Non-Steroid Era Prologue

Prologue:

Born in Payette, Idaho, Harmon Killebrew was youngest of four children to Harmon Clayton, Sr. and Katherine Pearl (May) Killebrew. His father, a painter and sheriff, was a member of an undefeated Millikin College football team who was later named an All-American under eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Greasy Neale. According to family legend, Harmon Killebrew's grandfather was the strongest man in the Union Army, winning every available heavyweight wrestling championship. Clayton encouraged Harmon and his brothers to stay active in various sports before his sudden death in 1953 at age 59.

As a child, Harmon played baseball at Walker Johnson Memorial Field, named after the Hall of Fame pitcher who spent part of his childhood in Idaho. He worked as a farm worker in his youth, where he lifted 10-gallon milk cans, each can weighing about 95 lb. (43 kg). Killebrew earned 12 letters in various sports and was named an All-American quarterback at Payette High School; his uniform number was later retired by the school. He was offered an athletic scholarship by the University of Oregon, but declined the offer.

In the early 1950's, Idaho Senator Herman Welker told Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith about Killebrew, who was hitting for an .847 batting average for a semi-professional baseball team at the time.

Killebrew signed his contract under Major League Baseball (MLB)'s Bonus Rule, which required that he spent two full seasons on the major league roster. Making his major league debut four days after signing and six days from his 18th birthday (becoming the youngest active player in the majors at the time).

On August 23, 1954, Killebrew made his first start in the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, hitting two singles and a double as the Senators won the game, 10 - 3. A year and one day after making his major league debut, Killebrew hit his first major league home run on June 24, 1955 in the 5th inning off Detroit Tigers starter Billy Hoeft. five days shy of his 19th birthday {and this is the first 19 years}.