This page will contain discussion groups about Minnesota Twins, as they become available.Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins American League AAA Rochester Red Wings AA New Britain Rock Cats A Fort Myers Miracle R Elizabethton Twins The Minnesota Twins is a Major League Baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are in the Central Division of the American League. The team is owned by Minneapolis businessman Carl Pohlad, the third owner of the club (following Clark Griffith and his son Calvin). The team and its famous (or infamous) domed ballpark, the Metrodome, were featured in the 1994 motion picture Little Big League. The Twins are affectionately known among their fans as the "Twinkies." Despite the cream-puff sound of that nickname, the Twins have a reputation as a hard-working, hard-playing club. Former manager Tom Kelly and current manager Ron Gardenhire run and encourage a hard-nosed, fundamentals-first attitude toward playing and winning baseball games. The party atmosphere of the Twins clubhouse after a win is well-known, the team's players unwinding with loud rock music (usually the choice of the winning pitcher) and video games. The club has several well-known, harmless hazing rituals, such as requiring the most junior relief pitcher on the team to carry water and snacks to the bullpen in a bright pink Barbie backpack and many of its players, both past and present, are notorious pranksters. T.C. Bear is the Twins' mascot, introduced in 2001. Franchise historyThe franchise originated in Kansas City, Missouri in 1894, moved to Washington, D.C. in 1901 when the American League was formed, and played there through the 1960 season. Kansas City Blues, 1894-1900The Kansas City Blues were a charter member of a the Western League, a minor league at the time. Byron "Ban" Johnson, president of the Western League, changed the name to the American League in 1900 and major league status was awarded a year later. The Blues were champions of the Western League in 1898, taking the league by a game-and-a-half from the Indianapolis Hoosiers. Washington Nationals/Senators, 1901-1960Washington’s Bucky Harris scores his home run in the fourth inning of Game 7 of the World Series, October 10, 1924The Washington ballclub was known by two nicknames, the Nationals and the Senators, for most of its history prior to moving to Minnesota. During <! daterange+ ->1905 to 1906<!- daterange- -> the team actually wore "Nationals" on their jerseys. Otherwise, the jerseys either read "Washington" or carried a plain block "W". Newspaper articles for decades used the names "Senators" and "Nationals" (or "Nats") interchangeably, often within the same article. Baseball guides even said "Nationals or Senators" when listing the nickname. By the 1950s, "Nationals" was pretty much passe. In 1959 the word "Senators" finally appeared on their shirts. They and their expansion-replacement in 1961 would remain officially the "Senators" for good, although space-saving headline writers continued to refer to them as "Nats" frequently. During the period <! daterange+ ->1907 to 1927<!- daterange- ->, the team's line up boasted the presence of Walter "The Big Train" Johnson and they won the 1924 World Series. They also appeared in the 1925 and 1933 Series and came very close in 1945. After that, the team fell into mediocrity quickly. That, along with its poor early years, resulted in the team being remembered mostly for its failures rather than its successes. During one portion of its history, the team was so notoriously inept that it inspired San Francisco Chronicle columnist Charley Dryden to joke: "Washington: First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League." This was a play on Light Horse Harry Lee's remembrance of George Washington: "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." The team's difficulties on the field also inspired the book The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant (see below). It is falsely claimed that prior to the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro tried out for the Senators as a pitcher during the early 1950s. [1] (http://www.snopes.com/sports/baseball/castro.asp) The team played its games at Griffith Stadium, sharing it with the Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues (who played some of their games there). The Washington Senators in popular cultureThe longtime competitive struggles of the team were fictionalized in the book The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, which became the Broadway musical and movie Damn Yankees. The plot features a middle-aged man named Joe Hardy who sells his soul to the Devil so the Washington Senators can win the pennant. One of the songs from the musical, You Gotta Have Heart, is frequently played at baseball games. Team nickname: Nats, short for Nationals. Also sometimes called Griffs by inventive headline writers, in reference to the club owner. Minnesota Twins, 1961 to presentThe "Minnesota" designation, instead of "Minneapolis", comes from the fact that the team is intended to represent the "Twin" Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul (and, presumably, the entire state). This fact is reinforced by the stylized TC logo worn on road caps, and by their mascot, TC Bear. The Twins were eagerly greeted in Minnesota when they arrived in 1961, and they advanced to the World Series in 1965, driven by the exciting play of superstar first baseman Harmon Killebrew. They were defeated in the World Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the championship drive cemented the team's relationship with the people of Minnesota. The team continued to post winning records through 1971, but then entered a decade-long slump. Through 1981, the team played its games at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, a suburb south of the Twin Cities. The Mall of America now occupies the spot where the "Old Met" stood. The 1982 season brought the team indoors, into the Metrodome, which is in downtown Minneapolis near the Mississippi River. After several losing seasons in the Dome, the arrival of 1980s superstars Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett electrified the team and sent them to two World Series in five years. The Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to win the 1987 World Series, then later defeated the Atlanta Braves to win the 1991 World Series. In both of these World Series, the home team won each game, which had never occurred prior to 1987. All three Series were decided in seven games, with the latter series ending in a dramatic 10-inning, 1-0 shutout by Series MVP (and St. Paul native) Jack Morris. 1991 was also the first time any team finishing last in its division the previous year advanced to the World Series, with both the Twins and Braves accomplishing this unprecedented feat. After 1992, the Twins again fell into an extended slump, posting a losing record each year through 2000. Things turned around, and in <! daterange+ ->2001 to 2004<!- daterange- ->, the Twins compiled the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota, going 85-77 in 2001, 94-67 in 2002, 90-72 in 2003 and 92-70 in 2004. From <! daterange+ ->2002 to 2004<!- daterange- ->, the Twins compiled their longest streak of consecutive league/division championships ever (previous were the 1924 World Champion-1925 AL Champion Senators and the 1969–70 Twins). Threatened with closure by league contraction in 2002, the team battled back to reach the American League Championship Series before being eliminated 4-1 by that year's eventual World Series Champion Anaheim Angels. Their streak of three straight division titles, along with some bitterly fought games, have helped to create an intense rivalry with the Chicago White Sox during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The Twins wish to replace the Metrodome with a new ballpark within the next half decade, claiming that the Metrodome generates too little revenue for the Twins to be competitive. In particular, the Twins receive no revenue from luxury suite leasing (as those are owned by co-tenant Minnesota Vikings) and only a small percentage of concessions sales; also, the percentage of season-ticket-quality seats in the Metrodome is said to be very low compared to other stadiums. However, attempts to spur interest and push legislative efforts towards a new stadium have repeatedly failed. The Dome is thought to be an increasingly poor fit for all three of its major tenants (the Twins, the Vikings and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team). In fact, in addition to the Twins, the Vikings and Gophers both have new stadium proposals in various stages of development. Cultural and Economic ImpactThe impact of the Twins on the Upper Midwest should not be underestimated. Although Minneapolis appears at first glance to be a "small market" city (3 million residents of the associated metropolitan area), the team routinely draws fans from as far away as Montana and Wyoming. Quick Facts
Players of noteBaseball Hall of Famers
Current 25-man roster (updated on June 7, 2005)
Not to be forgottenSee also Category:Minnesota Twins players
Others
Retired numbers
Single Season Records
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Twins players. The Dome is thought to be an increasingly poor fit for all three of its major tenants (the Twins, the Vikings and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team). When the gangs arrange a "rumble", Maria pleads with Tony to prevent the fighting, but when Bernardo unintentionally stabs Riff to death, Tony, in a rage, kills Bernardo. However, attempts to spur interest and push legislative efforts towards a new stadium have repeatedly failed. The Sharks are led by Maria's brother, Bernardo, and the Jets by Tony's best friend, Riff. In particular, the Twins receive no revenue from luxury suite leasing (as those are owned by co-tenant Minnesota Vikings) and only a small percentage of concessions sales; also, the percentage of season-ticket-quality seats in the Metrodome is said to be very low compared to other stadiums. Tony and Maria fall in love, despite the fact that they are associated with rival gangs - Tony with the Jets, and Puerto Rican-born Maria with the Sharks. The Twins wish to replace the Metrodome with a new ballpark within the next half decade, claiming that the Metrodome generates too little revenue for the Twins to be competitive. The story line is a reworking of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, with minor variations, set among American and Puerto Rican street gangs in New York City's Upper West Side. Their
streak of three straight division titles, along with some bitterly fought games, have helped to create an intense rivalry with
the Chicago White Sox during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Nominations (1). Threatened with closure by
league contraction in 2002, the team battled back to reach the American League Championship Series
before being eliminated 4-1 by that year's eventual World Series Champion Anaheim Angels. Wins (10). From <! daterange+ ->2002 to 2004<!- daterange- ->, the Twins compiled their longest streak of consecutive league/division championships ever
(previous were the 1924 World Champion-1925 AL Champion Senators and the 1969–70 Twins). Book by Arthur Laurents After 1992, the Twins again fell into an extended slump, posting a losing record each year through 2000. The film was #41 on American Film Institute's 100 Years, 100 Movies and #3 on its 100 Years, 100 Passions, and has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. 1991 was also the first time any team finishing last in its division the previous year advanced to the World Series, with both the Twins and Braves accomplishing this unprecedented feat. It won a Grammy award in 1985. Paul native) Jack Morris. Generally known as the "operatic version" of West Side Story, it stars Kiri Te Kanawa as Maria, José Carreras as Tony, Tatiana Troyanos as Anita, Kurt Ollman as Riff, and Marilyn Horne who sings "Somewhere" as an anonymous character. All three Series were decided in seven games, with the latter series ending in a dramatic 10-inning, 1-0 shutout by Series MVP (and St. In 1984, Bernstein decided to re-record the musical, conducting his own music for the first time. In both of these World Series, the home team won each game, which had never occurred prior to 1987. Some of the songs include "Something's Coming," "Maria," "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight," "Gee, Officer Krupke," "I Feel Pretty," "One Hand, One Heart," and "Cool.". Louis Cardinals to win the 1987 World Series, then later defeated the Atlanta Braves to win the 1991 World Series. Bernstein's score for the musical has been extremely popular. The Twins defeated the St. West Side Story is still produced frequently by local theatres and is occasionally produced by classical opera companies. After several losing seasons in the Dome, the arrival of 1980s superstars Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett electrified the team and sent them to two World Series in five years. The dark theme, sophisticated music, and focus on social problems marked a turning point in English language musical theatre, which had previously (with rare exceptions) tended toward light and fluffy themes. The 1982 season brought the team indoors, into the Metrodome, which is in downtown Minneapolis near the Mississippi River. The film won ten Motion Picture Academy Awards including Best Picture, the most Oscars received by any movie musical. The Mall of America now occupies the spot where the "Old Met" stood. In 1961, it was made into a motion picture and released on October 18 by United Artists, directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. Through 1981, the team played its games at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, a suburb south of the Twin Cities. West Side Story debuted on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater on September 26, 1957 and played 732 performances before going on tour - a very successful run for the time. The team continued to post winning records through 1971, but then entered a decade-long slump. West Side Story is a musical written by Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), and was originally produced, choreographed, and directed by Jerome Robbins. They were defeated in the World Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the championship drive cemented the team's relationship with the people of Minnesota. Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium - Ernest Lehman. The Twins were eagerly greeted in Minnesota when they arrived in 1961, and they advanced to the World Series in 1965, driven by the exciting play of superstar first baseman Harmon Killebrew. Academy Award for Sound - Fred Hynes (Todd-AO SSD), and Gordon Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn SSD). This fact is reinforced by the stylized TC logo worn on road caps, and by their mascot, TC Bear. Academy Award for Original Music Score, of a Musical Picture - Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Irwin Kostal, and Sid Ramin. Paul (and, presumably, the entire state). Academy Award for Film Editing - Thomas Stanford. The "Minnesota" designation, instead of "Minneapolis", comes from the fact that the team is intended to represent the "Twin" Cities of Minneapolis-St. Academy Award for Directing - Jerome Robbins, and Robert Wise. Team nickname: Nats, short for Nationals. Also sometimes called Griffs by inventive headline writers, in reference to the club owner. Academy Award for Costume Design, Color - Irene Sharaff. One of the songs from the musical, You Gotta Have Heart, is frequently played at baseball games. Fapp. The plot features a middle-aged man named Joe Hardy who sells his soul to the Devil so the Washington Senators can win the pennant. Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color - Daniel L. The longtime competitive struggles of the team were fictionalized in the book The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, which became the Broadway musical and movie Damn Yankees. Gangelin, and Boris Leven. The team played its games at Griffith Stadium, sharing it with the Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues (who played some of their games there). Academy Award for Best Art Direction- Set Decoration, Color - Victor A. [1] (http://www.snopes.com/sports/baseball/castro.asp). Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress - Rita Moreno. It is falsely claimed that prior to the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro tried out for the Senators as a pitcher during the early 1950s. Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - George Chakiris. During one portion of its history, the team was so notoriously inept that it inspired San Francisco Chronicle columnist Charley Dryden to joke: "Washington: First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League." This was a play on Light Horse Harry Lee's remembrance of George Washington: "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen." The team's difficulties on the field also inspired the book The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant (see below). Academy Award for Best Picture - Robert Wise, producer. That, along with its poor early years, resulted in the team being remembered mostly for its failures rather than its successes. After that, the team fell into mediocrity quickly. During the period <! daterange+ ->1907 to 1927<!- daterange- ->, the team's line up boasted the presence of Walter "The Big Train" Johnson and they won the 1924 World Series. They also appeared in the 1925 and 1933 Series and came very close in 1945. They and their expansion-replacement in 1961 would remain officially the "Senators" for good, although space-saving headline writers continued to refer to them as "Nats" frequently. In 1959 the word "Senators" finally appeared on their shirts. By the 1950s, "Nationals" was pretty much passe. Baseball guides even said "Nationals or Senators" when listing the nickname. Newspaper articles for decades used the names "Senators" and "Nationals" (or "Nats") interchangeably, often within the same article. Otherwise, the jerseys either read "Washington" or carried a plain block "W". During <! daterange+ ->1905 to 1906<!- daterange- -> the team actually wore "Nationals" on their jerseys. The Washington ballclub was known by two nicknames, the Nationals and the Senators, for most of its history prior to moving to Minnesota. The Blues were champions of the Western League in 1898, taking the league by a game-and-a-half from the Indianapolis Hoosiers. Byron "Ban" Johnson, president of the Western League, changed the name to the American League in 1900 and major league status was awarded a year later. The Kansas City Blues were a charter member of a the Western League, a minor league at the time. in 1901 when the American League was formed, and played there through the 1960 season. The franchise originated in Kansas City, Missouri in 1894, moved to Washington, D.C. Bear is the Twins' mascot, introduced in 2001. T.C. The club has several well-known, harmless hazing rituals, such as requiring the most junior relief pitcher on the team to carry water and snacks to the bullpen in a bright pink Barbie backpack and many of its players, both past and present, are notorious pranksters. The party atmosphere of the Twins clubhouse after a win is well-known, the team's players unwinding with loud rock music (usually the choice of the winning pitcher) and video games. Former manager Tom Kelly and current manager Ron Gardenhire run and encourage a hard-nosed, fundamentals-first attitude toward playing and winning baseball games. The Twins are affectionately known among their fans as the "Twinkies." Despite the cream-puff sound of that nickname, the Twins have a reputation as a hard-working, hard-playing club. The team and its famous (or infamous) domed ballpark, the Metrodome, were featured in the 1994 motion picture Little Big League. The team is owned by Minneapolis businessman Carl Pohlad, the
third owner of the club (following Clark Griffith and his son Calvin). They are in the Central Division of the American
League. The Minnesota Twins is a Major League Baseball
team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Elizabethton Twins Fort Myers Miracle Pitching saves: Eddie Guardado, 45 (2002). Pitching ERA: Walter Johnson, 1.14 (1.14). Pitching strikeouts: Walter Johnson, 313 (1910). Pitching wins: Walter Johnson, 36 (1913). Strikeouts: Bobby Darwin, 145 (1972). Walks: Eddie Yost, 151 (1956). Hitting streak: Ken Landreaux, 31 games (1980). Stolen bases: Chuck Knoblauch, 62 (1997). Extra-Base hits: Tony Oliva, 84 (1964). Triples: Goose Goslin and Christian Guzman, 20 (1925 and 2000). Doubles: Mickey Vernon, 51 (1966). Singles: Sam Rice, 182 (1925). Hits: Rod Carew, 239 (1977). Runs: Chuck Knoblauch, 140 (1996). Runs batted in: Harmon Killebrew, 140 (1969). Home runs: Harmon Killebrew, 49 (1964 and 1969). Batting average: Rod Carew, .388 (1977). 44 Bob Casey. 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). 34 Kirby Puckett. 29 Rod Carew. 14 Kent Hrbek. 6 Tony Oliva. 3 Harmon Killebrew. Bob Casey, the public address announcer for the first 44 years of Twins baseball (<! daterange+ ->1961 to 2004<!- daterange- ->). Frank Viola. Zoilo Versalles. César Tovar. Kevin Tapani. Rich Rollins. Jeff Reardon. Pierzynski. A.J. Jim Perry. Camilo Pascual. Tony Oliva. Joe Niekro. Al Newman. Jack Morris. Doug Mientkiewicz. Shane Mack. Gene Larkin. Chuck Knoblauch. Tom Kelly. Jim Kaat. Kent Hrbek. Brian Harper. Eddie Guardado. Mudcat Grant. Dan Gladden. Greg Gagne. Gary Gaetti. Scott Erickson. Chili Davis. Tom Brunansky. Bert Blyleven. Juan Berenguer. Bob Allison. Rick Aguilera. Tom Kelly and Paul Molitor often work with the Twins in scouting and assistant coach roles, though neither are in the dugout during games. Note
62 USA Al Newman (third base). 9 USA Steve Liddle (bench). 40 USA Rick Anderson (pitching). Coaches
35 USA Ron Gardenhire. Manager
Paul Molitor. Harmon Killebrew. Walter Johnson. Steve Carlton. Rod Carew. |