[brian1961]

Thank you for posting your Drew & Killer card---how precious!

It was about September 20, 1967. My brother was working for NBC News. He was a motion picture cameraman. On that day, he was assigned to film a story Chick McCuen was doing at Comiskey Park when the White Sox were hosting the Minnesota Twins. Well, somehow my brother was able to get me--a quiet, shy 13-year-old, a field pass to be on the playing field with him while he was filming the story. My mother knew what my big brother was trying to do for me, and graciously called the school to say I would not be present. A present of a different sort awaited me. Being on a major league field, and one I'd seen often on TV, was so exciting, naturally. Since it was a couple hours before the game, it was a low-key time, with players limbering up here and there.

I worked up enough courage to get a few autographs. For some reason, most of the players I sought were Minnesota Twins. Most of them were very accommodating, including one Mr. Harmon Killebrew. He looked so massive, and his firm handshake was an extra large Vise Grip! This took place near home plate while the players were practicing and warming up.

Ok, so this guy with his family at the edge of the boxed seats hollers for me to come over. Being pretty innocent, I went over to see what he wanted. He asked me to get Harmon to autograph his scorecard. Naturally, he pleaded with me pretty hard, and so I agreed to try. I was scared caused I really did not want to do it, 'cause the last thing I wanted to do was annoy or upset Mr. Killebrew. Well, by this time Harmon was warming up with someone, and now I was in the way. I felt just awful. But Harmon, bless his heart, took it all in stride, and without saying a word, hurriedly signed the program, and I vamoosed pronto. I ran it back to the guy, and got away quick.

I will never, ever forget Harmon Killebrew's compassion and understanding to me that afternoon. He sure didn't have any right to be so agreeable. I was so touched and humbled by it all. The tears are welling up in me now as I remember the whole scene. It was just a little thing. Maybe Harmon faced something like this a few times a game by then. Still, that was the only time I met him, and he made me feel so at ease and was very nice. I was happy, and now relieved he was "ok" with this extra autograph.

As you can imagine, I became a Harmon Killebrew fan, among the many others I liked, for the rest of my life.

I remember a phrase Ted Williams used in his autobiography, MY TURN AT BAT, that comes back to me at this moment: "A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a kid."

Right on, Ted. Harmon was a prince of a man. I will never, ever forget him and how he treated me that afternoon in 67.

I guess your card of Harmon & Drew brought my memory of Mr. Killebrew back to me. I needed that. Thanks, pal. ---Brian Powell