Harmon Killebrew

Date of Birth: June 29, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: May 17, 2011

Biography

Harmon Clayton Killebrew, nicknamed “The Killer” and “Hammerin’ Harmon,” was an American professional baseball player noted for his prolific home run hitting. Born on June 29, 1936, Killebrew played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily for the Minnesota Twins. Over his 22-year career, which spanned from 1954 to 1975, he earned a reputation as one of the most powerful hitters in the history of the sport. Killebrew was a 13-time All-Star and the American League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1969. He hit over 40 home runs in a season eight times and led the league six times. His 573 career home runs were the most by any right-handed batter in the American League until surpassed by Alex Rodriguez in 2009. Killebrew was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was known not just for his on-field achievements but also for his humility and sportsmanship.

5 Interesting Facts about Harmon Killebrew

1. Harmon Killebrew was known for his immense power and hit a 520-foot home run, one of the longest in history, at Metropolitan Stadium in 1967.

2. Killebrew’s silhouette is rumored to be the model for the Major League Baseball logo.

3. He finished his career with 573 home runs, ranking him 12th on the all-time home run list as of 2023.

4. Killebrew was one of the first players to hit a home run in four different decades.

5. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2000.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harmon Killebrew

1. “The only real way to earn respect is to play well and be humble.”

2. “I didn’t think much about home runs. I just wanted to hit the ball hard.”

3. “People who say that baseball’s a boring game are usually people who don’t understand the game.”

4. “I found out early in life that I could hit a baseball farther than most players and that’s what I tried to do.”

5. “My father used to say, ‘Don’t worry about the children. Just hit the ball.’

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Harmon Killebrew’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.2 million. Adjusting for inflation, this would be significantly higher in today’s dollars.