Harmon Killebrew Says Goodbye: Other MLB Greats Who Passed Away in 2010-2011

Harmon Killebrew spent 21 of his 22 seasons playing for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins, and became not only of the most feared right-handed hitters ever to play the game but also one of the most beloved athletes ever in the state of Minnesota.

Killebrew was widely respected throughout the league for his skills and his gentlemanly demeanor, and even after he retired in 1975, he was a welcome sight in Minnesota during the season.

Killebrew has been battling esophageal cancer in recent months, and on Friday morning, he announced through the Minnesota Twins website that he was ending his ongoing treatments and entering hospice care.

Here is the statement, released through MLB.com:

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"It is with profound sadness that I share with you that my continued battle with esophageal cancer is coming to an end. With the continued love and support of my wife, Nita, I have exhausted all options with respect to controlling this awful disease. My illness has progressed beyond my doctors' expectation of cure. 

"I have spent the past decade of my life promoting hospice care and educating people on its benefits. I am very comfortable taking this next step and experiencing the compassionate care that hospice provides. 

"I am comforted by the fact that I am surrounded by my family and friends. I thank you for the outpouring of concern, prayers and encouragement that you have shown me. I look forward to spending my final days in comfort and peace with Nita by my side."

"

In essence, Killebrew was saying goodbye, and saying it in the way that he lived his life: with grace, style and dignity.

Sadly, on Tuesday morning, Killebrew passed away peacefully, with his wife Nita at his side. Killebrew was 74.

In honor of the great Harmon Killebrew, we will take a look at other great players and managers who left an indelible mark on the game who passed away in the last two years.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.

1. Mike Cuellar: April 2, 2010

Left-handed pitcher Mike Cuellar was not considered to be a difference maker when he was obtained by the Baltimore Orioles in 1968 from the Houston Astros. A 32-year-old junkball pitcher, Cuellar was thought to be past his prime.

Instead, Cuellar became the anchor of an Orioles' staff that won three straight American League pennants, winning the Cy Young award in 1969 and was the winning pitcher in the deciding game of the 1970 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Cuellar was also one of the four pitchers to win 20 games for the Orioles in 1971, along with Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson, the last time that feat has ever been accomplished.

Cuellar died on April 2, 2010, after a long battle with stomach cancer in Orlando, Fla. Cuellar was 72.

Source: Baltimore Sun

2. Robin Roberts: May 6, 2010

Robin Roberts was a 23-year-old fireballing pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950, entering his third full season with the team. Roberts became the ace of the staff for a team that became known as the "Whiz Kids," winning the National League pennant in improbable fashion before being swept by the New York Yankees in the World Series.

That season began a streak of six straight seasons in which Roberts would win 20 games for the Phillies. Roberts was sold to the Yankees in 1961, and in 1962, the Phillies retired Roberts' No. 36, becoming only the second player to have his number retired by a team while he was still active (Babe Ruth).

Roberts died on May 6, 2010, of natural causes in Temple Terrace, Fla. Roberts was 83 years of age.

3. Ralph Houk: July 21, 2010

When Casey Stengel stepped down as the manager of the New York Yankees following the 1960 season, Ralph Houk was named as the new manager.

Stengel had won 10 American League pennants and seven World Series championships during his tenure as skipper of the Yankees, so Houk was tasked to fill some shoes that were next to impossible to fill.

Houk filled those shoes more than capably, winning three pennants and two World Series championships of his own.

In all, Houk managed for 20 years with the Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox and with the Sox was credited with mentoring young pitching stars Roger Clemens, Bobby Ojeda and Bruce Hurst.

Houk died on July 21, 2010, at his home in Winter Haven, Fla. He was 90 years of age.

4. Bobby Thomson: August 16, 2010

There may have been no greater home run ever hit than the one hit on Oct. 3, 1951, by New York Giants third baseman Bobby Thomson.

The three-run homer became known as "The Shot Heard Round the World," and propelled the Giants to the National League pennant after storming back from a 13-and -a-half-game deficit behind the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In the first game of the three-game series that would decide the pennant, Thomson hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning off Dodgers' pitcher Ralph Branca, who would also give up Thomson's blast two days later.

Thomson went on to play 15 seasons, retiring in 1960. He died on Aug. 16, 2010, at the age of 86.

5. Sparky Anderson: November 4, 2010

When Sparky Anderson was picked to replace Dave Bristol as the Cincinnati Reds manager in 1970, fans were completely stunned. They had absolutely no idea who Anderson was, or why he was hired.

By the end of the 1970s, Anderson was a household name, leading the Reds to consecutive World Series championships in 1975 and 1976.

However, Anderson's work wasn't done. After being dismissed by the Reds in 1978, Anderson was named the manager of the Detroit Tigers in June, 1979.

Five years later, Anderson became the first manager in the history of Major League Baseball to lead teams in both the AL and NL to World Series titles, leading the Tigers to the summit in 1984.

Anderson died on November 4, 2010 at his home in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 76.

6. Ron Santo: December 3, 2010

For 14 of his 15 major league seasons, Ron Santo manned the third base bag for the Chicago Cubs, and no one in Cubs history did it better than Santo. He slugged 337 home runs in a Cubs' uniform, batted .279 and won five Gold Glove awards.

To the more present generation, Santo was known as the voice of the Cubs, serving as their radio analyst for 20 years. Santo was known for his love of the Cubbies just by his "homer" style on the radio, and could often be heard cheering great plays or groaning on bad ones.

Santo, who played his entire career with diabetes, died from complications of bladder cancer on Dec. 3, 2010. He was 70.

7. Bob Feller: December 15, 2010

When Bob Feller debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 1936, he was a fresh-faced 17-year-old who could throw absolute smoke. Known as "Rapid Robert," Feller dazzled opposing hitters with his overpowering fastball, and quickly won the respect of players throughout the league.

By the time his career was finished, Feller had thrown three-no-hitters, racked up 266 wins and was an eight-time All-Star, playing his entire career with the Indians.

Feller was a fixture at Indians games after his retirement, and could be seen at Jacobs Field eating dinner in the press dining room and signing autographs during the game.

Feller died on December 15, 2010 from acute leukemia. He was 92.

8. Chuck Tanner: February 11, 2011

Chuck Tanner had already cut his teeth as a manager with two other teams when he became skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1977. It was a dream job for Tanner, who grew up in New Castle, PA.

Two years later, Tanner led his Pirates to the 1979 World Series championship, beating the Baltimore Orioles in a thrilling seven-game series. His players were a group of veterans who adopted the phrase "We Are Family" as their mantra, taken from the popular song at the time sung by Sister Sledge.

While Tanner would be dismissed by the Pirates following the 1985 season, his love for the team never waned, and could often be seen wearing a Pirates cap when working for other teams.

When Neal Huntington became the Pirates general manager in 2007, he brought Tanner back home, hiring him as a senior advisor.

Tanner died at his home in New Castle after a long illness on Feb. 11, 2011. He was 82.

9. Duke Snider: Feb. 27, 2011

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: Former Los Angeles Dodgers great Duke Snider throws out the first pitch before the Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs in Game Three of the NLDS during the 2008 MLB playoffs on October 4, 2008 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles,

Duke Snider spent 16 seasons patrolling the outfield for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles, and became known as "The Lord of Flatbush."

In 1955, Snider was a key part of the Dodgers team that were known as the "Boys of Summer," and who won the first and only World Series championship while in Brooklyn.

Snider was easily one of the most popular players in Dodger history.

Snider died at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, Calif after a long illness on Feb. 27, 2011. He was 84.

10. Marty Marion: March 15, 2011

For 11 seasons, Marty Marion was the shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, and what a shortstop he was. He was a member of three World Series championship teams ('42, '44, '46) and won the National League's Most Valuable Player award in 1944.

Marion would later manage the Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns.

Marion was best known for his slick fielding, and was considered the greatest defensive shortstop in Cardinals history before Ozzie Smith came along.

Marion died at his home in St. Louis on March 15, 2011. He was 93.