R.I.P. Kirby Puckett

[Derwood]

but if people want to remember him for being a great ballplayer, who cares about the rest? Does it make him a worse player? Does it tarnish his HoF plaque?

 

Some would argue it matters more who you are as a person as opposed to how good you were at baseball. And I don't anybody has told people to not talk about what he did as a player.

 

Fine. I just feel like the people here who wish to celebrate his on-field accomplishments are being told they shouldn't because he wasn't a good person.

[cubfan]

I'm sorry Kirby died and my sympathy goes out to his friends and family. While reading this thread, I've noticed several people refer to Kirby Puckett as one of the all time greats and one of the best to ever play the game. I always thought he was very good but not great ball player and was voted into the hall of fame on sympathy votes because glaucoma forced him to retire. His stats are not really any better than Dale Murphy or Jim Rice. Maybe his success in the postseason would give him the edge and make him worthy of the Hall of Fame over them but I still think this leaves him short of being one of the best ball players in my lifetime or one of the best of his generation. I don't say this to knock Kirby Puckett but I feel that people sometimes over state or exaggerate someone’s accomplishments when they die.

[imb]

but if people want to remember him for being a great ballplayer, who cares about the rest? Does it make him a worse player? Does it tarnish his HoF plaque?

 

Some would argue it matters more who you are as a person as opposed to how good you were at baseball. And I don't anybody has told people to not talk about what he did as a player.

 

Fine. I just feel like the people here who wish to celebrate his on-field accomplishments are being told they shouldn't because he wasn't a good person.

 

And the people that want to talk about the fact that he wasnt the greatest person in the world are being told they cant just because he was a hell of a player.

[KatJ]

To get off the character pro and con tack, I was reading the articles and statements on the MLB pages, and most of them mention that Puckett left behind his kids, but also the fiancée and her son.

 

I REALLY hope Puck made out a good will recently, with a clause to give the fiancée some cash if she didn't contest it. Otherwise his estate could be a mess.