May 20, 1964 – Harmon Killebrew pays a visit to 8-year-old John Guiney in a New York hospital.
Killebrew and the Twins were in town for a two-game series with the Yankees when he heard about how Guiney was badly burned when his altar robe caught fire while lighting candles at his parish in Brooklyn.
The visit, arranged by the New York Daily News and little John’s father, included Harmon signing a baseball and a glove for Guiney and culminated in the following exchange (via the Star Tribune):
After a little baseball chatter — “I’m a shortstop,” the bandaged boy said — Killebrew made a deal with the lad: “If you hurry up and get well, the next time I’m in town, I’ll take you out to the ball park and you can meet all the fellows.”
With the afternoon game near, Killebrew said it was time he headed to the stadium.
“I’ll watch you on television,” the blue-eyed, freckle-faced youngster said from his Manhattan hospital bed.
“Maybe I’ll hit you a couple,” Killebrew responded.
Guess what? Killer hit two homers, a two-run round tripper in the first inning and a solo shot in the eighth inning of Minnesota’s 7-4 win.
Even better, Harmon made good on his promise: on September 12, 1964, Killebrew hosted Guiney at Yankee Stadium, they posed for some pictures, and he gave him one of his bats.
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