Minnesota Twins

Former Twins great Carew seeks heart transplant

Published Nov. 23, 2015 6:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

MINNEAPOLIS -- Hall of Famer Rod Carew is hoping to qualify for a heart transplant after a massive heart attack two months ago.

The 70-year-old Carew tells Sports Illustrated he was stricken while golfing alone in Corona, California, on Sept. 20.

He tells the magazine "they brought me back to life." He underwent six hours of open heart surgery in which a device that pumps blood was implanted. The device typically acts as a bridge until a heart transplant.

Carew was one of baseball's great hitters, winning seven American League batting titles. He played for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels during a 19-year career. He was the 1967 AL Rookie of the Year and the 1977 AL MVP. There is a statue of him outside Target Field in Minneapolis.