Harmon Killebrew

Date of Birth: June 29, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: May 17, 2011

Biography

Harmon Clayton Killebrew, born on June 29, 1936, in Payette, Idaho, was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals. Known for his prodigious home run power, Killebrew earned the nickname “The Killer” and was one of the most feared sluggers of his era. Over his career, he amassed 573 home runs, leading the American League six times in that category. He was an 11-time All-Star and won the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 1969. Killebrew was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. After retiring from baseball, he became a successful businessman and philanthropist, contributing significantly to various charitable causes. Harmon Killebrew passed away on May 17, 2011, from esophageal cancer.

5 Interesting Facts about Harmon Killebrew

1. Harmon Killebrew hit 573 home runs during his MLB career, placing him among the top home run hitters of all time.

2. Killebrew was known for his incredible strength and once hit a home run that traveled 522 feet, one of the longest in MLB history.

3. He played for the Washington Senators from 1954 to 1960 and then moved with the team to Minnesota, where they became the Minnesota Twins.

4. Killebrew was the first Minnesota Twin to have his number (No. 3) retired by the team.

5. He was known for his gentlemanly conduct on and off the field, and his sportsmanship was widely praised by teammates and competitors alike.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harmon Killebrew

1. “My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass.’ ‘We’re not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We’re raising boys.’”

2. “I didn’t have evil intentions, but I guess I did have power.”

3. “The only time I really think about being a Hall of Famer is when people ask me about it.”

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. “The beautiful thing about baseball is that every once in a while, you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.”