Harmon Killebrew: 1936-2011

Washington Senators outfielder Harmon Killebrew poses for a portrait in 1959. Killebrew, the affable, big-swinging Hall of Famer whose tape-measure home runs made him the cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins, died Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after battling esophageal cancer. He was 74. Killebrew broke in to the majors with the Senators in 1954 as an 18-year-old.

The Washington Senators Harmon Killebrew shakes hands with President Dwight D. Eisenhower before the start of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on May 29, 1959 in Washington. At center is Calvin Griffith, president of the Senators.

Washington Senators outfielder Harmon Killebrew poses for a portrait in August 1959. Killebrew broke in with the Senators in 1954 as an 18-year-old. He spent most of his first five seasons in the minors, then hit 42 homers in his first full season in 1959.

Minnesota Twins' outfielder Harmon Killebrew hitting a double in the third inning against the Washington Senators, in Washington on May 22, 1962. The Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, and Killebrew hit 190 homers in his first four seasons there, including 49 in 1964.

This 1963 file photo shows Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. The man whose silhouette inspired Major League Baseball's official logo was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984, the first Twin to be enshrined.

Minnesota Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew poses for a portrait before a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 12, 1964. Former Twins owner Calvin Griffith used to call Killebrew the backbone of the franchise. "He kept us in business," Griffith said.

Minnesota Twins' Harmon Killebrew posing with 9-year-old Johnny Guiney at Yankee Stadium, Sept. 12, 1964. Killebrew had visited Guiney in May after he was hospitalized with critical burns suffered when his altar boy robes caught fire. Johnny asked his idol to hit a homer, and the leading home run hitter in the major leagues responded with a first inning, two-run blast.

Minnesota Twins' Harmon Killebrew at bat in a game against the Yankees at New York's Yankee Stadium, May 19, 1964. Killebrew hit 573 home runs during his 22-year career, 11th-most in major league history. His eight seasons with 40 or more homers still is tied for second in league history to Babe Ruth.

Minnesota Twins baseball player Harmon Killebrew is seen in this 1965 photo. Behind their soft-spoken slugger nicknamed "The Killer," the Twins reached the World Series for the first time in 1965 and back-to-back AL Championship Series in 1969 and 1970.

Minnesota Twins' Harmon Killebrew hits his 49th home run of the season in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox, in Minneapolis on Oct. 1, 1969. The 11-time All-Star was the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1969 after hitting 49 home runs with 140 RBIs and 145 walks, all team records that stand to this day.

Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew and Reggie Jackson — AP Photo

American League All Stars, from left, Baltimore Orioles' Frank Robinson, Minnesota Twins' Harmon Killebrew and Oakland Athletic's Reggie Jackson, in the clubhouse after defeating the National League 6-4, in Detroit, July 13, 1971. The three players are all members of the 500-home run club.

President Ronald Reagan, right, holding an autographed baseball as he talks with soon to be Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, formerly of the Minnesota Twins, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1984 Killebrew was in Washington for the Old Timers Baseball Classic.

Kirby Puckett, Harmon Killebrew — AP Photo/Jim Mone

Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, right, enjoying a laugh with fellow Hall of Fame star Harmon Killebrew, left, during ceremonies honoring Twins announcer Bob Casey, in Minneapolis, May 31, 2003.

Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew watching from the dugout prior to a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays, on March 19, 2011 in Fort Myers, Fla. Killebrew died May 17, 2011 at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after battling esophageal cancer. He was 74.

Former Minnesota Twins baseball player and Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, signing autographs before the Hall of Fame Classic baseball game in Cooperstown, N.Y., June 20, 2010.

Roses sit on the plaque of Harmon Killebrew — AP Photo/Jim Mone

Roses sit on the plaque by the statue of Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame baseball player Harmon Killebrew on Target Field plaza, Friday, May 13, 2011, in Minneapolis. Killebrew died May 17, 2011 at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after battling esophageal cancer. He was 74.

A photo of former Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame baseball player Harmon Killebrew was placed at home plate before being covered by a Target Field grounds crew worker Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Minneapolis, where it will remain the remainder of the Twins' baseball season. Killebrew died Tuesday at his Arizona home of cancer.