Twins legend Kirby Puckett was a first-ballot baseball Hall of Famer who was enshrined in Cooperstown in 2001.
Puckett can now add a smaller but not insignificant honor to his lifetime of achievements, albeit this one posthumous after his death in 2006.
The California League, a well-regarded Class A league, announced Tuesday that Puckett is part of the five-member class — just the second class honored by the league — to be inducted this year as members of the Cal League Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be June 20 during the league All-Star Game in Visalia — which, fittingly enough, is where Puckett starred in the league as he made his way on the fast track to the Twins.
Puckett hit .314 with 97 runs batted in for Visalia in 1983. A year later, he made his debut with the Twins and embarked on the career that landed him in Cooperstown.
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
