Puckett remembered in public service

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins, their fans and the baseball community gathered Sunday night to celebrate Kirby Puckett one last time, gathering at the Metrodome for a moving ceremony marked by just as many cheers as tears.

“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.

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.

Kent Hrbek, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Dan Gladden were among the former Twins who took seats around the infield as a local gospel choir began the program by signing the old hymn “I’ll Fly Away” and thousands of fans – many toting Homer Hankies and Puckett memorabilia – clapped rhythmically from the seats.

A recording of late public address announcer Bob Casey’s famous introduction – “the center fielder, Kir-beeeee Puck-ett!” – followed before a video of Puckett’s career highlights began playing on the video screen above left field.

Cal Ripken and Dave Winfield led the list of Puckett’s contemporaries who showed up for the emotional event for the Hall of Famer, who died Monday in his Arizona home after a stroke.

“It will never be about closure. It will always be about remembering Puck,” said Gardenhire, who coached third base for Minnesota during the last half of Puckett’s career.

A private memorial service was held in the Minneapolis suburb of Wayzata earlier in the afternoon for Puckett’s family and friends before the gates opened at the Metrodome – the place where Puckett roamed center field on two World Series winners, in 1987 and 1991. Fans were lining up outside the stadium several hours before the public service began.

The Twins were anticipating a two-hour program with the potential to run longer, with Ripken, Winfield, Killebrew, Hrbek, former teammate Al Newman and former manager Tom Kelly among the expected speakers.