Harmon Killebrew 1936-2011
Posted by Andy on May 17, 2011
Harmon Killebrew has died.
Some career highlights:
- Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984
- 1969 AL MVP
- Led the league in HR 6 times and is currently 11th all-time in homers, but he was 5th at the time of his retirement
- 8th in AB/HR
- He was a 13-time All-Star, including selection at 3 different positions
- 14thin Win Probability added since 1950
- He is the Twins' franchise leader in offensive WAR, SLG, OPS, games played, HR, RBI, OPS+, extra base hits, and numerous other categories
- I've never heard or read a single bad word about the guy.
Pictured here are Rod Carew and Killebrew. Between these two guys, they defined the Twins franchise throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Rest in peace, Mr. Killebrew.
May 17th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Sorry for re-posting from another thread if you read it already, but:
I shared this on The Hardball Times on Saturday, but I hope you’ll indulge me sharing a memory of Harmon.
My wife and I attended a (free) speaking engagement he gave in a local Catholic church last year in St. Peter, MN, with about 300 people in the audience. He was slated to talk for an hour, so, of course, he went about 15 minutes over. Then, he signed autographs for the next hour and a half. This is not because people were bringing too much stuff (there was a limit of one item per person), but because he insisted on talking to everyone and asking about their personal lives. My wife and I each had something - a “Twins Fan Parking Only” sign for ourselves (my wife is a Twins fan, I a Brewers fan), and a Twins pennant for her dad - a baby-boomer Twins fan. I really wanted something for my dad, and as we were among the last in line, I called him on the phone. When we got to the front of the line, I asked if Harmon wouldn’t mind saying “hello.” I told him he absolutely could decline, but he thought it would be fun. I hadn’t told my dad who it was, merely that someone famous wanted to talk to him. I’ll never forget Harmon saying, “Hi, Bob! This is Harmon Killebrew.” It was a great moment, and even the people around us in line laughed. The man just exuded joy, and it is too, too bad he has to go. He will be sorely missed. And in our household, he will always be remembered for his kindness.
May 17th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
The guy hit .243 in 1962 and came in third in the MVP voting because of everything else he did. I wonder if that's the lowest BA of any top-3 MVP finish (not counting pitchers, of course). Batting average and RBI ruled the minds of baseball fans before, during, and for a while after his time, so I find it kind of interesting that he could still overcome that.
May 17th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
One of the first non-Tigers I ever admired; he won the MVP in the first year I followed pro ball.
From all I've read, he was a kind, gentle, wonderful man.
I notice that there has never been another MLB player with that first name. But maybe there's a namesake out there right now, making his way through the ranks.
May 17th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Dr. Doom - thanks for sharing that story. Like Andy said in the post, I've heard nothing but good about Harmon Killebrew, and know a couple of people who had the opportunity to meet him and said he seemed to be the most genuine, humble public figure imaginable.
May 17th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Killebrew several years ago. He was making a personal appearance at a local pizza place. I made sure I got there early and I was so early, I had the opportunity to talk with him for about twenty minutes before the autograph session began. He reminisced about old Comiskey Park and told me one of his great thrills was a home run he hit in the all star game in Washington DC. He was so personable and did not act like this was an obligation. His legible writing and the note of Hall of Fame 1984 was a beautiful combination. He lived here in the Phoenix area and was always available for every charity event. He embodied what a Hall Of Famer should strive to be.
May 17th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
RIP to one of the greatest Senators....
Anyone else find it surprising that it took him four tries to get into the HOF? I presume that was at least in part due to the historic bias against players with low batting averages, although he led the league in walks four times. It's just very interesting given that in our era, at least pre-steroids, many argued that 500 HR's was a golden ticket (I'm thinking about the McGriff debate) yet here's a guy with 573, many hit in a true deadball era, albeit in a hitters' park within that era, and with lots of other stats on his side, yet it took him four tries.
Anyway a great player and one of my late dad's favorites.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
I always chuckle recalling the episode of Cheers when Carla reminds Sam about "the night Harmon Killebrew hit those three moon-shot homers off of you." LOL! It even got a mention in the Sports Illustrated fantasy Sam Malone retrospective article some years back.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Dr. Doom - awesome story.
One of the great ones has left us. Sad day indeed.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Kelly,
I am actually not surprised that it took 4 years for Killerbrew to make the Hall. Look who got in his first three years on the ballot: Gibson, Aaron, F. Robinson, Marichal and B. Robinson. The BBWWAA is a miserly bunch when it comes to electing players to the Hall. Killer never got less than 59% of the vote in the three years he was on the ballot but did not get elected. At all times the over half the voters thought he belonged, it just took a couple of years for 16% of voters to agree it was his time.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
He was also mentioned on the Mary Tyler Moore show...I remember Ed Asner (Lou Grant) saying "Boy that Harmon Killebrew!"...think Killebrew was supposed to have hit a homer on the bottom of the ninth...
May 17th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Most American League Home Runs for Teams Other Than the Yankees:
Harmon Killebrew 573
Rafael Palmeiro 544
Jimmie Foxx 524
Ted Williams/Frank Thomas 521
Manny Ramirez 511
Jim Thome (active) 495
May 17th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I also remember how fond Harmon Killebrew was of Jim Thome. There were a lot of stories in the newspapers in Minnesota last year about how proud Harmon was that Thome was catching-up-to/tying/passing him on the all-time homer list, and how much he admired Jim Thome. It was wonderful, because they are two of the nicest guys in baseball I'm aware of.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
My favorite memory was of an article {I believe it was in either '69 or '70} that compared Killebrew to Frank Howard -- a classmate of my son's at Ohio State. I remember the article portraying them both as big, bullying types -- which off the field, would be like comparing Bambi to a rogue elephant.
RIP to one of the true stars of baseball.
May 17th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
I have a 500 home run club ball and after getting Ernie Banks earlier this year, I have all the non-juicers 500 hr members signed. The two absolute nicest guys besides Ernie, were Mickey Mantle and Harmon Killebrew. If there is a fire in my house, the first thing I go for is the ball.
I also have a binder of HOF signed cards and of course, have a couple Killebrews one is one of those card manufactured signed cards they have the players sign a bunch and put into packs and one I got through the mail in the 70s when I was a kid.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
I'm surprised it took 4 tries for him to get in, 8 40 hr seasons, 6 top 4 MVP finishes including a 1st, 3 RBI titles, I guess it was the .256 avg?
it also took Mathews 5 tries which I find equally and maybe more surprising, a guy who is probably still one of the top 3 players at his position...
May 17th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Actually I've heard, more than once, that utterly contrary to his outward persona, Banks is not the nicest of guys...I've heard it said that he and McCovey are real...s**ts.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
As a Twins fan growing up in the early 70's some of my fondest memories are of watching #3 come to the plate and hit absolute bombs to the far reaches of the old Met. Looking up to the 2nd deck and seeing the red painted chair where Harmon hit the longest HR in the park's history was awe inspiring.
As all have said, Harmon gave so much of his time to promote baseball and help all of the charities he was involved in and was a fixture at all of the Twins charity events. The long lines of people waiting for his perfectly legible signature were a testament to his popularity and importance to Twins fans.
Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson summed up Harmon very well:
"Harmon was a Hall of Famer on and off the field. He was baseball's version of Paul Bunyan, with his prodigious home run power, leading by example in the clubhouse and on the field. Off the field, he emanated class, dignity, and warmth, and he was a great humanitarian. He was so down-to-earth, you would never realize he was a baseball legend. It's ironic that his nickname was 'Killer,' as he was one of the nicest, most generous individuals to ever walk the earth."
RIP Harmon and God Bless your family.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
If you build it . . .
May 17th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
If you grew up watching 1960's baseball, Harmon was a treat to watch play. When he hit a ball out it was usually an incredibly high fly ball, as evidence of his bat speed. When you think of the ballparks he played in in his division, and the AL in general, there were few that favored right handed hitters. The fact he was such a gentleman only adds to his stature. RIP HK.
May 17th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I know a guy who was once a casual acquaintance of Ernie Banks. He said Banks was a great guy.
May 17th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Heard a story once that during an interview Harmon mentioned that he neither smoke nor drank.After the interview, Killer requested that that statement be deleted because he didn`t want to offend any of his friends who did smoke or drink!Ultra class act-he is going to be missed but remembered.They don`t come any nicer than Harmon Killebrew(or Brooks Robinson)!
May 17th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
16 - Tom:
Of the 500 hr club members, the biggest jerks were Aaron, Mays and Jackson. Mays was the absolute worst and the rudest HOFer I've ever encountered. McCovey was no joy either and I've got five or six autos from him, he was my favorite player growing up. I don't think he was cordial ever. I have a couple from Aaron too (I also have a plain old HOF ball and he is the center of that one too) and he was rude both times.
The absolute nicest were Banks, Mantle, Killebrew and Frank Robinson
May 17th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
I remember 1969- the A's played the Fourth of July weekend at Minnesota, with the Saturday game on NBC. This was Reggie
Jackson's first big home run year. In the first, Jackson hit a homer off that huge scoreboard at the Met- bottom of the first, Killebrew hit one even farther to left- I thought Curt Gowdy was gonna fall out of the booth, he was so excited...
May 17th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Well, one person's rude is another's pleasant. I'm curious to know what constitutes "rude" in these cases...it's a bit hard to imagine, for example, Aaron being rude in the short encounter of an autograph signing. That's not to defend Aaron--I don't know the man--but if by chance he simply wasn't cordial, or didn't give eye contact, or perhaps could even have been called distracted--just going through the motions--I wouldn't apply the word "rude" to those behaviors. Granted, there are especially warm people--apparently such as Killebrew--who were able to exude a caring demeanor with most or all fans...but that has to be called exceedingly rare--and few of us could be sure we'd be so gracious after, say, 10 years' worth of constant attention and adulation. But if an athlete isn't particularly warm toward an autograph seeker, but does provide an autograph, I won't call him rude. How would one be rude in that short moment, anyway? Do you mean they were openly resentful at "having" to sign?
I'm glad to hear positive things about Banks--the thing I heard never jived with the image of him put forth by the media, and by his own appearance--his big smile--in photos. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Aaron or Mays aren't the most warm, gracious people who ever lived...but that doesn't make them rude...
May 17th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Well without going into each instance, it wasn't just with me, it was with everyone, I'll just give you the Mays instance:
He was surly, wouldn't look up at anyone and you could hear people grumbling teh whole time. The guy in front of me was older and almost in tears that he was about to meet Willie, he was so excited. When he finally got up to Willie, he said "Willie, you're my hero. You're my favorite player of all time. I really appreciate you signing my ball" (and this despite the fact he did pay $80 bucks for the auto). Not only would Willie not even look at him, he kept his head down, put the ball on the table in front of him (didn't even hand it to him), wouldn't shake his hand or even acknowledge the guy was there. The guy just stood there, kind of in disbelief, took his ball and walked away dejected. I was next. I said "Hey, Willie." Same treatment. Wouldn't even acknowledge I was there. Of course he's under no obligation to do anything than sign, which is exactly all he did, being a jerk to that degree actually requires an effort. I watched him do it to everyone and watched each person walk away kind of mystified at how rude the guy was. Even just a "you're welcome" would have been nice. But the guy wouldn't even look at the people. He was acting like he was being put out, pulling in around $160 a minute. I heard the people who worked there said that's how he always is. He's a bitter old man.
I've got two sigs from Aaron and he was pretty close to that, not quite as bad, but I've seen him at other shows I didn't get an auto from him from and he was still the same and is known in these circles (from what I hear) as being a jerk. Hey, he's one of my favorite players of all time, without question, I just read his new book and every book ever written about him, however he's not my favorite person, that's for sure.
May 17th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
I always enjoyed seeing Killebrew play when the Twins came to Milwaukee. Turns out he was great player AND a great man. I'll always have fond memories of him.
http://pinetarandbrickbats.blogspot.com/2011/05/recalling-killer-killebrew.html
May 17th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Dan,
I believe your account of those moments. Even allowing for a bad day, or a misinterpretation, I assume Mays and Aaron have assumed the role of deities...out of touch with we mere mortals. It's more common than not.
May 17th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Does anyone remember the all-star game of a few years ago when Mays wouldn't even look at Josh Hamilton when he went out to center field where Mays was (I forget the reason they had old-timers there)? It was kind of sad and pathetic.
May 17th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Tom, yeah, it's sad, especially when other greats are the opposite.
When I was getting the Mick's auto on my ball, it was about six months before he died. I had my girlfriend go stand off the to side and I said just try and get he and me in the same picture if you can, I know he's got a lot of signatures so I'm not going to bother him with posing. I'd just like a picture of both of us. When I got up to the front, he saw my girlfriend standing to the side with the camera, stood up, leaned in and shook my hand. I couldn't believe what a thoughtful and unnecessary gesture that was especially with teh long line. Really a great guy.
And the saddest part of the whole story was the film had run out. (this was before digital). So there was no picture. However that is a cherished memory from one of the greats.
May 17th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I never sought autographs. For some reason once after a Padre game I got Rick Monday's. There were about 10 people around him, and he had a pleasant demeanor, but I can't say he made any effort to talk to anyone--and I've never blamed him for that. I doubt I'd be much different on some--or maybe, after my first couple years in the bigs, most days.
May 17th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Yes,I remember Mays giving Josh Hamilton the cold shoulder at that All-Star game.It wouldn`t take anymore effort to be nice than to be rude.The only thing that makes Mays so special is incredible baseball ability.And that ability left him over 40 years ago and it ain`t never comin` back.
May 17th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Harmon Killebrew is proof that batting averages are a very overrated statistic. In 1962, he batted less than .250, but drove in 126 runs. In
1969, he batted .276, and drove in 140. What counts is not how many hits you get, but when you get them.
You win games by scoring more runs than your opposition. I would much prefer a guy like Killebrew who would hit .275 and drive in 120 runs, over a guy like Roberto Clemente, who would hit .300 and drive in 80 runs.
May 17th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
And look at some of the OBP's Killebrew threw up there. He led the league in OBP one year.
But a lot of people look at a player by how he was looked at by the opposing pitchers.
Were opposing pitchers afraid to face Killebrew? Oh yeah. Probably one of the most feared hitters in the AL in the 60s (if not the most feared).
May 17th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
As a Minnesotan and a Twins fan, this is a really sad day. Harmon was a great player and a class act. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about him. I was lucky enough to meet him at TwinsFest a few years ago, and he was very kind and generous. He even stayed a few minutes after his official autograph time had ended so everyone in line could still get a signature. When I was at Cooperstown in 2004 with my Dad for Paul Molitor's induction, Harmon was the "featured" HOFer, so they had a nice little video about him during the induction ceremony. It's great when talented athletes are still really nice people.
May 17th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
If I am correctr, Harmon was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (the Mormons), He and Dale Murphy are the most famous Mormons in the history of MLB.
Both because of their religious beliefs took there responsibilites as role models for youth and members of the community very seriouly.
I grew up in New Yolr in the mid 60s and I still remember the 65 Twins the team that went to the WS with Killebrew. Mincher, Oliva, Versailles, Kaat.....I saw Killebrew just CRUSH some balls in Yankee Stadium.....so I made an adult decision,
I wasnt going to root for either WS team just for two players, one from either team. Because I was Jewish the Dodger was easy to root for and he was the best pitcher in baseball...Sandy Koufax...and I also rooted for Kilelbrew. who went 6 for 21 with a homer and 2 RBI in seven games.
Sandy of course was the MAIN MAN. I didnt know from WAR or WHIP, I just picked the two guys I liked the most.....i was only twelve!
May 17th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I always thought a great article would be one that looked into the lives of those two guys that Aaron shook off when he was rounding 3rd after hitting 715
May 17th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Look at Killebrew's stats in the context of the big ballpark, pitcher's era in which he played. If he had played in the 1990s and 2000s he probably hits 50 or 60 homeruns a few times; has a .275 or better lifetime average (instead of .256); and winds up with over 700 homeruns (instead of 573). From 1959 to 1970 he hit 40 homeruns EIGHT times in that 12 year span hitting 475 homeruns (averaging almost 40 per year). Even Aaron could "only" manage 460 homeruns in his best 12 year (1960-1971) stretch, and he played in a hitters park. Harmon Killebrew--a true gentleman--a great man--a great baseball player--Rest In Peace.
May 17th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
Killebrew averaged about 30.7 homers per 502 PAs at home and about 27.9 per 502 PAs on the road, a 2.8 homer per 502 homer at home advantage. Aaron averaged 28.4 homers per 502 PAs at home and 26.0 homers per 502 PAs on the road, a 2.4 homer at home advantage. Nothing there to suggest that over their respective careers as a whole, Harmon suffered a lesser home field advantage regarding homers than Hank.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:11 am
In 1964, I was an 11 year old boy watching my first baseball game with Grandpa. Killebrew hit a monster shot, instantly becoming my favorite player. He ignited in me a passion for the game of baseball that still continues 47 years later. And yes, I'm still a Twins fan.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:37 am
What amazes me in that 9,831 plate appearances over 22 seasons Killebrew never had a sacrifice hit. Not even one. Makes sense, I guess. How could any manager ever ask a slugger like that to bunt?
May 18th, 2011 at 1:24 am
@32 and Killebrew's RBI prowess.
Killebrew is one of only 8 players since 1919 to record RBI > 0.75 * Hits in more than 3000 PAs. The others are Ruth, McGwire, Kingman, Greenberg, Fielder, Buhner and Ryan Howard.
May 18th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
1991 in Buckhannon, WV with my Dad:
[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o315/SkeebWilcox/SPORTS/DESKTOP040.jpg[/IMG]
May 18th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Obviously links to pictures aren't allowed or enabled, so you could cut and paste it. Mr. Killebrew was a GREAT man!
May 18th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I concur to what Tom said in #24; a brief encounter with a celebrity, especially when all you're interested in is an autograph, is hardly grounds enough to form an opinion of someone.
I've met Aaron twice, and by "met" meaning conversationally, the meetings were about fifteen years apart.
The first time was shortly after his HOF induction, probably the spring of '82 or '83. The two things that stand out for me about that one, other than being completely awestruck, was how "big" he was for such a small man. Aaron's not much over five ten, five eleven, but he had the shoulders, upper arms and hands of a man much taller.
The second was he was traveling with a bodyguard. Like everyone else at the time, I was very familiar with the stories of the death threats and the like when he was chasing Ruth, but this was 8 years later and five or six years after he retired.
He was not a conversationalist to be sure, but he was cordial when he spoke. I remember approaching the table where he was signing that you had to hand whatever it was to his bodyguard, and he would look it over and hand it to Aaron for him to sign.
The second time was much different; no bodyguard, although he was with his wife. He seemed much more relaxed and open. I attribute that to being far enough away from his career that the stresses he went through at the end had disappeared.
I digress.
I met Killebrew several times during Alumni functions in Arizona in the '90's, early '00's. I haven't seen him in five or six years since he started his own foundation and charity work the schedules conflicted somewhat.
At the event in 1995 I asked him about Bob Allison, who at the time had recently moved out of the Phoenix area and to a cooler northern area due his suffering from ataxia.
As a kid, probably eight or nine, I read a bio on Allison and he immediately became my favorite player. Despite being a Yankee fan from New England I always would check the Twins' boxscores to see how he did, and, obviously, was then aware of Killer.
Anyway, I mentioned to Killebrew that I wanted to send Allison a card, just to tell him my story and that I was praying for him, and asked if he had an address.
Killebrew handed me his business card and said to call him during the week and he would take care of it.
We made arrangements to meet and I gave him the card; Killebrew would go see him and would routinely take cards and letters and would read them to Allison since he no longer could do things for himself.
Allison died in April of '95, I saw Killebrew shortly thereafter and he came up to me and said Allison enjoyed what I had written.
I'll never forget it.
May 18th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Great story Chuck! The more you hear about Harmon's selflessness, the more you admire him.
May 19th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Re: Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew was the quintessential longball hitter, and the best proof that secondary average and on base percentage plus slugging average (OPS) is the number that matters, not batting average. Killebrew & Schmidt are the best 3Bmen, Schmidt better because of his glove, but neither ever had much of a batting average, but both used to knock out 40 HR a year and walk more than 100x a year with routine ease.
In 1959, Killebrew hit 42 HR in GRIFFITH STADIUM in Washington, DC, a notoriously difficult park for HR hitters. He, Bob Allison and Roy Sievers combined for 93 HR that year. Although that team finished last, they featured a young Camilo Pascual and three of the finest RH sluggers the game would ever see, though they must have been brutal on defense. Tuff on LH pitching, though...
With Mickey Vernon gone and now Killebrew, the number of original Washington Senators is slowly dwindling down....though of course he will always be remembered as a Minnesota Twin.
Charlie Manuel of the Phils played with Killebrew from 1969 on with the Twins (Manuel didn't play much on that loaded up team) (2 AL West Division Pennants) and had a lot of nice things to say about Harmon.
He was a really great player.
AK, Philly
May 19th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Killebrew's last home run came as a member of the Royals, but appropriately it was in Minnesota.
May 22nd, 2011 at 1:21 pm
46
No argument that Mike Schmift was the best third baseman who ever lived, but including Killebrew????
Please!!!!
Eddie Matthews, George Brett, Wade Boggs and even Ron Santo were all better all around third basement then Killebrew. Killebrew was in the lineup for his power, no one was even going to confuse him with Broooks Robinson or Clete or Ken Bloyer or Aurelio Rodriguez or any very good to great fielding third baseman of that time.
May 29th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
So many thoughts and memories...
...met Harmon in Cooperstown July of '89 at the induction weekend for Yaz & Bench. Harmon was taking a stroll down the street late Saturday night and I was on my way to the one pizza joint that was open...I almost ran up to him to ask for an autograph I was so excited - then it occurred to me - one of the advantages of NOT looking like a baseball player - heavy set bald guy - was that Harmon could peacefully walk down the street without being mobbed, even in Cooperstown. So I just casually walked by him and said "Hi", and he said "Nice evening, isn't it?" and I said, "Yeah, it sure is."
I know it's dumb, but I got a sense right away of how relaxed he was, I can see why everyone always said he was so nice.
Met him at a show years later when I did get his autograph and he was very friendly to talk to. Actually, probably the nicest guys I ever got autographs from were Gaylord Perry and Tony Gwynn, who not only signed stuff but would also have their pictures taken with fans...
I never liked Reggie Jackson as a player or a person. I was glad ESPN did that show "The Bronx is burning" about the summer of 1977 because a lot of people got to see that Bonds was certainly not the original great player to be despised by his teammates. Many of Reggie's NY and Oakland teammates have openly admitted how much they detested Reggie's egotistical attitude. But, as luck would have it, I was at the Angels game in Anaheim on 9/17/84 when Reggie hit his 500th career HR. That classless jerk didn't even thank the fans when they stopped the game for ceremonies. Years later I was at a card show and my wife wanted to meet Reggie - she had brought along my ticket stub from the 500-HR game. To my surprise, Reggie's bodyguard/handler (a lot of players have them nowadays) was all "What's this?" Inspecting the ticket for bombs or something but Reggie grabbed the stub from him and said "That's ok - I know what this is." He actually smiled and signed the ticket stub with a comment about "HR #500". I was surprised how nice he was - it was probably because my wife handed him the ticket. She has that effect on people. She even got Ted Williams to smile and wink at her and everyone had always told me he was a real grouch.
Sad. That's what Willie's legacy is. Not only did I personally see how miserable Mr. "Say Hey" was at shows and other events in public, but in Buck O'Neil's book "The Soul of Baseball", he talks about how he tried to cheer Willie up at an event in Kansas City for the Negro Leagues museum and Willie just wouldn't snap out of it. The boundless joy that people remember from Willie's early playing days is gone forever and he seems terribly depressed. I guess turning 80 earlier this year isn't going to help, either. It's just sad.
As far as how players react when interacting with fans - I find that often how you approach them can really make a big difference. I was at a mall where Maury Wills was signing stuff and he was basically just going "Next!" and acting very abrupt and rude. This was right around the time when Bump was just making the big leagues. I asked Maury about Bump and he got very excited and was clearly quite proud, with the whole "That's my boy!" thing. I heard that he and Bump didn't get along later on but there was no sign of it at that time. Maury was very pleasant to the next several fans that he signed for after I asked about Bump.
That really works with some players. I asked Johnny Bench about his kids one day and he was pulling out wallet photos he was so proud. He was practically humming and whistling he was so cheerful signing after that. Ballplayers are like everybody else, I guess - some topics really turn them on and light up their faces, and some really turn them off.
Finally - liked #44 above's comments on Bob Allison. My first set of Strat-O-Matic cards was the '65 set - of course I liked Harmon Killebrew's card but I was most surprised about Allison's card. I thought "This guy hits under .240 - this card can't possibly be correct" because his card was full of WALKS and HOMERUNS. My brothers were so frustrated because their pitchers couldn't get him out. My first lesson in life that there is more to hitting than Batting Average. I was just a kid - I had never heard of OBP, OPS, WAR or Win Shares or Linear Weights - but I instinctively understood that there was much more to hitting than the media portrayed.