| Volume 6, Number 1 Harmon Killebrew never hit over .300, except for a nine-game warmup season in 1954 with the Washington Senators. Asked by a youngster his career batting average, he replies, "Next question." During 22 seasons, he hit .254. He never hit 50 home runs in a season; he hit 49 twice and did hit three in one game, four in a doubleheader and five over three straight games. Nonetheless, while the world was focused on Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa's pursuit of Roger Maris's single season mark in 1998, we paused to recall that Harmon Killebrew is the fifth - that's right, just four are ahead of him - all-time leading home run hitter with 573 and led the American League in home runs six times. One of baseball's most feared power hitters, he led the league in walks four times. As a boy growing up in Payette, Idaho, Killebrew marveled at the hitting exploits of Ted Williams. He studied Williams' "The Art of Hitting." Yet when a youngster approached Killebrew for a tip on hitting, he deferred to an even higher authority. "My Mom says if I eat her tuna fish sandwiches for lunch that I'll be able to hit the ball better," a youngster chimed. "What do you think? Killebrew looked into the boy's eyes and searched his own soul for the right advice. He finally proclaimed, "Son, listen to your mother." Killebrew is a frequent autograph guest at shows from coast to coast. He also tours the country as the national spokesman for the Vista Hospice Care Foundation. He gets to work in a lot of autographing and get in a healthy amount of golf. He shoots in the 80s. He paused during a little league hitting lesson to recall anecdotes from his career. To read the entire article, press Read More if you are an Online subscriber or Subscribe Now! |