[119] To honor Killebrew, the Twins wore their 1961 throwback alternate jerseys at home for the remainder of the 2011 season;[120] he was also honored by the Washington Nationals, who hung a jersey with Killebrew's name and number 3 in their home dugout. 5 out of 5 stars (414) $ 15.75. [44] Playing in all 162 games, he led the majors in home runs and RBI (140), while leading the AL in on-base percentage (.427), walks (145) and intentional walks (20). [39] On September 21, Killebrew hit three home runs in a game for the only time in his career in the first game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. The Twins extend heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the Killebrew family at this difficult time.'' - Dave St. Peter, Twins president. He was carried from the field by a stretcher. In that game, Killebrew hit a home run against his former teammates and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Instead, the award went to teammate Bob Allison. Killebrew continued his hitting prowess for the Twins upon his return, and at one point led them on a six-game winning streak. As a child, Harmon played baseball at Walter Johnson Memorial Field, named after the Hall of Fame pitcher who spent part of his childhood in Idaho. His father, a painter and sheriff, was a member of an undefeated Millikin College football team who was later named an All-American under eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Greasy Neale. [102] On June 3, 1967, Killebrew hit a 520-foot (158m) home run, the longest measured home run ever hit at Metropolitan Stadium and, as of 2022, the longest in Twins history. Killebrew's 573 home runs ranks him #2 all-time in the A.L. Harmon Sr., who preferred to be called Clay, had a big, burly type of build and was a fine athlete. Tryphena Eames , Andrew Lane. Harmon will long be remembered as one of the most prolific home run hitters in the history of the game and the leader of a group of players who helped lay the foundation for the long-term success of the Twins franchise and Major League Baseball in the Upper Midwest. Killebrew family had one last laugh. June 29, 1936 Idaho. Born in Payette, Idaho, Harmon Killebrew was youngest of four children to Harmon Clayton, Sr. and Katherine Pearl (May) Killebrew. He hit the longest measured home runs at Minnesota's Metropolitan Stadium, 520 ft (160 m), and Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, 471 ft (144 m), and was the first of just four batters to hit a baseball over the left field roof at Detroit's Tiger Stadium. Killebrew said that his first home run in the Majors was his favorite, coming off Billy Hoeft at Griffith Stadium. His finest season was 1969, when he hit 49 home runs, recorded 140 RBIs and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award while helping lead the Twins to the AL West pennant. [23] Not all his stats were positive; Killebrew's batting average dropped from .288 in 1961 to .243 and he struck out a career-worst 142 times, leading the AL. [121] Killebrew died on May 17, 2011, at his home in Scottsdale at the age of 74. The music world came to a stop last Sunday when country music legend Charley Pride passed away at the age of 86 from COVID complications. 0 references. In 1972, Killebrew showed signs of slowing down. [12][15] On June 12, 1961, Killebrew had the only five-hit game of his career, though in a losing effort. Harmon Killebrew, the longtime sweet-swinging first baseman for the Minnesota Twins, has entered into hospice care after unsuccessful treatment of his esophageal cancer. While in Chattanooga, Killebrew became the only player to hit a home run over the center field wall at Engel Stadium, 471 feet (144 m) from home plate. "[66] He was even noted as being kind to the umpires: The Killer was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball history, but he was also one of the nicest people ever to play the game. The ball landed in the far reaches of the bleachers. He finished the 1964 season with a .270 batting average, 49 home runs, and 111 RBI; he led the AL in home runs for the third consecutive year. Despite his nicknames and his powerful style of play, Killebrew was considered by his colleagues to be a quiet, kind man. Killebrew drove in the tying or winning run seven times in 1965 before suffering an injury on August 2. [8], When Killebrew's bonus period expired in 1956, he was sent to the Senators' minor league affiliate in Charlotte of the South Atlantic League. Harmon will long be remembered as one of the most prolific home run hitters in the history of the game and the leader of a group of players who helped lay the foundation for the long-term success of the Twins franchise and Major League Baseball in the Upper Midwest. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Culver was the grandfather of Harmon Killebrew, Jr., a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Killebrew's journey to Cooperstown, N.Y., began in Payette on June 29, 1936. While with Oakland, he also served as a major- and minor-league hitting instructor. [87] While he did hit 573 home runs (5th all-time when he left the game), he amassed a relatively low hit total (2086), given the years he played, combined with a high number of strikeouts (1699), and a .256 batting average. Harmon Killebrew I speak very highly of Jim Thome. He had surgery on his troublesome right knee after the season ended. By December 1990, his health had improved and he married Nita Patten. May 17, 2011, 12:00 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017. He started the season off slowly, and he missed the second half of April and early May due to a right knee injury that was slow to heal. The Killer had four home runs which . Although 1959 proved his breakout season, he was ineligible for the Rookie of the Year Award because of his previous sparse experience. I didnt know whether to believe him or not. Killebrew reached the 40 home runs for the final time in 1970 and also made his last appearance in the postseason. Killebrew spent most of the 1957 season with the Southern Association's Chattanooga Lookouts, where he hit a league-high 29 home runs with 101 RBIs and was named to the All-Star Game. Killebrew had a .115 average through June 16, and as a result was sent back to Charlotte; he finished the season there with a .325 batting average and 15 home runs in 70 games. Geni requires JavaScript! As I crossed the plate, House said, 'Thats the last time I ever tell you what pitch is coming'.". In March, he had surgery for nasal irritation, and a recurring hamstring injury caused him to miss most of May. [70] He spent most of the season's first half continuing his success, and found Baltimore's Brooks Robinson rivalling him for the third base spot during the All-Star voting process; the two were neck-and-neck throughout. By December 1990, his health was improved and he was remarried to Nita. He's one of the greatest of all time." Thompson was a Twins teammate who continued his major league career while suffering from leukemia; he died in December 1976 at the age of 29. He became one of the AL's most feared power hitters of the 1960s, hitting 40 home runs in a season eight times. Killebrew also had defensive difficulties at third base, where he played behind veteran Eddie Yost. [57] The baseball season proved unsuccessful for Killebrew, whose batting average barely passed .200 most of the year; after a strong start, he hit below .200 in both May and June and his average stood at .204 with 13 home runs going into the all-star break. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. There are also corresponding gates for the team's other retired numbers. Tribute Archive. He was 74. Despite not making the team, Killebrew's home run total continued to climb, and by the end of July he had Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle career marks in his sights; he went on to pass both in August. He chose to be released, ending his 21-season tenure with the Twins. [46] During a game against the Orioles, Twins third baseman Rich Rollins made a poor throw to first and while trying to save the play, Killebrew collided with the runner and dislocated his elbow, putting him out of action until mid-September. family name. Not only is he a great player, but he's a great individual. During his return to Minnesota in early May, the Twins formally retired his No. Harmon Killebrew (Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr.) was born on 29 June, 1936 in Payette, Idaho, USA, is an Actor. I hit it out. [16][17] Killebrew had a .115 average through June 16, and as a result was sent back to Charlotte; he finished the season there with a .325 batting average and 15 home runs in 70 games. Born and raised in Payette, Idaho, Killebrew was youngest of four children of Harmon Clayton Sr. and Katherine Pearl (May) Killebrew. With Mercury among your dominant planets, you are certainly cerebral, nervous, swift, curious, quick-witted, and you love to communicate. [8] Killebrew also had defensive difficulties at third base, where he played behind veteran Eddie Yost. When the Twins moved into Target Field in 2010, Gate 3 on the southeast (centerfield) side of the stadium was named in his honor. Harmon Killebrew. We encourage you to research and examine these records . His family tree includes great-grandfather Ray Boone, grandfather Bob Boone, and father Bret Boone. Harmon Killebrew, a Hall of Fame slugger who became one of baseball's premier home-run hitters with the Minnesota Twins, has died. Despite this, the season was unsuccessful for Killebrew, whose batting average barely passed .200 most of the year; after a strong start, he hit below .200 in both May and June and his average stood at .204 with 13 home runs going into the all-star break. Calvin Griffith took over the Senators after his uncle Clark Griffith died in 1955, and decided Killebrew was ready to become the Senators' regular third baseman. 1956 topps Harmon Killebrew #164 SGC 5.5 EX+. He did not play in the second, but in the first, he hit a pinch hit home run in the sixth inning. Baseball Hall of Fame (1984) Most Valuable Player (1969) Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1984) 1x MVP 13x All-Star. [12] At the end of the season, the Royals released Killebrew. Killebrew started the 1968 season in a different venue; he served as a prosecution witness in a case where his name was being used to sell stocks in Idaho, unknown to him. During his 22-year career, he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and the Kansas City Royals. He was offered an athletic scholarship by the University of Oregon, but opted to attend the College of Idaho instead. And he was the same way in the field. Killebrew. Edit your search or learn more 1920 United States Federal Census 1920s View 1940 United States Federal Census 1940s $179.99. $69.99. [94] When the Twins moved to Target Field in 2010, Gate 3 on the southeast (center field) side of the stadium was named in his honor. [44] Elected to play first base on his fifth All-Star team, Killebrew became the first player in All-Star game history to be elected at three different positions, having previously been selected to play third base (1959 and 1961) and left field (1963 and 1964). Username and password are case sensitive. The Senators found Killebrew in a small town in Idaho, signed him for a $30,000 bonus June 20, 1954, and three days later, he was pinch-running for Clyde Vollmer in a game at Chicago's Comiskey. After enduring seven months of rehabilitation for his injury, Killebrew remained in pain but rebounded to have his best season in 1969. Brother of Gene F. Killebrew; Eula May Cheese; Patricia Alice Ann Killebrew and Robert Culver Killebrew, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmon_Killebrew. Soon after, Killebrew's health failed. The plan was to construct 18 luxury homes on each hole of a golf course designed by . On June 3, 1967, Killebrew hit a 520-foot (160 m) home run, the longest measured home run ever hit at Metropolitan Stadium and, as of 2011, the longest in Twins history. Following his retirement, Killebrew was a television broadcaster for the Twins at WCCO-TV from 1976 to 1978, the Oakland Athletics from 1979 to 1982, the California Angels in 1983 and back with Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. Find a Grave memorial ID. Killebrew signed his contract under Major League Baseball (MLB)'s Bonus Rule, which required that he spend two full seasons on the major league roster. On August 3, 1962, he was the first batter ever to hit a baseball over the left field roof at Tiger Stadium, a seldom-reached target as contrasted with the old ballpark's smaller right field area. Killebrew only played in 69 games that season, hitting five home runs. The most Killebrew families were found in USA in 1880. [86], Killebrew was first eligible for the Hall of Fame in 1981 and received 239 votes, or 59.6% of the vote; 75% of the vote is required for induction. And he never did this to get help on close plays, as some players do. Reported! May 17, 2011. For one year, in . [7], In the early 1950s, Senator Herman Welker of Idaho told Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith about Killebrew, who was hitting for an .847 batting average for a semi-professional baseball team at the time. The street along the south side of the Mall of America, the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, in Bloomington, Minnesota, is named "Killebrew Drive" in his honor. Family tree of Harmon KILLEBREW Baseball Born Harmon Clayton KILLEBREW American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder Born on June 29, 1936 in Payette, Idaho , United States Died on May 17, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona , United States Born on June 29 49 Deceased on May 17 33 Baseball 44 Family tree Report an error 69956026. subject named as. On August 23, 1954, Killebrew made his first start in the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, hitting two singles and a double as the Senators won the game, 103. He was second only to Babe Ruth in American League (AL) home runs, and was the AL career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter. At the time of his retirement Killebrew had the fifth-most home runs in major league history. @ dohyoungpark. . In May 1990, he was rushed to the hospital with a collapsed lung and damaged esophagus. After his MVP season, Killebrew signed a new contract with the Twins worth $90,000 ($509,046 today). He played through the first half of the season, but an injury to his left knee on June 25 sidelined him. He was 74. He had reportedly gained his strength by lifting 95-pound milk cans while working on his father's farm. He was a prolific power hitter who spent most of his 22-year career in Major League Baseball with the Minnesota Twins. His compact swing generated tremendous power and made him one of the most feared power hitters of the 1960s, when he hit at least 40 home runs in a season eight times. He used a wheelchair for some time post-surgery. Two days later, Killebrew started the All-Star Game at his home field, Metropolitan Stadium, and hit a game-tying two-run home run, erasing what had been a 50 National League lead. During a game against the Orioles, Twins third baseman Rich Rollins made a poor throw to first and while trying to save the play, Killebrew collided with the runner and dislocated his elbow, putting him out of action until mid-September. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Minnesota Twins, Killebrew was a prolific power hitter who, at the time of his retirement, had the fourth-most home runs in major league history. Harmon Killebrew Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Leftfielder Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-0 , 195lb (183cm, 88kg) Born: June 29, 1936 in Payette, ID us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame MVP 13x All-Star 25 12 3 3 3 3 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. [33] Killebrew moved to left field, where he started off the season slowly. Killebrew's arrival and home runs did little to improve the Senators' record, as they finished in the second division of the American League every year he played in Washington, including four years in last place. Killebrew Canyon at Heavenly Mountain Resort is also named after the baseball star, who skied the outer limits of the resort after his retirement from baseball. [71] He continued his success through the second half of the year, and at season's end had hit 41 home runs with 113 RBIs and finished third in MVP voting behind teammate and runner-up Tony Oliva and Baltimore's Boog Powell. On September 21, Killebrew hit three home runs in a game for the only time in his career in the first game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. In 106 games with the Royals, he had a batting average of .199, 14 home runs, and 44 RBIs. In the late 1980s, Killebrew had financial problems. Killebrew was known for his quick hands and exceptional upper-body strength, demonstrated by frequent "tape measure" home runs he hit in the prime of his career. [108] He moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1990, where he chaired the Harmon Killebrew Foundation, which he created in 1998. His contract continued to grow in value though, and before the 1971 season began he was awarded the first $100,000 ($669,104 today) contract in Twins history. [3][6] He was offered an athletic scholarship by the University of Oregon, but declined the offer. Following his death, the Twins released a statement: "No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins Territory than Harmon Killebrew. Killebrew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. 1990 March 30, 1990. This was about 36% of all the recorded Killebrew's in USA. During his return to Minnesota in early May, the Twins formally retired his No. He did not play in the second game, but in the first game, he hit a pinch hit home run in the sixth inning. ''Harmon was a Hall of Famer on and off the field. The only player to hit one completely out of the Orioles' stadium was Frank Robinson in 1966; his blast was reported as about 451 feet (137 m), or about 20 feet (6.1 m) less than Killebrew's hit. [66][76], In 1972, Killebrew showed signs of slowing down. For the franchise's first year in Minnesota, Killebrew was named team captain by manager Cookie Lavagetto. 9 October 2017 . $14.99. behind Ruth and ahead of Reggie Jackson, his partner in a Minnesota car dealership. [30][40] Killebrew finished the season with a .258 batting average, 45 home runs, and 96 RBI, and led the league in home runs and slugging percentage (.555). [9] The Boston Red Sox also expressed interest but Bluege succeeded in signing him to a $50,000 ($504,523 today) contract on June 19, 1954. Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out the detail of Harmon Killebrew in your family tree. [47][48][49] Despite his absence, the Twins had a winloss record of 2819 and even extended their first place lead. On July 5, Killebrew set a career-high with six RBIs in a game against the Oakland Athletics. On July 11, the day before the All-Star break, defending AL champion Yankees had a one-run lead over the Twins going into the bottom of the 9th inning, but Killebrew hit a two-run home run for the win. Killebrew's '55 Topps rookie is listed at $2,000 in PSA 9 (SMR May) . There were questions about Killebrew's health as the 1973 season began, as he had surgery twice during the offseason to fix leg problems. When he retired, he was second only to Babe Ruth in American League (AL) home runs and was the AL career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter (since broken by Alex Rodriguez). [12], The Twins finally won the American League pennant during the 1965 season. [54] Target Field had a statue of a Gold Glove outside Gate 34 that was exactly 520 feet (158m) from Target Field's home plate. Fully recovered for the 1974 season, Killebrew made his mark early on, hitting two home runs in a May 5 match against the Detroit Tigers; the second was career home run number 550. In July 1988, his house went into foreclosure and, in 1989, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that he had fallen $700,000 into debt. In that game, Killebrew hit a home run against his former teammates and received a standing ovation from the crowd. With regard to long distance home runs, Killebrew was ranked as the ninth most powerful hitter ever by Bill Jenkinson (see above). Killebrew died on May 17, 2011 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 74, a month and a half short of his 75th birthday. [109] In the late 1980s, Killebrew had financial problems. Trei Cruz was drafted out of high school in the 35 th round of the draft by the Houston Astros, the team his grandfather (Jose) and father (Jose Jr.) previously played for. His finest season was 1969, when he hit 49 home runs, recorded 140 runs batted in (RBI), and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. His uncle, Aaron Boone, was also a major-leaguer. On May 29, after being forced into action when regular second baseman Pete Runnels was injured early in a game against the Orioles, Killebrew hit two home runs, including only the second ball ever hit over a wire barrier in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium's center field. He hit number 499 more than a month later and finally hit number 500 off a Mike Cuellar slow curveball in the first inning of an August 10 home game; at the time, he was the 10th player in history to hit 500 home runs. Killebrew finished the season with a .231 batting average, 26 home runs, and 74 RBIs. January 14th, 2021. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. As I crossed the plate, House said, 'That's the last time I ever tell you what pitch is coming. [16][18] Killebrew spent most of the 1957 season with the Southern Association's Chattanooga Lookouts, where he hit a league-high 29 home runs with 101 RBIs and was named to the All-Star Game. Clayton encouraged Harmon and his brothers to stay active in various sports before his sudden death in 1953 at age 59. RIP, Killer. He was one of the few players who would go out of his way to compliment umpires on a good job, even if their calls went against him. of 1. [85][112], Killebrew was involved in a Boise, Idaho insurance and securities business. [8][23] Although 1959 proved his breakout season, he was ineligible for the Rookie of the Year Award because of his previous sparse experience. During the 1967 season Killebrew hit the then longest home run recorded at Metropolitan Stadium, a June 3 shot off Lew Burdette in the 4th inning that landed in the second deck of the bleachers. At the start of the 1966 season, Killebrew hit few home runs; halfway through May, he had hit only two, his lowest total at that point of a season since 1960, when he had missed the first two months of the season. It was one of the longest home runs I ever hit. [115] While still an active major leaguer, Killebrew became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and never smoked or drank. [20] In 1958, he was briefly promoted to Indianapolis of the American Association but struggled and was sent back to Chattanooga for most of the season. Here's Catherine's post from Sunday,. After receiving 71.9% of the vote in 1983, Killebrew said that not getting in that year was more difficult to accept than the previous two times, and asked "Why do the writers feel there only has to be a certain number inducted each time?" Pride was a remarkable trailblazer in the music world but . Harmon Killebrew, the Legend of the Killer. [105], Following his retirement, Killebrew was a television broadcaster for the Twins at WTCN TV from 1976 to 1978, the Oakland Athletics from 1979 to 1982, the California Angels in 1983 and back with Minnesota from 1984 to 1988. Killebrew earned 12 letters in various sports and was named an All-American quarterback at Payette High School; his uniform number was later retired by the school. [74] Killebrew appeared in his last All-Star Game in 1971, hitting a two-run home run off Ferguson Jenkins to provide the margin of victory for the AL. While still an active major leaguer, Killebrew became a Mormon, and never smoked or drank. The Twins said Killebrew passed away peacefully at his home . In 1982, Killebrew received 59.3% of the vote, taking a backseat to Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, who made it in their first year of eligibility. I am currently researching and compiling our Family Tree. On May 24, 1964, Harmon hit the longest measured homer at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, 471 feet (144 m) to deep left center. In his career, Killebrew hit 573 home runs, which as of 2011 is currently 11th all-time, 1,584 RBIs, 1,559 walks, which is currently 15th all-time, and he easily holds the all-time home run record among players born in the state of Idaho with 573; Vance Law is second with 71. A month later, the injury had not cleared up, and he underwent surgery to remove some torn cartilage; he did not return to the lineup until mid-September. [89], Killebrew hit 573 home runs (12th all time), drove in 1,584 RBIs and had 1,559 (15th all time) bases on balls during his career. Harmon has family members who are numismatists and at least one or more of them are PCGS posters here. Asked once what hobbies he had, Killebrew replied, "Just washing the dishes, I guess."[2]. [67] In the 1969 American League Championship Series, the Baltimore Orioles used their pitching staff, the best in the league, to defeat Minnesota and win the series three games to none. He was a bruising fullback at West Virginia Wesleyan University. [12], Fully recovered for the 1974 season, Killebrew made his mark early on, hitting two home runs in a May 5 match against the Detroit Tigers; the second was career home run number 550. [73], Killebrew reached 40 home runs in a season for the final time in 1970 and also made his last appearance in the postseason. Harmon was born June 29, 1936,. [61][62], After enduring seven months of rehabilitation for his injury, Killebrew remained in pain but rebounded to have his best season in 1969. He was the oldest player still active in the American League at the age of 38 in 1974, his last with the Twins, and in 1975, when he played out his string with the Kansas City Royals. [31] After the season ended, Killebrew took part in a home run hitting contest with Jim Gentile and Roger Maris, whose 61 home runs that year broke the single-season record; Killebrew hit 20 to win the contest. Wrong username or password. Share Memories & Support the Family. On January 24, 1975, eight days after getting his release from the Twins, Killebrew signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. After retiring from baseball, Killebrew became a television broadcaster for several baseball teams from 1976 to 1988. "[2], On December 29, 2010, Killebrew announced that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and started treatment. Joe Orlando - May 5, 2000. Died. 29 June 1936. [79] He played through the first half of the season, but an injury to his left knee on June 25 sidelined him. Harmon Clayton Killebrew, Jr. Born: June 29, 1936, in Payette, Idaho. The Boston Red Sox also expressed interest but Bluege succeeded in signing him to a $50,000 ($408,571 today) contract on June 19, 1954. (Photo by Louis Requena/MLB Photos) Harmon Killebrew, surrounded by family . He also divorced and remarried during this time, moving to Arizona in 1990 and chairing the Harmon Killebrew Foundation. The ball landed in the far reaches of the bleachers. After his seven-triple season, his speed began to decrease and he could no longer regularly score triples due to pulling his quadriceps during the 1962 season. In the 1969 American League Championship Series, the Baltimore Orioles used their pitching staff, the best in the league, to defeat Minnesota and win the series three games to none. That event is commemorated at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, which includes a plaque marking home plate, and one red-painted seat from the Met which was placed at the location and elevation of the landing spot of the home run. The street along the south side of the Mall of America, the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, was named "Killebrew Drive" in his honor. date of birth. Harmon was born June 29, 1936, the fifth child of Katherine Pearl May Killebrew and Clayton Killebrew, Sr. in a house in Payette, ID. [12] There were questions about Killebrew's health as the 1973 season began, as he had surgery twice during the offseason to fix leg problems. [12] In the 1965 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Killebrew and Zoilo Versalles led the Twins with .286 batting averages, and Killebrew hit a home run off Don Drysdale in Game 4. [5] He worked as a farmhand in his youth, lifting ten-gallon milk cans, each weighing about 95 pounds (43kg). He then wasted no time in hitting number 501, knocking a Cuellar fastball over the fences later in the same game. On Tuesday, esophageal cancer claimed the life of. His wife, Nita, and family were with him . [12][34] On July 18 in a game against the Cleveland Indians, Killebrew and Bob Allison became the first teammates since 1890 to hit grand slams in the same inning as the Twins scored 11 runs in the first. [83] He chose to be released, ending his 21-season tenure with the Twins. He got into just 47 games during those two years, making 104 plate appearances. Genealogy for Katherine Pearl Killebrew (May) (1895 - 1990) family tree on Geni, with over 240 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. On his return, he remained in the lineup for the rest of the season, finishing the year with 31 home runs in 124 games. Signed: Washington Senators 1954 (17 yrs) Primary position: 1st Baseman Primary team: Minnesota Twins Inducted to the Hall of Fame in: 1984 Did You Know? Tennessee had the highest population of Killebrew families in 1840.