebrew&oldid=1136759811, June 23,1954,for theWashington Senators, September 26,1975,for theKansas City Royals, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 00:10. [89], Killebrew hit 573 home runs (12th all time), drove in 1,584 RBIs and had 1,559 (15th all time) bases on balls during his career. When I came to the plate, he said, 'Kid, were going to throw you a fastball.' In his career, Killebrew hit 573 home runs, which as of 2011 is currently 11th all-time, 1,584 RBIs, 1,559 walks, which is currently 15th all-time, and he easily holds the all-time home run record among players born in the state of Idaho with 573; Vance Law is second with 71. He spent most of the season's first half continuing his success, and found Baltimore's Brooks Robinson rivalling him for the third base spot during the All-Star voting process; the two were neck-and-neck throughout. The Twins said Killebrew passed away peacefully at his home . "[88] In 1984, Killebrew received 83.1% of the vote and was elected to the Hall in his fourth year of eligibility, joining Luis Aparicio and Don Drysdale as electees.[87]. (CBS/AP) The death of beloved baseball great Harmon Killebrew has saddened the sports world and cast a spotlight on a rare and deadly disease. Browse 14 harmon killebrew family stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Obituaries; Obituaries; Memorial Trees; Funeral Homes; Resources; Blog; Sign In. In that game, Killebrew hit a home run against his former teammates and received a standing ovation from the crowd. He also finished with the record of having the most plate appearances (9,831) in his career without a sacrifice hit (since broken by Frank Thomas with 10,074 plate appearances). He finished the season with a .222 batting average, 13 home runs, and 54 RBIs. [1] Killebrew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Killebrew finished the season with 42 home runs to tie for the American League lead; it also tied the Senator's single-season record set by his teammate Roy Sievers two years earlier. English Wikipedia. With regard to long distance home runs, Killebrew was ranked as the ninth most powerful hitter ever by Bill Jenkinson (see above). He was carried from the field by a stretcher. Twins' President David St. Peter, Star Tribune. [27] After the 1960 season, the Senators moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Twins. This logo was created in 1968! [102] On June 3, 1967, Killebrew hit a 520-foot (158m) home run, the longest measured home run ever hit at Metropolitan Stadium and, as of 2022, the longest in Twins history. "[66] He was even noted as being kind to the umpires: The Killer was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball history, but he was also one of the nicest people ever to play the game. Killebrew said his first home run in the Majors was his favorite, coming off Billy Hoeft at Griffith Stadium. In 1999, he was ranked 69th on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players[93] and nominated as a finalist for Major League Baseball's All-Century Team. He was once asked in an interview what hobbies he had, to which he replied, "Just washing the dishes, I guess." Having to win only once to clinch the pennant, Killebrew hit a home run in the first game and recorded two hits in each game, but Boston won twice and Minnesota finished in a second place tie with the Detroit Tigers. On May 29, after being forced into action when regular second baseman Pete Runnels was injured early in the game, Killebrew hit two home runs in the game, including only the second ball ever hit over a wire barrier in Memorial Stadium's center field. [31] After the season ended, Killebrew took part in a home run hitting contest with Jim Gentile and Roger Maris, whose 61 home runs that year broke the single-season record; Killebrew hit 20 to win the contest. The Dowling Family Tree with over half a million relatives,contains thousands of pictures and over four thousand GeneaStars.We are all related! Killebrew appeared in his last All-Star Game in 1971, hitting a two-run home run off Ferguson Jenkins to provide the margin of victory for the AL. On June 3, 1967, Killebrew hit a 520-foot (160 m) home run, the longest measured home run ever hit at Metropolitan Stadium and, as of 2011, the longest in Twins history. Harmon will long be remembered as one of the most prolific home run hitters in the history of the game and the leader of a group of players who helped lay the foundation for the long-term success of the Twins franchise and Major League Baseball in the Upper Midwest. [54] The Twins, led by Killebrew, were in the pennant race throughout the season, and had a one-game lead as the final two games of the season began against the Boston Red Sox. A month later, the injury had not cleared up, and he underwent surgery to remove some torn cartilage; he did not return to the lineup until mid-September. He used a wheelchair for some time post-surgery. The Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, and Killebrew hit 190 homers in his first four seasons there, including 49 in 1964. Houston: Harmon Killebrew, first baseman for the American League's Minnesota Twins, is removed from the dugout to the clubhouse on a cart after he. [94] When the Twins moved to Target Field in 2010, Gate 3 on the southeast (center field) side of the stadium was named in his honor. Friends, family and representatives from the Twins organization gathered at Christ's Church of the Valley in Peoria, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix. Although 1959 proved his breakout season, he was ineligible for the Rookie of the Year Award because of his previous sparse experience. [5][8] Griffith told his farm director Ossie Bluege about the tip and Bluege flew to Idaho to watch Killebrew play. Instead, the award went to teammate Bob Allison.[24]. [71] He continued his success through the second half of the year, and at season's end had hit 41 home runs with 113 RBIs and finished third in MVP voting behind teammate and runner-up Tony Oliva and Baltimore's Boog Powell. Died. [12], On January 24, 1975, eight days after getting his release from the Twins, Killebrew signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. In March, he had surgery for nasal irritation,[25] and a recurring hamstring injury caused him to miss most of May. May 17, 2011, 12:00 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. Killebrew's 48 home runs also broke the franchise record for the second year in a row. The ball landed in the far reaches of the bleachers. Do-Hyoung Park. Calvin Griffith took over the Senators after his uncle Clark Griffith died in 1955, and decided Killebrew was ready to become the Senators' regular third baseman. Only three others accomplished this feat during the next 37 seasons before the stadium closed. [12] In December 1974, he was given the option of staying with the Twins as a coach and batting instructor, managing the AAA Tacoma Twins, or being released. date of birth. MINNEAPOLIS - Harmon Killebrew, the Minnesota Twins slugger known for his tape-measure home runs, has died at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after battling esophageal cancer. Despite his nicknames and style of play, Killebrew was considered by his colleagues to be a quiet, kind man. Killebrew's 573 home runs ranks him #2 all-time in the A.L. By December 1990, his health had improved and he married Nita Patten. Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr. (/klbru/; June 29, 1936 May 17, 2011), nicknamed "The Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. 9 October 2017. stated in. [23] Not all his stats were positive; Killebrew's batting average dropped from .288 in 1961 to .243 and he struck out a career-worst 142 times, leading the AL.