"Harmon Killebrew Day" in Payette didn't begin until 2005, after baseball coach Tracy Bratcher walked into principle (and then-Mayor) Mark Heleker's office and asked, "Why aren't we doing more with Harmon Killebrew?" The answer to that question turned into a town celebration every April of Idaho's greatest professional athlete.
"To lose such a great guy, such an ambassator for baseball and this town, it's tough," Bratcher - a Payette native - said. Bratcher's Pirates were state runners-up in 2010, but haven't had a great 2011. Payette won back-to-back elimination games last week to make the state tournament for the fifth straight year. Killebrew's legacy is ever-present in Payette, but obviously the mood changes with his passing.
"It's definitely something that could be inspirational," said junior Spencer Pollock. Bratcher agreed; "Hopefully they go out there and leave it all in the yard and understand that no body is guarenteed tomorrow."Killebrew last visited the team in 2009, when Pollock was a freshman. He would talk to the team, sign autographs and get his ear bent for any hall of fame-caliber advice.
"I would be in his ear all the time; we got guys doing this, how can we correct it? I want to be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as possible," Bratcher said. Pirate players seemed just sounded impressed to meet a living legend who at one time walked the same streets as they do today.
"Seeing him in person, he comes to our game the Saturday of Killebrew day, it's just really cool," said Pirate senior Adam White. "It's definitely inspirational."Payette faces South Fremont at 10 a.m. Thursday in the first round of the state baseball tournament. 3A competition is at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario.
Killebrew will be buried in Payette Monday at a private ceremony, his family announced through the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Payette High is hosting a public ceremony to honor Killebrew at 10 a.m. Monday, May 23. There will also be services this week in Minneapolis, Killebrew's major league home, and in Peoria, Arizona.