MLB Hall of Fame slugger, ex-MVP battling cancer

Betallsports · Dec 30, 2010

Calling it "perhaps the most difficult battle of my life," Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew said Thursday he is being treated for esophageal cancer.

In a statement released by the Twins, Killebrew said he is being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. "While my condition is very serious, I have confidence in my doctors and the medical staff, and I anticipate a full recovery," he said.
Killebrew, 74, was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1984 in his fourth year of eligibility following a 22-year career.

He hit 573 home runs and drove in 1,584 runs with a .256 career batting average. He was fifth on the all-time home run list at the time of his retirement.

The 11-time major-league All-Star put up his best season in 1969, hitting 49 home runs and driving in 140 runs to win the AL Most Valuable Player award. He led the American League in homers six times.

Killebrew played from 1954 to 1975, spending the first 21 seasons with the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins franchise. He finished his career with one season in Kansas City.

PoundIt · Dec 30, 2010

Surprised it took 4 years for the "killer" to get into the HOF.

Best wishes Harmon!

steaktartar · Dec 30, 2010

one of my baseball heroes as kid......harmon is tough and the care he is getting is the best...good luck harmon hang in there

steaktartar · May 13, 2011

Killebrew in final days of cancer battle
Posted on: May 13, 2011 11:15 am

Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew announced Friday morning that he is entering hospice and is in the final days of his battle with esophegeal cancer.

"My illness has progressed beyond my doctors' expectations of cure," Killebrew said, in a statement released by the Twins. "I am very comfortable taking this next step and experiencing the compassionate care that hospice provides."

Killebrew, who is 74, announced last December that he had been diagnosed with cancer. At the time, he said that he anticipated "a full recovery."

Killebrew played 22 seasons in the major leagues, beginning with the Washington Senators in 1954, when he was 18 years old. He moved with the franchise to Minnesota in 1961, and played with the Twins through 1974. Killebrew then played one season with the Royals before retiring.

Killebrew, an 11-time All-Star who was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1969, was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1984, in his fourth year on the ballot.

In retirement, Killebrew was a familiar and welcome figure around the Twins, a pleasant man who never seemed to demand special treatment.

In his statement Friday, Killebrew thanked fans for the concern they've shown since the announcement that he has cancer.

"I look forward to spending my final days in comfort and peace with [wife] Nita by my side," he said.