1991 WS Gm6: Puckett's amazing leaping grab at the wall

[@twolak1972]

I watched that series from start to finish and loved every second..2 teams so evenly matched. 3 games decided in extra innings. 5 games decided by 1 run. Kirbys monster catch & throw and his 11th inning homer to force game 7 was FOR THE AGES. Kirby will always be the greatest twin. A 5 ft 8 little kid inside with the heart of a LION who never have up on his teammates or himself. TOUUCH EM.ALL KIRBY , BET THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN ARE WEARING OLD NO.34.

[@lfeco]

All the hits and great fielding plays but as important is what his attitude brought to the team. He inspired his teammates to do their best. 1987 and 1991 were on account of Kirby.

[@mantroid]

Greatest Twin ever, and it's not even close.

[@bigolbootycheeks9138]

mantroid 100% a fact

[@edavis7251]

You could make an argument for Harmon Killebrew on that one, but I'd give it to Kirby.

[@EssexAggiegrad2011]

Torii Hunter was great too, but I'd still agree with Puckett

[@chancebockenstest5170]

Walter Johnson

[@autobotjazz1972]

what about Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Rod Carew. Kirby is a great player but he has a lot of company as one of the Twin's best.

[@ETRacing]

Kirby Puckett is no doubt one of the best ever to play the game.

[@bauerj3398]

Not even top 100, but I guess 'one of the best ever' is vague enough.

[@NateTheGr8ness]

I'm a Tigers 🐅 fan and I used to hate to play the Twins all because of this guy. Kirby Puckett was just 5'8" but played the game like he was 6'8"! He was one of the greatest.

[@overratedgm5713]

@@bauerj3398 One of the best fat guys ever to play the game

[@slgordon3]

Inspirational. Kirby was one of those players that seemed to do amazing things with sheer willpower. This and his HR bring tears to my eyes.

[@robertnodler793]

I cry every time I see that catch or that home run. Tears of joy.

[@metaphoria3]

He did it w ezzz

[@boogitybear2283]

They should have made that Game 6 Day “Kirby Puckett Day”.

[@tomwolak3362]

HE made plays like that look routine.Another reason he was so loved.KIRBY played the game like the little kid he was inside. FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

Not a bad throw either. Kirby Puckett was an absolute joy to watch. I'm a yankees fan but I love Kirby. A little man with huge talent and heart.

[@Mak933]

I can't upvote a Yankee's fan. Sorry.

[@kristinelynch6653]

TheGodYouWishYouKnew ~ Thank you. It's always nice to hear others say nice things about Kirby.......But I can't give ya a thumbs up. I'm truly sorry Yankee fan.

[@crimsontide1980]

TheGodYouWishYouKnew Grew up a SF Giants fan in the mid 80s, I sure miss the players from that era. My favorite was of course Will Clark but Puckett was a man legend among men. He had that short,compact swing and he hustled every second of every game. He knew at an early age he had to work twice as hard as everyone else to make it due to his size but his hard work paid off.

[@dtsun]

Herbie could have pulled another Gant and gotten a double play out of that!

[@jayNicks10]

That throw was really something. Threw all the way from deep left center to first base on just one hop. Had it been thrown slightly more accurately, that would’ve been a double play. But that catch was undeniably amazing. “HEEEEEE CAUGHT IT!”

[@adamfleitman133]

Can you imagine if he would have doubled off Pendleton on that? It would be in the conversation for greatest World Series play ever.

[@dicktrickle741]

Hrbek didn't apply the tag properly, he forgot to hook the leg and lift

[@brianroiger3665]

Most underrated MLB player of all time.

[@brianlongley9624]

I’d take him as my CF over Griffey all day

[@flame-sky7148]

Yea, they gave Dennis Eckersly the MVP in 92 over him. A relief pitcher!!!

[@bauerj3398]

@@brianlongley9624 Well, that would make you and, well, you. Puckett couldn't carry Griffey Jr.'s jockstrap in any way.

[@ChrisNelson-kq3hc]

I got to work on his cabin on deer lake in Wisconsin he was such a friendly guy

[@chrisdelgado105]

Cool

[@benjaminbor30]

Man that throw was a little off target but what a cannon!!

[@onomatopoeia162003]

just like Hicks has the arm

[@ousamaabdu794]

that throw was over 300ft no doubt

[@jayNicks10]

From deep left center to first base on just one hop. His arm was one of his most underrated attributes.

[@quietcorner293]

It's impressive that he nearly double up on Pendelton going back to first.

[@knucleballfreedom]

@@quietcorner293 I am from MN and didn't even remember the throw to 1st, and to see it was so close was even more amazing....his adrenaline must have been pumping!

[@JuneBug79824]

Kirby Puckett is one of the greatest sports names ever!!!

[@kevinkozkoz4348]

Just an amazing amazing player!

[@jonmorgan2804]

I was 9 years old, my dad brought me to this game - I've never forgotten that catch and the NOISE in the Metrodome, so loud it was like having your head in a fish bowl, so loud you couldn't hear anything if that makes sense.

[@joshbusby47]

What a play! Gant hit it SO well and Puck still gets himself in position with so much time to spare that it winds up (almost) looking easy! Just awesome. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Kirby...oh, what was it? He did something else kinda big in this game, didn't he? :) 1991: My favorite sports memory. As an Atlanta fan, apparently I'm supposed to be ill about it but whatever. Greatest Series I've ever seen!

[@gohansawyer3907]

That was game 6 so he hit the walk off homer

[@plutoplanet]

Almost forgot how amazing that catch was - you hear about it all the time as a side note to his game-winning home run later in the game, but this was pure athleticism from a guy who wasn't necessarily known for his grace. His cannon arm was on display there too. Puckett embodied leadership during his career to go along with his phenomenal numbers. Full-package guys like Kirby are extremely rare, consider yourself lucky if you've ever seen this guy play. RIP.

[@Weebs82589]

Greatest catch of Kirby’s HOF career!

[@stevenkunzer9027]

Thanks to Kirby!!! The only athlete on a MN team to really deliver when it mattered.

[@robertnodler793]

Jack Morris did a pretty nice job the following night. A 10 inning shutout to seal it. I would call that delivering.

[@Blackout.1644]

Kirk Cousins did good against the Saints despite being 20 pt underdogs

[@stevenkunzer9027]

@@robertnodler793 i agree but Puckett was known as a Twins player Jack Morris was a hired gun

[@jayNicks10]

Frank Viola, Jack Morris, Gene Larkin, Dan Gladden, Mike Pagliarulo. Not to mention the Lakers won 5 NBA championships in Minneapolis before moving to LA. A move I still don’t understand.

[@Terribleathletes]

@@stevenkunzer9027 I second that. I love Jack Morris, and watching him help the Twins win the world series is one of my fondest childhood memories, But Kirby was a Twin, and let's face it, Jack was a Tiger.

[@gzsfrk]

The precise moment in 1991 when my Braves fan heart broke. Hats off to KP, though--that catch was amazing, as was his performance throughout that series.

[@gravylawyer]

How good did 1995 feel?

[@YouDontKnowMeSoYouDontKnowJack]

The best Twins player ever.

[@josephnajarian2038]

What makes this play even crazier is that Kirby was only 5’8”. Yet he timed that jump so perfectly and went up so high that he made a seemingly impossible play for a player of his size look effortless.

[@Invictus1970]

One of my favorite players ever ...and I'm a life long Dodgers fan.

[@RyanWehr]

this was one of the best World Series ever.

[@morgann1862]

I was 10 years old during this World Series and Puckett was my favorite player! Still my favorite WS ever!

[@ajdembroski7529]

That throw to first was way more impressive than the catch.

[@andyteri777]

Best World Series ever, I love Kirby and remember watching this when I was 12 years old 😍

[@joshvogt6687]

One of the only reasons why this isn’t considered the greatest catch in baseball history is because how incredibly easy he made it look

[@EkumPokum]

The catch was amazing enough, but Puckett's throw to first is unbelievable.

[@Slinger82]

Hey Mike, I see a lot of Dale Murphy popping up which is a great one for any Braves fan like myself, but I’m going with Ron Gant, who was my favorite player in the early 90s. I can still see Kent Hrbek picking Gant up off the bag at first base in game 2 and Kirby Puckett robbing Gant with an incredible catch in game 6 as part of one-run victories by the Twins during that incredible series in 1991. After the Blue Jays topped the Braves in 92 and a disappointing loss to the Phillies in the NLCS in 93, Gant broke his leg in the offseason and the Braves let him go in 1994. Naturally a year later, they won their first World Series in 38 years. I always felt bad for Gant because he helped carry the franchise from the cellar nearly all the way to the top.

[@caseyclausen2627]

Scott Erickson's black shoes. Miss those.

[@ExtremeBirding]

GOAT Twin.

[@jaimelannister1797]

To me the throw is more impressive than the catch. The fact that he almost doubled the runner off is insane

[@bauerj3398]

it was 10 feet off line

[@hammurds]

If I’m not mistaken, right before this game, he told everyone “Jump on my back boys I’m taking us on”

[@onomatopoeia162003]

Sounds about right.

[@debbiehanson9201]

I believe it was jump on the bus, not back--something like jump on the bus, I'm driving

[@scientificdevil4672]

The best athlete Minnesota ever had. He said jump on my back and then made the catch and the homerun to bring it to game 7

[@wts15]

How am I just now discovering this man?! What a throw..

[@mikea8250]

Kirby Puckett is the coolest athlete ever

[@flailinginhalers]

And then he hit a homer to send it to game seven..legendary

[@davidpaz9389]

THE play of the greatest World Series!

[@BrendanMacWade]

I am almost as impressed by his throw on that play as well. It wasn't late by much. The greatest Twin ever.

[@burtmaclinfbi3993]

Omg, the throw was just as good as the catch! RIP to a truly great player.

[@bauerj3398]

Except for it being 10 feet off target.

[@sostenesbastidasvalles5023]

salu2 desde navolato,sinaloa mexico yo vi ese partido cuando tenia 9 años de edad grandes recuerdos de 1991 descanse en paz el gran kirby pucket!!!

[@Mike-pd6np]

Is nobody goona talk about how he rocketed that from the left center field wall right to first? that was a cannon of a throw.

[@quietcorner293]

IMO only Bo Jackson had a stronger arm.

[@bauerj3398]

@@quietcorner293 Complete B.S., but you are welcome to it.

[@americaparts13]

today i am reminded of you kirby rip buddy you will allways be in baseball hearts and one of the greatest baseball teams of all time and what a catch what a series and all the white terrible towels thank you Twins

[@shadowyshutterbug]

some years in the metrodome it would have been a home run bc the plexiglass wasn't there most of the time.

[@newyorkbozos8187]

This is one of the all time great plays in Minnesota Twins history but the description is inaccurate. He didn't rob him of a HR, the ball had to clear the plexiglass at the Metrodome, not just the blue fence. Still incredible by the great Kirby Puckett.

[@nicolerussell4624]

That was an amazing throw. One-hopped it from the LCF fence to first base.

[@mplslawnguy3389]

Most exciting WS ever played, without a doubt.

[@Z-Bart]

"And a great play by Puckett", pretty much the under statement of the year that was 1991!

[@Cory_Springer]

Watching Kirby when I was a kid is why I played outfield in baseball. To this day, my #34 Puckett is the only MLB jersey I have.

[@jean-guygagnon6950]

My father himself was impressed by Kirby Puckett. He wasn't a Twins fan like me. Great guy.

[@brianhaines5466]

People always talk about the grab, but no one ever mentions that amazing throw back to first. That guy was on his game that night.

[@katherineberger6329]

Puck always had an absolute cannon. I know we didn't have Statcast back then but he routinely threw from the center field fence (408 feet) to gun down runners at home.

[@M.G555]

Such a great catch, the one that every outfielder wants to do, Kirby was an expert 🌟

[@metaphoria3]

Dude that throw was insane too

[@jimltidw]

My first ever memory of a baseball game!

[@CUCKSLAYER]

I was only 1 when this happened but went to a twins game in late 90s early 2000s right before kirby died and they inducted him into the twins hall of fame. I miss the metrodome.

[@semipenguin]

A few takeaways from this clip. 1. Not growing up a fan of either team, I thought this was the greatest World Series in my 52 years. It had everything a baseball fan could hope for. 2. Kirby Puckett is one of my favorite leaders of any team. Him, Derek Jeter, and David Ortiz. 3. Plexiglass? Really? Is this hockey? It’s little things like this that you forget. I never got a chance to go to the Metrodome. Although I remember seeing it if I ever had the chance to drive through Minneapolis since I began my trucking career. Since I’ve been living up here in Minnesota now for almost six years, I must say, Target Field looks a lot nicer and thank goodness there’s no plexiglass. 4. Tim McCarver. Has to be one of my least favorite commentator on television or radio. He might be a nice guy in person, but man, I never really liked hearing him.

[@ibuprofenPill]

The catch was beyond remarkable, but the throw was quite notable too.

[@DonTrump-sv1si]

Amazing play. Lack luster call from the booth

[@bauerj3398]

I know, because if the announcers are not screaming like frat bros, it detracts from the play.

[@checkcheck2125]

My fav player of all time

[@joshblanchard3719]

Puckett wasnt done.

[@michaelburney2640]

I remember watching this catch as a 9 year old kid

[@billsonsin7547]

Better yet was Kirby’s homer in the 11th inning of that same game. Jack Buck’s words still ring “…and we’ll see you tomorrow night!”

[@mn_mohawk4456]

I've never actually read the description on this until now...Kirby robbed him of an extra-base hit - there's plexiglass there

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

mn_mohawk plexiglass had nothing to do with the catch. Puckett used the wall padding to leap

[@Mizoo1992]

It's unbelievable how easy he makes this play look.

[@caseyn1977]

Youre right, this has always been a pet peeve of mine. It seems any catch at the wall is described as robbing a homerun even when the ball isn't close to going out. Having said that it was an amazing catch.

[@katherineberger6329]

A couple of years later it would have been a home run robbery instead of a double - the Plexiglas was removed in 1993.

[@user-nm2hb5lg6z]

Damn Puckett had that type of arm 😳 wow

[@robertmackey520]

Elgin Watkins(RIP) remember this!? My favorite player robbing your favorite player 😬

[@minnbeef]

Could Jack Buck have BEEN more underwhelmed? Geez...

[@billcenne7262]

a good throw would have doubled up the runner at first. c'mon puckett, MAKE A PLAY! ! ! lol!

[@irocksup123]

Bill Cenne no shit right! Amateur

[@loganmadder1468]

The toss to Hrbeck may impress me more.

[@boogitybear2283]

Game 6 was definitely Kirby Pucketts Night to Shine!

[@elhermano3647]

What a blast. Like Kirby no one....

[@tricat92]

happy birthday Kirby, we miss you!

[@billbishopboyiscool]

From a White Sox fan...this guy is an all-time great!

[@zachjohns6975]

Almost even better than Kirby’s play is how nonchalant Hrbek is, like, “Yeah, that’s what Kirby does…”

[@jacktorse28]

I've always wondered what Terry Pendelton was hollering about to the first base coach after that play.

[@MrLarryQ]

+jacktorse28 Have the same question. Did he think the 1st base coach (is that Pat Corrales?) should have held him or something?

[@lethrneck4]

he was probably pissed and stunned kirbby caught it.. it was incredible!and the throw to first! he almost got doubled off

[@newyorkbozos8187]

Seems like he was just upset that he got sent, considering he was almost doubled off of first.

[@irocksup123]

I’m assuming “how the f-k did he catch that?”

[@brianlongley9624]

@@newyorkbozos8187 , sorry but that’s a clueless take. Pendleton needs to be on 2nd base in that situation, as he was . If that ball hits the wall, Pendleton has to cross the plate. The arm of Puckett was amazing but he Pendleton ran the bases correctly

[@timestampgod7338]

1 of the greatest catches of all time and not even half a mil views. Just sad.

[@IsaiahTempel-xe6bk]

Not sure what was more impressive the catch or the throw

[@bauerj3398]

Considering the throw was 10 feet off line, i would say the catch.

[@davidpallin772]

A small kid from the projects of Chicago who was told he would never amount to anything. Kirby Puckett.

[@jordanmaginn7733]

Needed some more excitement from the broadcast.. come on that was a amazing catch.

[@bauerj3398]

I know. If the announcers are not screaming like frat bros, it really detracts from the moment.

[@metaphoria3]

The toughest part is keeping your glove from going back in to the wall and knocking it out

[@QuentaSilmarillion]

I was at this game. It was fucking nutz.

[@NuclearCarnivore]

he threw that baseball about the length of a football field, if not further... talk about being pumped up

[@freighttrain1695]

Legend!

[@brandonvandine1695]

Memories great memories

[@moe6830]

one of the best

[@tryste_mx]

Didn't rob Gant of a home run, guys (fix the video description).

[@NiedheimAuthor]

ol ronnie gant had a tuff series in 91

[@dakotaboy80]

He… caught it!

[@scottsertich564]

Wow!

[@BG-pd6os]

HALL OF FAME MOMENT!

[@jra1366]

I said no way he's going to catch that.....I was WRONG....13 feet high fence.....long live baseball!!!!2022

[@shadetree6981]

Do I dare say this catch secured his HOF induction?

[@shadowyshutterbug]

there was never a doubt based on his career

[@albertwesker2283]

I’m surprised Hrbek didn’t pull Pendleton’s leg off the bag on the throw back to first base

[@q4life551]

Wow, that must be a 40 inch vertical

[@flame-sky7148]

And just think, he hits the walk off home run to put the cherry on top! But that throw though...

[@plantmandanny]

It's like he willed them to win this game.

[@DuckW1thLuck]

Why was there plexiglass there?

[@jbsmg]

Why was pendleton so upset?

[@wilrobles5392]

RIP Kirby.

[@quietcorner293]

Min-Atl crossed paths twice in two sports. Here Minn defeats Atl in a heartbreaking finish and Alt returned the favor in the '98 NFC Championship.

[@neonsparky]

Please don’t remind me of 98. Still hurts.

[@quietcorner293]

@@neonsparky I hear you! I feel the PTSD too.

[@andrewhanson1270]

My earliest memory:: I'm 6 years old mind you/ seeing my dad freak out in minneapollis

[@andrewhanson1270]

What's wrong dad?