How do you remember him

There aren't too many players I remember watching who are dead. Dan Quisenbury was the first. And today, Kirby Puckett is added to the list.

Pucket retired after 12 seasons, all of which he played with Minnesota. Glaucoma forced hinm from the game loved. On the field, he is remembered for his smile, his gold gloves, his all star appearances, and carryin the Twins in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

Puckett always seemed to hurt the Tigers when he played. My memory tells me that he homered in his first major league at bat against Detroit, but the internet says my memory is wrong, his first major league at bat came against Seattle.

On the field, no one disputes that this Hall of Famer was one of the best guys in the game. After his career, though, his reputation changed. First, there was a woman who told Sports Illustrated she had a long term affair with the Twins star. A divorce soon followed after his wife claimed he tried to strangle her, which was followed by accusations of sexual harrassment, and was arrested for sexual assualt

How will Kirby Puckett be remembered? As a player who won two World Series titles and was a first ballot hall of famer, or as a flawed man who had trouble setting boundaries and keeping it in his pants?

Speaking in the Metrodome after his retirement, he told fans:

Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us...Live. Love. Laugh. Enjoy life.

Hopefully he lived out that sentiment, because he was taken far too young.