Twins’ Puckett Retires Doctors Can’t Repair Right Eye, Leaving Outfielder No Choice

Kirby Puckett, one of baseball’s best and most charismatic players, announced his retirement Friday after the latest in a series of laser procedures on his right eye showed irreversible damage to the retina.

After a morning surgery to remove blood from Puckett’s hemorrhaging right eye - the fourth procedure performed by Dr. Bert Glaser since April 17 - Glaser viewed Puckett’s glaucoma-damaged retina and determined that the 10-time all-star’s vision would not return.

Six hours later, Puckett, whose vision in his right eye is 20/400, was sitting at a podium inside the Metrodome announcing his retirement from the game he played like a magician.

“The world is not over,” said Puckett, with his ever-present smile and a bandage over his eye. “Baseball has been a great part of my life. Now I have to close this chapter and go on with part two of my life.”

Puckett was joined at the news conference by his wife, Tonya, and several Twins teammates, many of whom had tears in their eyes as he spoke.

“Don’t take it for granted,” Puckett said. “Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, so enjoy yourself.”

Puckett always did on the field, whether it was hitting a game-winning home run in the World Series or leaping above the centerfield wall to rob someone of a homer.

One of baseball’s most popular players in an era of sometimes snarling stars, Puckett won two World Series titles with the Twins. He retired with a .318 average in 12 seasons, and finished with 2,304 hits, 207 homers and 1,085 RBIs.

Puckett awoke on March 28 and was unable to see out of his right eye. He was diagnosed with glaucoma and underwent several laser surgery treatments.

On Friday, Glaser performed a vitrectomy to remove fluid from Puckett’s eye, but the damage to his retina was too severe.

“There’s very little, if any, blood supply nourishing the retina and, sadly, no further treatment is available,” said Glaser, of the Retinal Institute of Maryland. “Basically, the retina will not recover from this status.”

Kent Hrbek, Puckett’s longtime teammate, who retired in 1994, said the affable outfielder was “fun to play with and a joy to be around.”

“I’m just happy I can say I played alongside of him,” Hrbek said. “I had the best seat in the house to watch him. If we were kids and he was on my block, he’d be the first guy I’d pick for my team.”

“He’s one of the nicest human beings in baseball,” added general manager Terry Ryan. “We’re never going to replace Kirby Puckett.”

Puckett helped the Twins win the World Series in 1987 and 1991, but said his greatest thrill was just making it to the major leagues.

“The only regret I have about this game is that I know I could have done so much better if I could have played,” Puckett said.

He told his teammates he loved them and would miss them. He also advised them not to get discouraged.

“You can’t get four hits every game… .,” he said.

Puckett said his immediate plans were to buy a boat and go fishing with Hrbek. He didn’t rule out coaching, but indicated he might be more interested in broadcasting.

“This is the last time you’re going to see Kirby Puckett in a Minnesota Twins uniform,” he said. “It’s a tough day for me. I’ve missed baseball… .”