Harmon Killebrew: Battle With Esophageal Cancer ‘Most difficult battle of my life’

Harmon Killebrew, the Hall of Famer Minnesota Twin, has said that his battle with esophageal cancer has been “perhaps the most difficult battle of my life.”

Harmon Killebrew of the Minnesota Twins at the Kirby Puckett statue unveiling prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins during the Twins home opener at Target Field on April 12, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hannah Foslien /Getty Images

Harmon Killebrew has announced that he has esophageal cancer, according to a statement on the Minnesota Twins website.

Killebrew, 74, said in the statement that he is being treated for the cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

The Hall of Famer, who played the majority of his career with the Twins, said on the site that his battle with esophageal cancer has been “perhaps the most difficult battle of my life.”

Killebrew spent 22 years in the big leagues—14 with the Twins—and is one of the most well-known Minnesota Twins in the franchise’s history. He was named to 11 American League All-Star teams and won AL Most Valuable Player in 1969.

Known for being a power bat, Killebrew ranks 11th on the all-time home run list with 573, and has driven in more than 1,580 runs in his tenured career.

Killebrew, who retired in 1975 and was inducted into Cooperstown in 1984, said in the statement that he anticipates “a full recovery” and has faith that he will be cured.

“The Mayo Clinic is one of the largest and most experienced medical centers treating esophageal cancer in the world,” he said. “In the past decade, they have made tremendous advances in the treatment of this disease.”

According to the US National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, there were 16,640 cases of esophageal cancer, and 14,500 deaths from the affliction in 2010.