How Harmon Killebrew Made Friends With an Excelsior Elementary Student

Note: This story originally appeared on the Minnetonka Patch site.

Fans, friends and fellow Twins players gathered Thursday night at Target Field to say goodbye to Minnesota Twins legend Harmon Killebrew, who died of cancer last week. Among them was fourth-grader Lucas Hagen, 10.

For Lucas, last night’s ceremony wasn’t just a chance to say ”goodbye” but also a chance to say “thank you.”

“He’s so grateful for Harmon,” Lucas’ mom, Julie Hagen said. “He gave him an opportunity to be involved.”

Lucas, who has Down syndrome, is a member of the West Metro Miracle League, a baseball league geared to children with cognitive and physical challenges, ages 3-19. The league's home base is Minnetonka’s , which has seven baseball diamonds that can accommodate children with special needs who play Tee Ball, Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. The fields are specially designed with rubber turf specifically for wheelchairs and crutches.

Killebrew was largely responsible for bringing the Miracle League to Minnetonka. And in May 2009, the Twins great was on-hand for Bennett Park’s grand opening. It was there that Killebrew batted and ran the bases with Lucas. 

“Lucas took a liking to Harmon and vice versa,” Julie Hagen remembered. “There was a connection…totally!”

So much so, that Killebrew even requested a photo of the two rounding the bases.

Thursday night, just before 9:00 p.m. (more than an hour past his bedtime),  it was Lucas' turn to publically pay tribute to “number 3.” So one more time, Lucas ran the bases, wearing a "number 3" jersey.  At the end of the ceremony, Lucas was asked to say a few words about his departed idol. 

“What did Harmon tell you?” the night’s MC asked Lucas.

"Something,” Lucas replied, getting a hearty laugh out of the crowd.

While we may never know what Killebrew did tell Lucas, according Julie Hagen, we will always know what Killebrew did for local children with special needs.

“He gave us a place to play,” she said.