Everyone's Favorite Baseball Player

I remember that night, in early June of 2010, when Junior announced his retirement. It was very unexpected (to say the least), and I wrote about it then, because I like to write my way through emotions. Now I'm not sure what else I have to say, but I still have these emotions...

Kirby Puckett has been my favorite baseball player since I could even have a favorite baseball player. Same goes for most kids born and raised in Minnesota at that time. Don't believe me? Go ask Joe Mauer who his favorite player is. But anyway... ever since I could have a second favorite baseball player, my second favorite baseball player was Ken Griffey Jr.

He was just too damn cool. The backwards hat. That smile. The swing.

I know I'm not alone by any means. There are Orioles fans whose favorite player is Cal Ripken Jr. ("But I loved Griffey"). Padres fans whose favorite player was Tony Gwynn ("But I loved Griffey"). Braves fans whose favorite player was... one of any number of players ("But I loved Griffey"). Cardinals fans whose favorite player was Mark McGwire ("But Griffey was awesome"). Giants fans whose favorite player was Barry.... ok, you get the point.

In the spring of 2011 I was at my Dad's house in Arizona with my older brother, and we were watching the Arizona D-Backs pre-game show on TV. One of the features was a kid interviewing their star, Justin Upton. The kid asked him, "Who was your favorite player growing up?" and before Justin answered I said, "Ken Griffey Jr." And then Justin said "Ken Griffey Jr." My brother was astounded. "How did you know that?"

It was just one of those moments where you smile, sigh, and shake your head.

Congratulations, Junior, on your Hall of Fame induction, everything you went through to get there, and getting there with the highest percentage of votes of any National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee ever.

"Hip Hop Hooray" on repeat at the ballpark right now. #JrHOF #ILoveSafecoField pic.twitter.com/b6nO6tfkxO

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) January 7, 2016

(P.S. - And I will never, ever, EVER forget this.)

10 More Videos...

For the first time this season, the Twins have lost three in a row.

But I like to be optimistic over here at Kirby's Left Eye. So here are 10 more videos to entertain the Twins fan.

#1 Metrodome Time-lapse




#2 Joe Mauer Gets Sprayed with Champagne, Doesn't Care




#3 Bert Blyleven: Dick's Shirt




#4 Justin Morneau Opening Day 2007: MVP




#5 Cool Jobs: Twins Organist




#6 3-year-old Wins Game 163 with his Lucky Hat




#7 年11月13日 東京ドーム




#8 Justin Morneau and His Childhood Dream to Win the Stanley Cup




#9 Happy Birthday Orlando Hudson




#10 ESPN: Joe Mauer (and his Mom) Open Fan Mail

10 Videos to Give Twins Fans the Warm Fuzzies

With the disappointing loss to the Detroit Tigers today, I thought I’d try to send out some good vibes.

Here are ten videos sure to give the Twins Fan the warm fuzzies:

#1- Loose Cannon #1 brings home Loose Cannon #2, Game 163 (Turn your volume on max for the best experience!)




#2 1991 Twins Dancing (with Tony Oliva)




#3 Al Newman Twins' Commercial: "YOU GOTTA GO! GO! GO! GO!"




#4 1991 Twins Coming Home Celebration on the Runway




#5 Blowing Out of the Metrodome




#6 Johan Santana wins bet, gets shout-out; shaves Bert Blyleven's Head.





#7 Jacque Jones: Already Home





#8 1991 Minnesota Twins Music Video: "One thing's certain about the Minnesota Twins, win or lose: they are one loose bunch of cool customers."




#9 Joe Mauer: "I made it really clear when we started this process: This is where I want to be. . . ."





#10 Take Me Out to the Twins Game


Tomorrow is a new series! Go Twins!

Thoughts on Target Field and 2010

Around 13 years ago, my father—an architect—gave me this picture for my birthday:

(Click to Enlarge)

He presumably got the picture at some meeting concerning a new stadium for the Twins. These days, though, I find it more interesting than ever: this stadium has the Mississippi in the background, not downtown Minneapolis. What is that walkway behind center field? (A bike path? Part of the stadium?) The Northwest Advertisement is amusing, and the jumbro-tron looks downright puny. Even then, there was no roof, not even a trace of a retractable one. And it sure looks full of happy people--they got that right!

Of course, the picture was only incidental to the real present, which was on the back:

(Click to Enlarge)

It's amazing what the future brings. Even as a big fan of the Metrodome, I can say Target Field is a dream come true. Sure, I'll never get to be in the Hormel Row of Fame, but now I do get to watch the field as I wait in line for innings to get my Tony O Cuban Sandwhich! Really though, I'd be pinching myself if it weren't for Kirby's conspicuous absence.

We all miss Kirby--but I also remind myself: things could have been very different. I found, in what is purportedly Kirby’s last interview—with KMOJ 98.9, on January 30th, 2006—the following:

Larry Fitzgerald: Do you think the Twins will get a new stadium anytime soon?
Kirby Puckett: Not in my lifetime.

Less than two months later Kirby was gone; and less than two months after that, the Twins were slated to receive a new stadium.