I don't know how intense his beliefs in Mormonism were, but Harmon Killebrew, the famous baseball player died of cancer today. He was known as a super nice guy, RIP Killebrew!

One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in professional sports was Steve Young's 65 yard touchdown run against Minnesota on MNF. Mormon or not, that was awesome!

I don't care about any athlete's social, political or religious views. Just shut-up and play. After all, isn't that what we pay them to do?

RIP, Kill-A-Brew.

Timothy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2011 01:15PM by Timothy.

I didn't know he was Mormon. Doesn't matter to me.

..that must have been 30 years ago. I remember his talk (speech), which was really interesting. The man had the biggest forearms I have ever seen in my life, next to pop-eye, which probably explains, in part, his home run ability. RIP Harmon.

Didn't Paul Dunn play with him in the minors?

I know there is a Paul Dunn Connection somewhere.

..I believe there was some sort of connection.

...growing up far from Zion, used to say, "This is going to be a Killebrew ball!" when he believed he was going to cream the next pitch for a homer. I didn't know who Killebrew was, other than a baseball player, and I had no idea he was LDS until decades later.

He converted to Mormonism. I have read that he was inactive though it really doesn't matter. He seemed to be a pretty good guy from all accounts.

and married a mormon woman. He was active, but I do not think he was ever a believer. I met him once at when I was about 11 or 12 he came to our ward for church with a friend of the family (also a ballplayer) who was living with us while trying to make a comeback with the Royals. I was introduced as - "This is (insert real name here), he hit a double and a triple yesterday." Needless to say, my favourite introduction of my life lol. He was very nice and chatted with me for a minute or two.

My recollection is that when Harmon and his wife got divorced he remarried a non-mormon and basically stopped being mormon, didn't make a big deal about it, just stopped since he only joined for his (first) wife. I think his kids are still mormons though.

I hadn't heard the mormo connection.

He had esophageal cancer.........battled it then said he didn't want to keep treating it and went into hospice.

DAMN DAMN esophageal cancer........it's horrible.

My DH died from it too......it's hard to diagnose early.

Usually it's an acid reflux problem that creates the tissues that create cancer.
Smoking and drinking can contribute to it too....as with Christopher Hitchens.

Harmon was 74.

SAW HIM PLAY at the Met!! and that aint the Metrodome either! :)
my Granpa and Ma were big fans!! R.I.P. Harmon!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2011 02:32PM by bignevermo.

He was in a ward that was in our same building.

I also heard he joined Team Moron for love. I think he started an affair with his secretary and later married her - or something like that. At least he wasn't hitting on women in the bar restrooms like Kirby Puckett ;-)

A fellow missionary on my mission dated one of his daughters.

Super nice guy - never heard a negative story about fans that encountered him.

We would make regular pilgrimages when I was a kid from Washington State to visit family in Utah. I remember there being a big sign outside of Payette, Id., that said "Home of Harmon Killebrew".

I asked my folks who he was and they just said "famous ball player". What an understatement.

Sad to hear! Previous Minnesota Twins All-Star Harmon Killebrew has succumbed to throat cancer. The powerfully built home run hitter who pelted Major League bleachers with hundreds of souvenirs was 74 years old. The ambassador for the game of baseball games ended his days peacefully while sleeping in his Scottsdale, Ariz., home. He was accompanied in his last moments by wife Nita and their children. The proof is here:Baseball great Harmon Killebrew, 74, has died, newstype.com