A sad day for the State of Idaho, as legendary baseball player Harmon Killebrew passed away this morning at the age of 74 after a valiant battle with esophageal cancer.

The “Killer” – who grew up in Payette, began his MLB career at the age of 17 with the Washington Senators, before the franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961 – finishing with 573 home runs in his Hall of Fame career.

Members of the Boise Hawks staff had the opportunity to spend some time with Killebrew during the 2009 season, as he joined Bill Buckner as part of Republican Party night at Memorial Stadium – as Governor Butch Otter was to throw the ceremonial first pitch to the “Killer”, but instead, intentionally walked him.