TWIN TIMES — Killebrew’s Impact on Baseball Was Significant

Killebrew definitely has the statistics: 573 home runs, including eight seasons of 40 or more, and six American League home run crowns; 1,584 RBIs, including nine seasons of 100 or more; 1,559 walks, ninth on the all-time list; and over 2,000 hits.

What the statistics don’t show is that throughout his career Killebrew kept baseball alive and well in Minnesota. And he was instrumental in the Twins’ glory years between 1962-70 – which included three first-place finishes. He did it without sparking controversy, without mouthing off, without picking fights, and most often without receiving the national attention he deserved.

Sure, there were other big names on the Twins – Kaat, Oliva, Allison, and later Carew – but Killebrew was the only Twin and one of the few major leaguers who could come up to bat in a crucial situation and silence the whole crowd. Why? Because in one fabulous swing Harm could send the ball into orbit. Or he would hit one of his famous mile-high pop-ups, or as happened more than a few times, he would strike out swinging. Yet it was the very threat of his enormous power that kept fans sitting at the edge of their seats, or glued to their radios and television sets. Killebrew was simply the dominant long-ball hitter in the American League for 15 years.

He has the statistics, and he has that something extra that Cooperstown should demand: A significant impact on the game of baseball over an extended period of time. Congratulations, Harmon. You’re still my favorite.

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• Originally Published in Jan. 1984 “Twin Times” •

THIS ARTICLE FROM THE “TWIN TIMES” NEWSLETTER – OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TWIN CITIES SPORTS COLLECTORS CLUB – IS REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. IT HAS BEEN RETYPED, BUT NO CONTENT HAS BEEN CHANGED (EXCEPT FOR VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, CORRECTIONS TO ANY TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS AND THE ADDITION OF GRAPHICS). COMMENTS OR INFORMATION IN THE ARTICLE MAY BE OUT-OF-DATE.