Success #13: Kent Hrbek

Well, after a longer wait than expected, I finally heard back from Kent Hrbek.

The Minnesota Twins have retired 6 numbers. Kirby Puckett (34), Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), and most recently, Bert Blyleven (28). All but Blyleven have gate numbers named in their honor at Target Field. Blyleven and Hrbek are the only two to not have statues standing at Target Field either, although Hrbek's will be unveiled a few weeks from now during a home stretch. Hrbek is the only one with his own sports bar inside the ballpark. Kelli and I have had a few drinks inside, buying time during a rain delay last season. It's always packed, but it's a cool feature to Target Field with lots of unique memorabilia displayed.

Suffice it to say, Hrbek is a guy that Minnesota Twins fans know and love. Partly because he's a hometown talent (hailing from Bloomington, Minnesota), but partly because he was a member of two World Series teams in 1987 and 1991. 

There were only seven players that were part of both '87 and '91 World Series ballclubs. Randy Bush, Greg Gagne, Dan Gladden, Kent Hrbek, Gene Larkin, Al Newman, and Kirby Puckett. That makes Hrbek one of a kind.

Hrbek's "name" might not be as important to the casual MLB fan as it is to Twins fans. His career numbers are good, but not Hall of Fame worthy (.282 batting average, 293 homeruns, 1,086 RBIs). He was only an All-Star once, in 1982. And besides the two World Series titles, the Twins weren't much to write home about in the early 1980s, when Hrbek first came up through the organization. But the World Series titles are special, and the fact that he finished second in the MVP voting in 1984, surprising many by leading the Twins in competing for the AL West title (he lost the award to a closer), tells you he had some special seasons besides the World Series runs.

But the World Series runs are where many Hrbek memories were made. His overall statistics during the two series' are not that impressive. But he gave Twins fans a Grand Slam in Game 6 of the 1987 Series, a pivotal 3-2-3 double play late in Game 7 of the 1991 Series, with the score tied 0-0, and his controversial tag of Ron Gant during Game 2 of the 1991 Series will forever live in infamy.

Hrbek was always battling injuries and retired after the strike in 1994 so he could spend more time with his wife and daughter at his home in Bloomington. An avid outdoorsman, Hrbek hosts his on hunting and fishing show in Minnesota and often is a fixture helping out at camp in the Spring. Since his father died of ALS, Hrbek has started a foundation and keeps himself busy doing lots of charity work raising money.

In 1995 his number 14 was retired by the Twins, only the fourth at the time behind Killebrew, Carew, and Oliva (his number was retired before Kirby's!). And in 2000, when the Twins established their own Hall of Fame, Hrbek was elected in with the initial class of players (Puckett, Carew, Killebrew, Oliva, and former owner Calvin Griffith).

On April 14 this year, a fitting date, a statue commemorating Hrbek will be unveiled at Target Field.

Mailed: 2/7/12
Received: 3/16/12 (37 days)

Where Art Thou Kent Hrbek?

I told myself when I started this, not to get my hopes up. I seriously try. No matter how nonsensical it seems to me to not respond to a piece of mail like what I'm sending out, I still try and realize that everyone has their own prerogative. Some guys just don't like signing through the mail. Some guys simply don't have time to sign through the mail. Most of the guys I'm sending to though, should. And I make it really easy on them. All the tools are in the package I send. Just sign it, and mail it back.

But I need to be happy with the success I've had. I have sent 17 total items (plus two more dropped in the mail today) and received 11 of them back. That's pretty good. Some were complete surprises (Liam Hendriks, Brad Radke), others I was always confident of a return (Tom Kelly, Tom Brunansky). Of the guys I have not heard from, I don't really know what to think. I'm dumbfounded by Gene Larkin, and I understand not hearing from Miguel Sano and Joe Benson. Frank Viola traditionally is very good but takes an awful long time. Rick Aguilera, was a long shot to begin with, boasting a not so great track record of signing through the mail.

I know I should be happy with what I've got, but I can't help but be disappointed in Kent Hrbek.

Research showed Hrbek as a strong supporter of ALS. My wife's aunt is currently battling this and I touched on it in my letter of request to Hrbek. Research also showed that Hrbek is a fantastic through the mail signer if a small donation was made to the Minnesota ALS Foundation he helped start. Since I was sending him a baseball, I sent along a nice check.

Seven days ago I noticed in my bank account that the check was cashed. A scan of it even proves that Hrbek himself endorsed it! Two days later, a thank you card (for tax purposes) came in the mail to me, from the Minnesota ALS Foundation. Seven days ago . . . yet . . . no baseball from Herbie.

I have a hard time believing that the guy would cash my check and NOT sign my baseball and return it, but I'm beginning to worry that that is exactly what happened. 11 of my 17 requests have come back to me without a hitch, so I have a hard time believing it was lost in the process. I hope I hear from him soon, but my doubts are growing with each passing day.

Maybe he was too busy filming Taco Johns commercials.

Recent Mailings (February 2012)

I mailed a number of items this week. I mailed . . .

. . . a baseball to Tom Kelly (2/7/12)
. . . a baseball to Kent Hrbek (2/7/12)
. . . a baseball to Jim Kaat (2/7/12)
. . . a baseball to Tom Brunansky (2/7/12)
. . . a baseball to Liam Hendriks (2/7/12)
. . . and an 8x10 photograph to Brad Radke (2/10/12)

From what I've read, Kelly, Hrbek, and Brunansky are great signers. I sent Kaat a $10 check but have recently read that $25 may be what he charges to sign a ball. Research says that Kaat may not be the most timely signer either. Radke marks the first photograph I have sent a Twins player. I had a great 8x10 of him and found an address on a Florida real estate website. We shall see.