Kirby Puckett

Kirby Puckett was an American professional baseball player known for his impressive batting average. He spent his entire 12-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Minnesota Twins, for which he was a center fielder. In career hits, runs, and total bases, Puckett is the Twins’ all-time leader. In 1996, Puckett was forced to retire after he lost vision in his right eye. Despite some personal troubles that involved lawyers, he remained optimistic as ever.

His career as a baseball player may have ended earlier than he intended, but he continued to be involved the sport he had loved all his life. He became the executive vice president of the Minnesota Twins. Puckett passed away shortly before his 46th birthday from a stroke. He was surrounded by his children, his fiancée, and former teammates. He was awarded the Branch Rickey Award in 1993 for his contribution to the field of baseball.