Who is the best MLB player from each state?

Sep 19, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) smiles to the bench after hitting a triple and driving in a run during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – CIRCA 1962: Harmon Killebrew of the Minnesota Twins circa 1962 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images) /

Idaho: Harmon Killebrew

Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew was born in 1936 in the tiny town of Payette, Idaho, a city of less than 8,000 on the edge of the Oregon border. Overall, Idaho has produced only 30 big leaguers. In addition to Killebrew, pitcher Jason Schmidt, a native of Lewiston, ID, enjoyed a solid career.

Killebrew was one of the biggest sluggers of the 1960s, primarily for the Minnestota Twins. In the decade, he hit 393 home runs and drove in 1,013 runs. He led the league in home runs six times, RBIs three times, and walks four times. Killebrew also won the AL MVP award in 1969 and went to the All-Star Game 11 times.

As a hitter, Killebrew was a relatively low-average hitter for his era, but he made up for it with his home runs. Even so, he still made contact at a much higher rate than the strikeout-prone sluggers of today’s game. In addition to being inducted to the Hall of Fame, Killebrew also has his number retired by the Twins.

After retiring from baseball, he returned home to Idaho and became a successful businessman, selling cars and insurance (oh, the good old days before All-Stars retired with nine-figure bank accounts). His legacy is still honored in his hometown with a yearly celebration.

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