Harmon Killebrew

Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr., nicknamed "the Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon," was an American professional baseball player who lived from June 29, 1936 to May 17, 2011. He played as a first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder over a 22-year Major League Baseball career, most of it spent with the Minnesota Twins. Standing 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 213 pounds, Killebrew had a compact swing that generated tremendous power, making him one of the most feared power hitters of the 1960s. During that decade he hit at least 40 home runs in a season eight times. Over his career he led the league six times in home runs and three times in runs batted in, and was named to 13 All-Star teams. In 1965 he reached the World Series with the Twins, who lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His finest season came in 1969, when he hit 49 home runs, recorded 140 RBIs, and won the American League Most Valuable Player Award. At the time of his retirement, Killebrew had the fifth-most home runs in major league history. He ranked second only to Babe Ruth in American League home runs and was the league's career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter. Killebrew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.