Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew, nicknamed "The Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Minnesota Twins, Killebrew was a prolific power hitter who, at the time of his retirement, was second only to Babe Ruth in American Leaguehome runs and was the AL career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth29 June 1936
CityPayette, ID
CountryUnited States of America
How the hell can you play here?
I always tried to watch the pitcher and his complete windup from the moment he had the ball in his glove all the way through his motion, and tried to follow it all the way out of his hand, all the way to home plate.
It takes a lot of dedication to quit smoking, and whether you give up for good on your first try or have to give it a couple of tries - just keep swinging at it and you will succeed.
When I was 14, and for the next four years, I was lifting and hauling 10-gallon milk cans full of milk. That will put muscles on you even if you're not trying.
Joe Mauer's the real deal. He is absolutely wonderful. Not only is he a great player, but he's a great human being. He's the kind of guy you'd like to see be your son.
I spent twenty-two seasons playing professional baseball. Naturally, success in that field is measured by batting averages, number of home runs and RBIs, fielding averages, ERAs and other statistics. Fame, notoriety and the bright lights fade quickly. To me, true success in life would be to develop both physically and spiritually to our fullest and to endure to the end!
I didn't have evil intentions, but I guess I did have power.
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.'
It's a mess whichever way you look at it. There would normally be big hoopla, I'm sure. The commissioner would make a big deal out of it. I just hate to see this cloud over the game.
There was a time when rival teams used a shift against me. They would put the second baseman on the shortstop's side of the bag, move the shortstop into the hole to his right, and have the third baseman hug the foul line. The idea was to build an infield wall against a known right-handed pull hitter.
We (who) played the game don't like hearing that that was done. It's difficult not having been involved with that stuff (to know) what it does, but nobody ever hit that many home runs before.
Pitchers are smart. They know they are much better off if they mix things up and keep you off-balance.
I didn't think much about batting average when I was playing.
No matter what, I've always been an optimistic person.