Twins, fans honor Hall of Famer Puckett

MINNEAPOLIS --More than 15,000 fans, and baseball stars from past and present, came to the Metrodome on Sunday night to pay homage to the most beloved athlete in Minnesota history: Kirby Puckett.

"Make sure you smile and laugh tonight because that's what Kirby would want, and that's why we loved him," said Twins radio announcer John Gordon, the emcee, in his introductory remarks.

The speakers, from Cal Ripken Jr. to Kent Hrbek, and the fans heeded those words. The ceremony was long on funny anecdotes about the portly center fielder with the omnipresent smile and short on tear-jerking moments.

"I'm not going to remember the hits and the hustle and the catches that Kirby made, because I think it's going to happen again by different people," said Hrbek, the former Twins first baseman and longtime teammate of Puckett. "I'm going to remember the smile. I'm going to remember the laughter. I'm going to remember the clubhouse pranks, and just having a good ol' time with Puck."

Puckett died last week at age 45, one day after suffering a stroke at his Arizona home. What followed was seven days of mourning, celebrating and remembering one of baseball's most unique and endearing personalities.

It all culminated on Sunday, when fans young and old came from all over the Midwest, and players and coaches from across the country.

Of course, the night centered on Puckett's remarkable Hall of Fame career and unparalleled standing in the Minnesota sports community, not his retirement, which included a messy divorce and problems with his weight.

Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield were among those in attendance, along with Puckett's ex-wife, Tonya, and children, Catherine and Kirby Jr., and his fiancee, Jodi Olson. The players, coaches, families and speakers sat on the infield before a huge banner with Puckett's No. 34 in flowers.

Manager Ron Gardenhire left Minnesota's spring training site in Fort Myers, Fla., for a day to attend the ceremony along with Torii Hunter, Brad Radke, Shannon Stewart, Rondell White and Joe Mauer. Scores of former Twins, some who played with Puckett and some who never got the chance, were there, too.

"You could be in the worst mood ever and all you had to do was hear Kirby laugh or see his smile and he could bring you back," Ripken said in a touching and funny tribute.

Former Twins GM and current Chicago Cubs president Andy MacPhail got a little choked up during his address, as did former Twins manager Tom Kelly. But other than that, the atmosphere was light and warm, perhaps the best tribute to the jovial Puckett of all.

Among the many highlights was a replay of Puckett's uproariously funny appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman," in which he listed the "Top 10 ways to mispronounce Kirby Puckett." Included on the list was Kooby Pickett, Turkey Bucket and No. 1 -- Englepuck Kirbydink.

A private memorial service was held earlier in the suburb of Wayzata for Puckett's family and friends before gates opened at the place where Puckett led the Twins to two World Series champions, in 1987 and 1991.

With all the crying done during the week, the remembrance was "less about moments of silence and more about minutes of unbridled cheering," Gordon said.

The biggest cheers came during two video tributes, and former public address announcer Bob Casey's famed introduction of "Kir-beeeee Puck-ett!"

The crowd hollered when highlights of Puckett's performance in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series were played, including his leaping catch of a ball hit by Ron Gant and his game-winning homer in the 11th inning off Charlie Liebrandt.

Homer hankies were waved, Puckett jerseys were proudly worn and the Hall of Famer was cheered one last time.

"Kirby was the face of the Twins, and what a face he was, always smiling," MacPhail said. "The fans loved him, and loved him at a time when the game was suffering with lockouts and player strikes. And I'm going to tell you fans, Kirby loved you back."

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AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell contributed to this story.