Where are they now?

HARMON KILLEBREW


Harmon Killebrew was raised in the farming community of Payette, Idaho. Although he was an All-State quarterback in highschool, he chose baseball when the Washington Senators were impressed enough with his power to offer 17-year-old Harmon a startling $30,000 package in 1953. He got the minimum $6,000 salary and a yearly bonus of $4,000. That meant he sat on the bench as a "bonus baby" until 1959.

The Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961 and became the Twins. Killebrew, who was stocky at 5-11 and 210 pounds, had a short, compact swing that generated great power, and he exploded with 48 home runs in 1962, 45 in 1963, and 49 in 1964. In the 1960's alone, "Killer" clouted 40 or more homers in a season eight times, led the American League on six occasions, and had more home runs than anyone in that decade. .

In 1969, Harmon had his finest year, belting 49 home runs again and driving in 140 runs to win the MVP Award in the American League. That earned him his highest salary---$120,000.

An 11-time All-Star, Killebrew ripped 573 home runs in a 22-year big league career---the most ever by a right-handed batter in the American League. He was with the Senators and Twins throughout his playing days except for his final season in 1975 with the Royals, and drove in 100 runs or more nine times.

Harmon says, "I played during the golden years of baseball. There were more great players who played in that time than in any time in the history of baseball. It was an honor to be part of that era." Killebrew was quiet, easy going, and displayed a calm demeanor. He was never ejected from a major league game. Former teammate Rich Reese has said, "Harmon Killebrew was one of the classiest people I've ever met in my life. He treated people with respect, even with the stature he had."

Killebrew did not play a specific position, but was used at first base, third base, and left field in most games, often playing two positions in the same contest. In 1984, he was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame.

Following his retirement from the game, Harmon was a broadcaster for the Twins and A's for 12 years, started an insurance business, worked in car sales, and as a financial planner. Charity work was also close to his heart. Touched by the leukemia death of 29-year-old former teammate Danny Thompson in 1976, Killebrew founded a memorial golf tournament the next year and it has donated over $8.6 million to leukemia and cancer research.

Harmon felt the pain of losing a young friend. He has five children of his own------three daughters and two sons.

In 1990, Harmon retired from business to pursue charity and endorsement work, especially in the fields of preventive and palliative health care charities and international causes. Not long thereafter, Killebrew was hospitalized for 13 weeks and nearly died of complications from medicine administered to benefit knee pain. He had to battle ulcers, a perforated stomach, a collapsed lung,
and a tumor the size of a small football behind his lung.

At one point his doctor sent Harmon home, essentially to die in comfort, in the care of his wife, Nita, and a home-health nurse.

But, Killebrew fought his way back. He will be 72 later this month, makes his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a national spokesman for the VistaCare Hospice Foundation, which has been described as "sort of the adult version of the Make-a-Wish Foundation."

In 1996, he started his own golf tournament to benefit the American Red Cross, and two years later established with his wife, the Harmon Killebrew Foundation, a fund-raising charity. The sole purpose is to serve as a host for fundraising events that benefit other charitable organizations. The net proceeds of the funds received are given to the recipient charities.

The Harmon Killebrew Foundation's motto is "Helping You Help Others !"



Ross Porter