Goodbye, Kirby.

Today, my childhood idol died. Since 1985, Kirby Puckett was baseball to me. I had gotten a hold of one of his baseball cards some how and he was the only Minnesota Twin in the pack. I remember showing it to my Uncle Charlie and he told me that this kid was supposed to really good.

I guess that's all it took.

He became my favorite. This guy was 'it' for me. On August 2, 1986 he was signing autographs in the Twin Cities at a book store. Pam and Charlie took me to see him for the first time. I remember that I was so nervous. After waiting in line for over an hour, we made it up to him. I didn't know what to say. I put my items to be signed down in front of him and he just glanced up and smiled and began to sign. Then, Charlie put his arm around me and said, "Kirby, big fan of yours here." Kirby smiled back and said, "Oh yeah? Thanks!"

The next time I saw him was in February of 1987. Pam had taken a picture of me the day I met Kirby as he signed his baseball card and photo for me. So, I took the 8x10 of this photo and had Kirby sign it at the Twins Fest dinner in Rochester. He asked where it had been taken and commented that it was 'cool'.

Kirby made me dream big. He made me love the game of baseball because he had such exhuberance for it. I used to think maybe I could be the first woman to play Major League ball! Eventually, I decided I wanted to be in Broadcast. And what was my goal? To interview Kirby some day.

In 1995, I came close. My journalism teacher at college wangled a deal that got me and a classmate on to the field at the Dome with press passes. I was so excited. I kept thinking that I wasn't even out out in the big time yet and I was already going to accomplish my goal! But, it was wishful thinking. Kirby was in the process of being diagnosed with glaucoma and was seeing a specialist out of state. I spoke with Paul Molitor and Chuck Knoblauch that day instead, which was cool. But it just wasn't the same. And even they expressed the love they had for Kirby that day and how much they missed him when he wasn't on the field with them.

When he retired, I was so sad. But, he was Kirby. He would be okay. And, Charlie & I vowed, along with my brother Pat, that we would go to Cooperstown when he made the Hall of Fame.

And we did.

It was the longest, hottest day in the sun I can ever remember, but well worth the wait. I remember that this family that sat in front of us had t-shirts made that had the Jack Buck comment from the 1991 World Series: "And we'll see you...tomorrow night!" That, of course, from when Kirby hit his famous home run in Game 6 that sent them on to win the series. And Charlie had his picture taken wearing his Kirby t-shirt by a Star Tribune photographer and it made the paper! That made that day even more special.

I kept thinking after he retired that it would never be the same going to a Twins game without hearing Bob Casey saying KIRRRRBBBBYYYY Puckett ever again. And you know what? It never was the same. Baseball lost some of its luster for me when he left.

In the last few years, allegations arose of his misconduct in his marriage and other areas. Frank DeFord of Sports Illustrated wrote a scathing story about a Kirby none of us knew or wanted to know. I was surprised, saddened, and disappointed. It made me realize then that athletes are not people we should call heroes, at least to me. I saw then that people like my Grandma or my mom should be my hero.

Yet, Kirby represented something from my childhood that never went away entirely. He allowed me to dream big. He had an infectious grin, happy smile, and a love for the game that everyone respected.

There will never be another Kirby Puckett. And I will always be thankful for that little guy with the big grin that helped me dream. We'll miss you, Kirby.