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Minnesota Twins,
professional baseball team and one of five teams in the Central
Division of the American League (AL). Named for Minnesota’s Twin
Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the club plays at the Hubert
H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis and wears white pinstriped
uniforms with red trim. The franchise originated as the Washington
Senators, a club that joined the American League at the time of the
league’s formation in 1901.
The Minnesota Twins reached the playoffs three times from 1961 to
1970, during the franchise’s first 10 years. The Twins first won the
World Series in 1987. The club won another Series title in 1991.
Both championship teams were led by manager Tom Kelly and perennial
.300 hitter and All-Star outfielder Kirby Puckett.
Two of the greatest Twins players were slugger Harmon Killebrew and
line-drive hitter Rod Carew. Killebrew won six AL home run titles
and ranks in the top ten on the all-time home run list with 573.
Carew, recognized as the best pure hitter of his day, won seven
league batting crowns and compiled a career .328 average—among the
best averages recorded in the second half of the 20th century.
The Twins joined the league in 1961 when, despite pleas from the
Congress of the United States and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, AL
officials reluctantly allowed Washington Senators owner Calvin
Griffith to relocate his club to Minneapolis. Sam Mele was named
manager in 1961 and in 1965 led the Twins to the AL pennant with
sluggers Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Zoilo Versalles.
Minnesota’s hitters, however, succumbed to pitchers Sandy Koufax and
Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
In 1969 Minnesota captured the division title under the stormy
leadership of first-year manager Billy Martin. Killebrew provided
the offensive power and won the AL most valuable player (MVP) award.
Rod Carew captured the first of his seven batting titles, Oliva led
the AL in hits and doubles, and pitchers Dave Boswell and Jim Perry
each won 20 games. Despite solid hitting and pitching by the Twins,
the Baltimore Orioles swept the AL Championship Series (ALCS).
Minnesota returned to the playoffs in 1970 behind Perry, whose 24-12
win-loss record earned him the Cy Young Award, but the Twins were
once again swept in the ALCS by the Orioles.
Minnesota’s third base coach, Tom Kelly, became manager in 1986 and
turned the Twins into World Series champions in 1987. Outfielders
Tom Brunansky and Kirby Puckett, first baseman Kent Hrbek, and third
baseman Gary Gaetti each hit at least 28 home runs that year, while
Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven, and reliever Jeff Reardon led a strong
pitching staff. Minnesota upset the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and
went on to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Kelly
was named AL manager of the year.
Although Minnesota finished last in 1990, pitchers Scott Erickson
and Jack Morris helped turn the team around in 1991, taking the
Twins to another AL pennant. Kelly again earned top managing honors
as Minnesota defeated the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series.
However, the Twins struggled during most of the remainder of the
1990s.CHAMPIONSHIPS
1924 - Defeated NY
Giants in 7 games
1987 - Defeated St.
Louis in 7 games
1991 - Defeated
Atlanta in 7 games
Won the AL Pennant in 1924, 1925, 1933, 1965,
1987 and 1991
TOP MANAGER
Tom Kelly has been manager of the Twins since 1986 and was the
manager for the team's two World Series wins in Minnesota. He was
named AL Manager of the Year in 1991.
MVP
Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969), Rod Carew (1977)
CY YOUNG
Jim Perry (1970), Frank Viola (1988)
ROOKIE OF YEAR
Albie Pearson (1958), Bob Allison (1959), Tony Oliva (1964), Rod
Carew (1967), John Castino (1979), Chuck Knoblauch (1991), Marty
Cordova (1995)
RETIRED NUMBERS
3 - Harmon Killebrew (3B)
6 - Tony Oliva (OF)
14 - Kent Hrbek (1B)
29 - Rod Carew (2B-1B)
34 - Kirby Puckett (OF)
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