Farewell to Puck?

One of baseball's all-time greats is fighting for his life.

Hall of Fame outfielder Kirby Puckett was in critical condition after having surgery for a stroke, according to a nursing supervisor in a Phoenix hospital.

The 44-year-old former Minnesota star, who led the Twins to two championships before his career was cut short by glaucoma, was stricken Sunday at his Arizona home.

Puckett, who broke in with Minnesota in 1984, had a career batting average of .318 and carried the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. The Gold Glove center fielder and 10-time All-Star was forced to to retire in 1996 after 12 seasons with the Twins when he went blind in one eye.

Three years ago, he was cleared of assault charges after being accused of groping a woman at a Twin Cities restaurant.