HARMON KILLEBREW

Position: Third / First Baseman
Number: 3
Height: 5-11
Weight: 214
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Born: June 29, 1936 in Payette, ID
Died: May 17, 2011 (aged 74) in Scottsdale, AZ
How Obtained: Signed as a free agent, June 21, 1954
Elected to the Hall of Fame: January 10, 1984
Inducted to the Hall of Fame: August 12, 1984
Career Stats »

One of the greatest home run hitters of all time, Harmon Killebrew will forever be remembered to Twins fans as the "Killer" for his prolific clouts. A member of the Twins from their inaugural Minnesota season in 1961, Killebrew hit 573 career home runs, 475 of them in his 14 seasons with the Twins, to place him 5th on the all-time home run list and second only to Babe Ruth in American League history. He hit over 40 home runs on eight occasions and 30-or-more 10 times while driving in 100-plus runs nine times.

Killebrew was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1969 when he hit 49 home runs with an amazing 140 RBI and 145 walks, all team records that still stand. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 10, 1984, the first Twin to receive that honor. In his honor, the Twins held a Harmon Killebrew Day on August 11, 1974, where it was formally announced that they would retire his number 3. During his return to Minnesota in early May, 1975 the Twins formally retired his No. 3 jersey. In that game, Killebrew hit a home run against his former teammates and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

After retiring from baseball, Killebrew became a television broadcaster for several baseball teams from 1976 to 1988, and also served as a hitting instructor for the Oakland Athletics. He also divorced and remarried during this time, moving to Arizona in 1990 and chairing the Harmon Killebrew Foundation. Killebrew was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December 2010 and died five months later.

The street along the south side of the Mall of America, the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, in Bloomington, Minnesota was named "Killebrew Drive" in his honor. Banners that hung above the Metrodome's outfield upper deck, resembling baseball cards, showed the retired numbers: Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14) and Kirby Puckett (34). In 1999, he was ranked 69th on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was nominated as a finalist for Major League Baseball's All-Century Team. When the Twins moved into Target Field in 2010, Gate 3 on the southeast (centerfield) side of the stadium was named in his honor. There are also corresponding gates for the team's other retired numbers. Killebrew Canyon at Heavenly Mountain Resort is also named after the baseball star, who skied the outer limits of the resort after his retirement from baseball.

On June 3, 1967, Killebrew hit a 520-foot (160 m) home run, the longest measured home run ever hit at Metropolitan Stadium and, as of 2011, the longest in Twins history. That event is commemorated at the Mall of America in Bloomington, which includes a plaque marking home plate, and one red-painted seat from the Met which was placed at the location and elevation of the landing spot of the home run. The new Target Field has a statue of a Gold Glove outside Gate 34 and it is exactly 520 feet (160 m) from Target Field's home plate.

PERSONAL: Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr. . . . nickname: 'Killer' . . . wife Nita and has five grown children . . . graduated from Payette (Idaho) High School in 1954 . . . attended College of Idaho.

2000: Inducted into Twins' Hall of Fame, August 12.

1984: Became first Twin to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, January 10 . . . Became first Twin to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, August 12.

1975: Signed as free agent by Kansas City, January 24 . . . had number 3 officially retired by Twins, May 4 . . . 43rd career 2- homer game, 44th career multiple-homer game, season-high 4 RBI and 8 total bases, May 23 vs. Baltimore . . . set major league record for fewest sacrifice hits lifetime (0), 7,000 or more at-bats . . . holds American League record for most home runs by a righthanded hitter (573).

1974: Had 42nd career 2-homer game, May 5 vs. Detroit . . . 1,500th career RBI, May 7 at Milwaukee . . . 10-game hit-streak, going 12-33 (.364), July 20-August 4 . . . homered for 2,000th career hit, off Nolan Ryan, July 28 at California . . . led club with 11 pinch-hits.

1973: Disabled with left knee injury, July14-September 6 . . . had surgery for removal of torn cartilage in left knee, July 23.

1972: Hit 11th career grand slam, off Bill Gogolewski, and season-high 5 RBI, May 28 vs. Texas . . . led club in homers and RBI.

1971: Had season-high 6 RBI, April 19 vs. Kansas City . . . 12th career 4-hit game and 13th career 4-plus hit game, May 2 at Boston . . . made 11th All-Star Game appearance (9th consecutive), hitting 2-run homer in 6th inning to lead American League to win, 6-4, July 13 in Detroit . . . 39th career 2-homer game, August 10 vs. Baltimore . . . 500th home run, off Mike Cuellar, August 19 vs. Baltimore, becoming 10th player in major league history to achieve mark . . . 40th career 2-homer game, August 27 at Cleveland . . . 41st career 2-homer game, September 7 at Chicago . . . 10th career grand slam, off Mudcat Grant, September 3 vs. Oakland . . . led club in homers, RBI and walks . . . led league in RBI for third time in career and led league in walks . . . had surgery to repair varicose veins in his legs, November 20 . . . surgery to remove bone lesion or exostosis of right big toe to correct a contracture of the second toe on that foot, December 13.

1970: Hit in 17 of 18 games, going 23-66 (.348), April 19-May 8 . . . homered in five consecutive games, May 3-May 8 . . . 38th career 2-homer game, May 31 vs. New York . . . 10-game hit-streak, going 16-36 (.444), July 5-18 . . . named to tenth American League All-Star Team, July 14 Cincinnati . . . homered in five consecutive games for second time of season, July 11-18 . . . led club in homers, RBI, total bases and walks . . . set major league record for most seasons with no stolen bases in 150 or more games (3) . . . named Outstanding American League Player and Player of the Year by The Sporting News . . . named third baseman to The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . won fifth Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1969: Hit 400th career home run, off Gary Peters, April 27 at Chicago . . . hit eighth career grand slam, off Roger Nelson, April 29 vs. Kansas City . . . had 2-homer game, May 7 at Cleveland . . . 11th career 4-hit game, June 20 vs. Oakland . . . second 2-homer game of season, July 5 vs. Oakland . . . third 2-homer game of season, July 11 vs. Seattle . . . played in ninth Major League All-Star Game, July 23 at Washington . . . fourth 2 homer game of season and career-high 7 RBI, September 7 at Oakland . . . ninth career grand slam, off Vida Blue, September 9 at Oakland . . . 37th career 2-homer game, September 21 vs. Seattle . . . led club in games, at-bats, homers, RBI, total bases and walks . . . led league in home runs, RBI and walks . . . was voted American League Most Valuable Player by Baseball Writers' Association . . . his 49 home runs tied his own Twins' single season home run record . . . his 140 RBI and 145 walks set Twins' records . . . has won or tied for the American League home run crown six times and the RBI title twice . . . one of three major leaguers to play 162 games on season . . . named Outstanding American League Player by The Sporting News . . . named third baseman to The Sporting News' American League All Star Team . . . won fourth Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1968: Hit safely in first 8 games of season, going 11-28 (.392), April 10-April 20 . . . 1,000th career RBI, June 19 vs. Washington . . . ruptured hamstring in left leg in eighth American League All-Star appearance, July 9 at Houston and was disabled, July 10-August 31 . . . has been named as starter in All-Star game at three different positions: first base, third base and left field . . . 32nd career 2-homer game and season-high 8 total bases, September 25 at California . . . led club in walks.

1967: Had 2-homer game, June 21 at Detroit . . . named American league All-Star for 7th season, playing in All-Star Game, July 11 at Anaheim . . . second 2-homer game of season, July 13 vs. Kansas City . . . third 2-homer game of season, July 15 vs. Kansas City . . . 31st career 2-homer game, September 26 vs. California . . . led club in runs, homers, RBI, total bases and walks . . . led American League in home runs for fifth time and has led or tied for major league lead three times . . . tied for league lead in sacrifice flies (8) and was third in league in slugging percentage (.558) . . . his 131 walks were most in majors since Eddie Yost's 135 for Detroit in 1959 . . . named first baseman to The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team . . . won third Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1966: Singled, off Jack Sanford, for 1,000th career hit, April 15 vs. California . . . 300th career home run, off Bob Friend, May 21 at New York . . . had 2-homer game, May 30 vs. Baltimore . . . second 2-homer game of season, June 9 vs. Kansas City . . . walked 4 times, June 16 vs. California . . . third 2-homer game of season, June 19 vs. Chicago . . . played in sixth Major League All-Star Game, July 12 at St. Louis . . . 10-game hit-streak, going 16-37 (.432), August 15-24 . . . 10th career 4-hit game, August 20 at Boston . . . 27th career 2-homer game, September 6 vs. Chicago . . . seventh grand slam of career, off Dooley Womack, September 3 vs. New York . . . led club in games, homers, RBI and walks . . . runner up to Frank Robinson in home runs and RBI . . . set team record for games played (162), playing first, third and outfield . . . won second Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1965: Had 23rd career 2-homer game, May 12 vs. Los Angeles . . . named to fifth American League All-Star Team, playing, July 13 in Minnesota . . . disabled with dislocated left elbow, suffered in first base collision with Baltimore's Russ Snyder, August 2-September 20 . . . led team in homers . . . played first base and third base.

1964: Hit 6th career grand slam, off Earl Wilson, May 17 at Boston . . . 2-homer game, April 19 at Detroit . . . second 2-homer game of season, May 2 at Kansas City . . . third 2-homer game of season, May 14 vs. Chicago . . . fourth 2-homer game of season, May 20 at New York . . . hit 7 home runs in 7 game stretch, May 14-20 . . . fifth 2-homer game of season, June 14 at Washington . . . eighth career 4-hit game, July 5 at New York . . . played in fourth Major League All-Star Game, July 7 at New York . . . ninth career 4-hit game, August 4 vs. Boston . . . 22nd career 2-homer game, September 1 vs. Baltimore . . . led club in home runs , RBI and walks . . . his 49 home runs set Twins' record . . . led American League in homers for third straight year and the majors for second in a row . . . named outfielder to The Sporting News' American League All-Star Team.

1963: Hit fourth career grand slam, off Ray Herbert, May 24 vs. Chicago . . . season-high 5 RBI, May 24 vs. Chicago . . . homered in 4 consecutive games, June 18-21 . . . seventh career 4-hit game, June 28 at Washington . . . named American League All-Star for third time, playing in All-Star Game, July 9 at Cleveland . . . 200th career home run, off Jim Duckworth, July 19 at Washington . . . 11-game hit-streak, going 15-42 (.357), August 20-30 . . . 16th career 2-homer game, August 29 at Washington . . . fifth career grand slam, off Gary Bell, September 11 vs. Cleveland . . . career-high 3-homer game and career-high 12 total bases, September 21 at Boston . . . tied American League record for most home runs, doubleheader (4), September 21, 1963 (3 in first game, one in second) . . . led club in home runs, RBI and total bases . . . led league in home runs and slugging percentage (.555) . . . hit 212 home runs over last five years to lead majors, Hank Aaron (202).

1962: Converted from first base to left field . . . had 11-game hit-streak, going 16-39 (.410), July 8-22 . . . third career grand slam, off Jim Perry, first 2-homer game of season and season-high 5 RBI, July 18 vs. Cleveland . . . set major league record with Bob Allison when they each hit grand slams in same inning (1st), off Barry Latman and Jim Perry, July 18 vs. Cleveland . . . sixth career 4-hit game and season-high 5 RBI, August 13 vs. New York . . . second 2-homer game of season and season-high 5 RBI, September 15 vs. Cleveland . . . third 2-homer game of season, September 19 vs. Detroit . . . 15th career 2-homer game, September 29 vs. Baltimore . . . hit 11 homers and had 22 RBI in last 12 games of season . . . led club in total bases, home runs, RBI and walks . . . led league in home runs, RBI and strikeouts, was second in slugging percentage (.545), third in walks and fifth in total bases (301) . . . finished third in American League Most Valuable Player voting . . . joined Mickey Mantle as the only men to ever homer at least twice a season in each of his leagues ten ball parks.

1961: Had 4-hit game, April 30 vs. Chicago . . . had 2-homer game, May 6 vs. Boston . . . career-high 5 hits, June 12 at Boston . . . 11th career 2-homer game, June 21 vs. Baltimore . . . fifth 4-hit game of career, season-high 5 RBI and second career grand slam, off Bill Kunkel, July 1 at Kansas City . . . homered in 4 consecutive games, September 8-10 . . . first career inside-the-park home run, July 4 vs. Chicago . . . named to American League All-Star Team and hit pinch-hit home run, off San Francisco’s Mike McCormick, July 10 at Washington . . . named to second All-Star Game of season, but did not play . . . led club in runs, home runs, RBI, total bases and walks and tied for club lead in triples . . . set club record with 46 home runs . . . won Calvin R. Griffith Award as Twins' Most Valuable Player.

1960: Converted from third base to first base . . . had 2-homer game, July 8 at Baltimore . . . second 2-homer game, August 2 vs. Cleveland . . . season-high 4-hits, August 6 at Chicago and August 8 at Chicago . . . third 2-homer game of season, August 11 at Kansas City . . . ninth career 2-homer game and season-high 5 RBI, September 11 at Detroit . . . hit 27 of 31 homers in second half of season to finish fifth in American League.

1959: Had back-to-back 2-homer games, May 1-2 at Detroit . . . third 2-homer game of season, May 9 at New York . . . fifth career 2-homer game and season-high 5 RBI, May 12 vs. Detroit . . . named starting third baseman on American League All-Star Team, July 7 at Pittsburgh . . . named to second All-Star Game of season, but did not play . . . season-high 4 hits, last game of season, September 27 at Boston . . . tied with Rocky Colavito for American League home run title.

1958: Began season at Washington . . . sent to Indianapolis, April 24 . . . transferred to Chattanooga . . . recalled September 16.

1957: Began season at Chattanooga . . . named third baseman on Southern Association All-Star Team . . . led league in home runs and assists (298) . . . recalled September 20 . . . hit in 7 of 9 games and last 6 of season.

1956: Began season at Washington . . . sent to Charlotte, April 23 . . . recalled May 6 . . . first 2-homer game of career, May 29 at Baltimore . . . first career grand slam, June 21 at Kansas City . . . sent to Charlotte, June 22 . . . recalled September 8 . . . season-high 3 hits, September 19 at Cleveland.

1955: First major league home run, off Billy Hoeft, June 24 vs. Detroit . . . season-high 3 hits, in final game of season, September 25 vs. Baltimore.

1954: Made major league debut as pinch-runner and scored, July 27 at Baltimore . . . first major league at-bat, August 18 vs. Boston . . . first major league start at second base and first career hit, off Jack Harshman, August 23 vs. Chicago.