Kirby Puckett has passed away.

After suffering a stroke on Sunday March 5 2006, Kirby Pucket passed away the next day.

Kirby is one of the primary reasons I love baseball. I used to fall asleep listening to Twins games on WCCO. And, there was nothing more thrilling that hearing his name announced over the public address system in the Metrodome.

I know he wasn’t always the nicest person. He had faults like all the rest of us. However, he was always a joy to watch play the game. Kirby was a throwback player, a guy who stayed with the same team through some really lean years and some remarkable triumphs.

I hope Kirby is at peace now. I have his autograph somewhere and I need to find it. I wish I could have told him when he signed it how much fun I had watching him play.

Goodbye Kirby