Minnesota Twins 20050 225049421 2008-07-11T17:18:59Z Tomtom2008 6978425 {{current sport-related|image=Baseball current event.png|mini=1|2008 Minnesota Twins season}} {{MLB infobox | name = Minnesota Twins | established = 1901 | misc = '''Based in Minnesota since [[1961 in baseball|1961]]''' | logo = ALC-MIN-Logo.png | uniformlogo = ALC-MIN-Insignia.png | WS = (3) | WORLD CHAMPIONS = [[1991 World Series|1991]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1987 World Series|1987]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1924 World Series|1924]] | LEAGUE = AL | P = (6) | gm = [[Bill Smith (baseball)|Bill Smith]] | owner = [[Carl Pohlad]] | manager = [[Ron Gardenhire]] | PENNANTS = [[1991 World Series|1991]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1987 World Series|1987]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1965 World Series|1965]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1933 World Series|1933]]</br>[[1925 World Series|1925]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1924 World Series|1924]] | misc1 = | OTHER PENNANTS = | DIV = Central | DV = (4) | Division Champs = [[2006 American League Division Series|2006]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[2004 American League Division Series|2004]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[2003 American League Division Series|2003]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[2002 American League Championship Series|2002]] | misc5 = '''West Division titles''' (4) | OTHER DIV CHAMPS = [[1991 American League Championship Series|1991]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1987 American League Championship Series|1987]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1970 American League Championship Series|1970]]&nbsp;•&nbsp;[[1969 American League Championship Series|1969]] | WC = (0) | Wild Card = None | misc6 = | current league = American League | y1 = 1901 | division = [[American League Central|Central Division]] | y2 = 1994 | misc2 = [[American League West|West Division]] ([[1969 in baseball|1969]]-[[1993 in baseball|1993]]) | nicknames = The Twins | y3 = 1961 | pastnames = Washington Nationals/Senators ([[1901 in baseball|1901]]-[[1960 in baseball|1960]]) | futurepark = [[Twins Ballpark]] Expected 2010 | ballpark = [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] 1982-present | pastparks = [[Metropolitan Stadium]] ([[1961 in baseball|1961]]-[[1981 in baseball|1981]]) *[[Griffith Stadium]] ({{Baseball Year|1911}}-{{Baseball Year|1960}}) ** a.k.a. National Park ({{Baseball Year|1911}}-{{Baseball Year|1920}}) *[[Boundary Field|National Park]] ({{Baseball Year|1903}}-{{Baseball Year|1910}}) *[[American League Park]] ({{Baseball Year|1901}}-{{Baseball Year|1902}}) | Uniform = ALC-Uniform-MIN.PNG | Team = Twins | Team1 = Twins | Uniform logo = Al 2005 minnesota 01.gif | retirednumbers = [[Harmon Killebrew|3]], [[Tony Oliva|6]], [[Kent Hrbek|14]], [[Rod Carew|29]], [[Kirby Puckett|34]], [[Jackie Robinson|42]] }} The '''Minnesota Twins''' are a [[professional baseball|professional baseball team]] based in [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]]. The Twins are a member of the [[American League Central|Central Division]] of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[American League]]. From {{Baseball Year|1982}} to the present, the Twins have played in the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]]. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in [[Washington, D.C.]] in {{Baseball Year|1901}} as the '''Washington Senators'''. In {{Baseball Year|1961}}, the team moved to Minneapolis and was based in [[Metropolitan Stadium]]. The "Twins" name originates from [[Minnesota]]'s [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul|Twin Cities]] area of [[Minneapolis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]. ==Team history== ===Washington Senators: 1901 to 1960=== For a time, from 1911 to 1933, the [[Minnesota Twins|Washington Senators]] were one of the more successful franchises in major-league baseball. The team's rosters included Hall of Famers [[Goose Goslin]], [[Sam Rice]], [[Joe Cronin]], [[Bucky Harris]], [[Heinie Manush]] and one of the greatest pitchers of all time, [[Walter Johnson]]. But the Senators are remembered more for their many years of mediocrity and futility, including six last-place finishes in the 1940s and 1950s. [[Image:Washington Senators.svg|left|thumb|150px|Washington Senators jersey logo]] =====A losing start for a charter franchise===== When the [[American League]] declared itself a major league in [[1901 in baseball|1901]], the new league placed a team in Washington, a city that had been abandoned by the [[National League]] a year earlier. The Washington club, like the old one, would be called the Senators. The Senators began their history as a consistently losing team, at times so inept that ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' columnist Charley Dryden joked: "Washington: First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League." The 1904 Senators lost 113 games, and the next season the team’s owners, trying for a fresh start, changed the team’s name to the Nationals. But the Senators name remained widely used by fans and journalists, and the team later restored it as the official name. =====The ‘Big Train’ arrives===== Whatever the name, the club continued to lose, despite the addition in [[1907 in baseball|1907]] of a talented 19-year-old pitcher named [[Walter Johnson]]. Raised in rural Kansas, Johnson was a tall, lanky man with long arms who, using a leisurely windup and unusual sidearm delivery, threw the ball faster than anyone had ever seen. Johnson’s breakout year was [[1910 in baseball|1910]], when he struck out 313 batters, posted an [[earned-run average]] of 1.36 and won 25 games for a losing ball club. Over his 21-year Hall of Fame career, Johnson, called the “Big Train,” would win 417 games and strike out 3,509 batters, a major-league record that would stand for more than 50 years. =====New stadium, new manager===== In [[1911 in baseball|1911]], the Senators’ wooden ballpark burned to the ground, and they replaced it with a modern concrete-and-steel structure on the same location. First called National Park, it later would be renamed after the man who was named Washington manager in 1912 and whose name would become almost synonymous with the ball club: [[Clark Griffith]]. A star pitcher with the National League’s [[Chicago Cubs|Chicago Colts]] in the 1890s, Griffith jumped to the AL in 1901 and became a successful manager with the [[Chicago White Sox]] and [[New York Yankees|New York Highlanders]]. In [[1912 in baseball|1912]], with Griffith taking the Senators’ helm and Johnson winning 33 games, the Senators posted their first winning record: 91-61, good for second place behind the [[Boston Red Sox]]. The next year, [[1913 in baseball|1913]], was Johnson’s best yet, 36 victories and a minuscule 1.14 ERA, and the Senators again finished second, this time behind the [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]]. Starting in [[1916 in baseball|1916]], the Senators settled back into mediocrity. Griffith, frustrated with the owners’ penny-pinching, bought a controlling interest in the team in [[1920 in baseball|1920]] and stepped down as field manager a year later to focus on his duties as team president. =====1924: World champions===== In [[1924 in baseball|1924]], Griffith named 27-year-old second baseman [[Bucky Harris]] player-manager. Led by the hitting of [[Goose Goslin]] and [[Sam Rice]] and a solid pitching staff headlined by the 36-year-old Johnson, the Senators captured their first American League pennant, two games ahead of [[Babe Ruth]] and the New York Yankees. [[Image:1924worldseries.jpg|thumb|400px|left|Washington's [[Bucky Harris]] scores on his home run in the fourth inning of Game 7 of the 1924 World Series.]] In the [[1924 World Series|World Series]], the underdog Senators faced [[John McGraw (baseball)|John McGraw]]'s [[San Francisco Giants|New York Giants]]. Despite Johnson losing both his two starts, the Senators kept pace to tie the Series at three games apiece and force Game 7. In the ninth inning with the game tied 3-3, Harris brought in Johnson to pitch on just one day of rest – he had been the losing pitcher in Game 5. Johnson shut out the Giants for four innings, and in the bottom of the 12th, a ground ball bounced over Giant third baseman [[Fred Lindstrom]]’s head, scoring [[Muddy Ruel]] with the winning run. The Washington Senators were world champions. Some called it the greatest World Series Game 7 ever … until [[1991 World Series|1991]]. =====Building a winning tradition===== The Senators repeated as AL champs in [[1925 in baseball|1925]] but lost the [[1925 World Series|Series]] to [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pittsburgh]]. After Johnson’s retirement in [[1927 in baseball|1927]], the Senators endured a few losing seasons until returning to contention in [[1930 in baseball|1930]], this time with Johnson as manager. But after the Senators finished third in [[1931 in baseball|1931]] and [[1932 in baseball|1932]], behind powerful New York and Philadelphia, Griffith fired Johnson, a victim of high expectations.<ref>Thomas, Henry W.: "Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train," page 319. Bison Books, 1998</ref> For his new manager in [[1933 in baseball|1933]], Griffith returned to the formula that worked for him in 1924, and 26-year-old shortstop [[Joe Cronin]] became player-manager. It worked. Washington posted a 99-53 record and swept to the pennant seven games ahead of the Yankees. But the Senators lost the [[1933 World Series|World Series]] to the Giants in five games. <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:WashintonSenators.jpg|left|150px]] --> =====Back to the second division===== The Senators sank all the way to seventh in [[1934 in baseball|1934]]. Attendance plunged as well, and after the season Griffith traded Cronin to the Red Sox for journeyman shortstop [[Lyn Lary]] and $225,000 in cash (even though Cronin was married to Griffith’s niece, Mildred). Despite the return of Harris as manager in 1935-42 and 1950-54, Washington remained mostly a losing ball club for the next 25 years, contending for the pennant only in the talent-thin war years of [[1943 in baseball|1943]] and [[1945 in baseball|1945]]. Washington came to be known as "first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League". In [[1954 in baseball|1954]], Senators scout [[Ossie Bluege]] signed a 17-year-old ballplayer from [[Payette, Idaho]], named [[Harmon Killebrew]]. Because of his $30,000 signing bonus, league rules required Killebrew to spend the rest of 1954 with the Senators as a “bonus baby.” Killebrew bounced between the Senators and the minor leagues for next few years. He became the Senators’ regular third baseman in [[1959 in baseball|1959]], leading the league with 42 home runs and earning a starting spot on the American League [[1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Games|All-Star]] team. =====Looking west===== Clark Griffith died in [[1955 in baseball|1955]], and his nephew and adopted son [[Calvin Griffith|Calvin]] took over the team presidency. He sold Griffith Stadium to the city of Washington and leased it back, leading to speculation that the team was planning to move, as the [[Atlanta Braves|Braves]], [[Baltimore Orioles|Browns]] and [[Oakland Athletics|Athletics]] had all done in the early 1950s. After an early flirtation with [[San Francisco]], by 1957 Griffith was courting [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]], a prolonged process that resulted in him rejecting the Twin Cities' first offer<ref> {{Citation |last= |first= |title=Senators Reject Bids to Move to Minneapolis or St. Paul |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E1EF93A5A177B93C0AB178BD95F438585F9&scp=2&sq=giants+relocate+minneapolis&st=p |publisher=''[[New York Times]]'' |date=1957-10-27 |accessdate=2008-05-02}}</ref> before agreeing to relocate. The American League opposed the move at first, but in [[1960 in baseball|1960]] a deal was reached: The Senators would move and would be replaced with an expansion [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Senators]] team for [[1961 in baseball|1961]]. The old Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins. ====The Washington Senators in popular culture==== The longtime competitive struggles of the team were fictionalized in the book ''The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant'', which became the legendary [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] musical and movie ''[[Damn Yankees]]''. The plot centers around Joe Boyd, a middle-aged real estate salesman and long-suffering fan of the Washington Senators baseball club. In this musical comedy-drama of the [[Faust|Faust legend]], Boyd sells his soul to the [[Devil]] and becomes slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need that he'd sell his soul for" (as spoken by him in a throwaway line near the beginning of the drama). His hitting prowess enables the Senators to win the American League [[pennant]] over the then-dominant Yankees. One of the songs from the musical, "You Gotta Have Heart", is frequently played at baseball games. ===Minnesota Twins: 1961 to present=== The "Minnesota" designation, instead of "Minneapolis" (the Twins were the first professional baseball team to be named for a state rather than a city), comes from the fact that the team is intended to represent the [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul|Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul]] (and, presumably, the entire state). This fact is reinforced by the stylized ''TC'' logo originally worn on their caps, and by their mascot, [[TC (mascot)|TC Bear]]. The name "Twins" derives from the popular name of the region, the Twin Cities. It was unusual at the time to name a professional team after a whole state. Later, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] (coincidentally the relocated expansion Senators), [[Florida Marlins]], [[Colorado Rockies]], [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], and the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]]—now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—would follow their lead, as would teams in other sports. However, the original "Twin Cities Twins" TC logo was kept. The cap was abandoned in 1987 when the Twins adopted their current uniforms. By this time, the team had become established enough that it could place an "M" on their caps without offending St. Paul. The "TC" logo returned to one version of the home uniforms in 2002, as did the team's original cartoon logo: two large twins representing Minneapolis and St. Paul shaking hands over the [[Mississippi River]], which runs through each of the two cities. =====1960s: The Twins arrive in Minnesota===== The Twins were eagerly greeted in Minnesota when they arrived in [[1961 Minnesota Twins season|1961]]. They brought a nucleus of talented players: [[Harmon Killebrew]], [[Bob Allison]], [[Camilo Pascual]], [[Zoilo Versalles]], [[Jim Kaat]], [[Earl Battey]], and [[Lenny Green]]. The Twins won 92 games in [[1962 Minnesota Twins season|1962]], the most by the franchise since 1933. The Twins won the [[American League Pennant Winners 1901-68|American League Pennant]] in [[1965 Minnesota Twins season|1965]], driven by the exciting play of [[superstar]] sluggers [[Harmon Killebrew]] and [[Tony Oliva]] and flashy play of [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|league MVP]] [[Zoilo Versalles]]. However, they were defeated in the [[1965 World Series]] by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in seven games; each home team had won until Game 7, when [[Sandy Koufax]] shut out the Twins 2-0 in Minnesota. The Twins scored a total of two runs in their four losses, and were shut out three times, twice by Koufax. Although disappointed with the near miss, the championship drive cemented the team's relationship with the people of Minnesota. The Twins would wait 22 years to return to the World Series; they defeated the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in seven games in the [[1987 World Series|1987 Series]]. In [[1967 in baseball|1967]], the Twins were involved in one of the closest pennant races in baseball history. Heading into the final weekend of the season, the Twins, [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Chicago White Sox]], and [[Detroit Tigers]] all had a shot at clinching the American League championship. With two games left to play, the Twins and Red Sox were knotted atop the standings; moreover, the two remaining games each team had to play happened to be against each other. Unfortunately for Minnesota baseball fans, the Red Sox won both games and clinched their first pennant since [[1946 in baseball|1946]], finishing with a 92-70 record. The Twins and Tigers both finished a game behind, at 91-71, while the White Sox were three games out, at 89-73. In [[1969 Minnesota Twins season|1969]], [[Billy Martin]] was named manager. Martin pushed aggressive base running, with [[Rod Carew]] stealing home 7 times.<ref>[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Carew_Rod.htm Rod Carew] Baseball Hall of Fame</ref> The Twins won the [[American League West]], led by [[Rod Carew]] (.332, his first batting title), Tony Oliva (.309, 24 HR, 101 RBI) and [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|league MVP]] [[Harmon Killebrew]] (49 HR, 140 RBI).<ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1969.shtml 1969 Minnesota Twins]</ref> Unfortunately, the Twins were swept by the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the first [[American League Championship Series]]. =====1970s: From first place to mediocrity===== The team continued to post winning records through [[1971 Minnesota Twins season|1971]], winning the first two American League West division titles. However, they then entered a decade-long slump, finishing around .500 for the next eight years. [[Tony Oliva]] and [[Rod Carew]] continued to provide offensive power, but Killebrew's home run production decreased, as injuries impacted his effectiveness, and the pitching staff languished. Killebrew's final season with the Twins was the 1974 season. Owner [[Calvin Griffith]] faced financial difficulty with the start of [[free agency]]. While other owners had fortunes made in other businesses, Griffith's only income came from baseball. He ran the Twins as a family-owned business, employing many family members, and had to turn a profit each season. Stars [[Lyman Bostock]] and [[Larry Hisle]] left as free agents after the [[1977 Minnesota Twins season|1977]] season and prompted the trade of [[Rod Carew]] after the [[1978 Minnesota Twins season|1978]] season. =====1980s: Building a World Champion===== In the early 1980s, The Twins fell further, winning only 37% of its games from 1981 to 1982. They had their worst season in Minnesota in 1982, with a 60-102 record, the worst the franchise had since the 1904 season (that team went 38-113). From their arrival in 1961 through [[1981 in baseball|1981]], the team played its games at [[Metropolitan Stadium]] in [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], a suburb south of the Twin Cities. The [[Mall of America]] now occupies the spot where the "Old Met" stood, complete with home plate and the seat where [[Harmon Killebrew]] hit a 520 foot home run. The [[1982 in baseball|1982]] season brought the team indoors, into the [[Metrodome]], which is in downtown Minneapolis near the [[Mississippi River]]. In 1984, [[Calvin Griffith]] sold the Twins to Minneapolis banker [[Carl Pohlad]]. In 1985, Minnesota hosted the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] at the Metrodome. After several losing seasons in the Dome, a nucleus of players acquired during the waning years of the Griffith regime ([[Kent Hrbek]], [[Tom Brunansky]], [[Gary Gaetti]], [[Frank Viola]]) combined with a few good trades ([[Bert Blyleven]]), intelligent free agent acquisitions ([[Al Newman]], [[Roy Smalley (AL baseball player)|Roy Smalley]]), and a rising star in [[Kirby Puckett]], combined to return the team to the World Series for the first time since 1965, defeating the Detroit Tigers (who won the World Series three years earlier) in the ALCS along the way. The dynamic play of the new superstars electrified the team and propelled the Twins to a seven-game victory over the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] to win the [[1987 World Series]]. The [[1987 Minnesota Twins season|1987 Twins]] set a record for fewest regular season victories by a World Series champion with 85 and a .525 winning percentage. This record was broken by the [[2006 in baseball|2006]] Cardinals, who won the World Series after going 83-79 during the regular season and a .513 percentage. While their 56-21 record at the Metrodome was the best overall home record for 1987, the Twins had an appalling 33-52 mark away from the Metrodome and they only won nine road games after the All-Star break. The Twins won more games in 1988, but could not overcome the powerhouse division rival [[Oakland Athletics]], even though pitcher [[Frank Viola]] won the [[Cy Young Award]] in that year. [[1989 in baseball|1989]] saw a decline in the win column though Puckett would win the batting title ([[1989 in baseball]]). =====1990s: From worst to first to worst again===== The Twins surprisingly did quite poorly in 1990, finishing last in the AL West division with a record of 74-88. [[1991 in baseball|1991]] brought breakout years from newcomers [[Shane Mack (baseball player)|Shane Mack]], [[Scott Leius]], [[Chili Davis]], and [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|rookie of the year]] [[Chuck Knoblauch]], along with consistently excellent performances from stars Hrbek and Puckett. The pitching staff excelled as well, with [[Scott Erickson]], [[Rick Aguilera]], and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] native [[Jack Morris]] having all-star years. The Twins defeated the [[Atlanta Braves]] 4 games to 3 to win the [[1991 World Series]].<ref>[http://espn.go.com/classic/s/1991_series_caple.html 1991 World Series had it all] By Jim Caple ESPN.com</ref> Game 6 is widely considered to be one of the greatest World Series games ever played. With the scored tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 11th inning, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY8hP3PHV-g Kirby Puckett] stepped up to the plate and drove the game winning home run into the left field seats to force a decisive Game 7. [[1992 in baseball|1992]] saw another superb Oakland team that the Twins could not overcome, despite a 90-72 season and solid pitching from [[John Smiley]]. After [[1992 in baseball|1992]], the Twins again fell into an extended slump, posting a losing record each year for the next eight years: 71-91 in 1993, 50-63 in 1994, 56-88 in 1995, 78-84 in 1996, 68-94 in 1997, 70-92 in 1998, 63-97 in 1999 and 69-93 in 2000. From [[1994 in baseball|1994]] to [[1997 in baseball|1997]] a long sequence of retirements and injuries hurt the team badly, and [[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]] spent the remainder of his managerial career attempting to rebuild the Twins. In [[1998 in baseball|1998]], management cleared out the team of all of its players earning over 1 million dollars (except for pitcher [[Brad Radke]]) and rebuilt from the ground up; the team barely avoided finishing in the cellar that year, finishing just five games ahead of the [[Detroit Tigers]] and avoiding the mark of 100 losses by eight games. In [[1997 in baseball|1997]], owner [[Carl Pohlad]] almost sold the Twins to [[North Carolina]] businessman Don Beaver, who would have moved the team to the [[Piedmont Triad]] ([[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]]&ndash;[[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]]&ndash;[[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]]) area of the state. The defeat of a [[referendum]] for a stadium in that area and a lack of interest in building a stadium for the Twins in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] killed the deal. =====2000s: A perennial contender===== Things turned around, and from 2001 to 2006, the Twins compiled the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota, going 85-77 in [[2001 Minnesota Twins season|2001]], 94-67 in [[2002 Minnesota Twins season|2002]], 90-72 in [[2003 Minnesota Twins season|2003]], 92-70 in [[2004 Minnesota Twins season|2004]], 83-79 in [[2005 Minnesota Twins season|2005]], and 96-66 in [[2006 Minnesota Twins season|2006]]. From 2002 to 2004, the Twins compiled their longest streak of consecutive league/division championships ever (previous were the [[1924 World Series|1924]] World Champion-[[1925 World Series|1925]] AL Champion Senators and the [[1969 Minnesota Twins|1969]]&ndash;[[1970 in baseball|70]] Twins). Threatened with closure by league contraction in [[2002 in baseball|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 [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|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]] in recent years, starting with 2000 when the Sox clinched the division at the Metrodome, and heating up especially in 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2006, the Twins came from 12 games back in the division at the All-Star break to tie the [[Detroit Tigers]] for the lead in the 159th game of the season. With the Tigers having won the season head-to-head by 11 games to 8, the Twins needed a Tiger loss and a Twins win in order to take sole possession of first place and win the division outright, and got both on the last day of the season, when the Tigers lost their third straight game at home to the last place Kansas City Royals in a 10-8 game in 14 innings. After their win against the Chicago White Sox, the Minnesota Twins and somewhere between 30,000 to 40,000 fans watched the Tigers-Royals game on the Metrodome's jumbotrons. This is the first time in major league history that a team has won a division or league outright on the last day of the regular season without ever having had sole possession of first place earlier. The magical season came to a sudden end, however, as the Twins were swept 3-0 in the divisional championship series, while Detroit went on as a wild card entry, beat the Yankees 3-1 in their divisional series, and went on to play the A's in the league championship series. The Tigers would go on to sweep the A's 4-0 in the ALCS and lose the [[2006 World Series]] to the St. Louis Cardinals, who coincidentally broke the record held by the Twins for the worst regular season record by a World Series champion (having gone 83-78). In the minds of many, the current Minnesota Twins seem to be a new version of the Atlanta Braves of the 1990s{{Fact|Feb 08|date=February 2008}}, a talented team that won their division many times, only to fall short in the playoffs, often losing in the divisional series. This was especially compounded when their bitter rivals, the White Sox, won the World Series in the lone year they won the division in 2005. Similarly, the Tigers, despite losing the division in 2006, managed to win the American League pennant. In contrast, the Twins, despite winning the division in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006, have only reached the American League Championship Series once, losing in the aforementioned 2002 ALCS. In 2007, the Twins went 79-83 and the 2001 Central Division champion Cleveland Indians, won it again in 2007. It ended a six-year winning-season run starting in 2001. ===Contraction=== Over the past 10 years, the Twins have argued that the lack of a modern baseball-dedicated ballpark has stood in the way of producing a top-notch, competitive team, despite the fact that their current stadium, the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]], played a crucial role in their championship seasons of [[1987 Minnesota Twins season|1987]] and [[1991 Minnesota Twins season|1991]]. The quirks of the facility, such as the turf floor and the white roof, gave the Twins a huge homefield advantage (often referred to as the "Dome"-field advantage). Due to the structure of the stadium, the Twins won every one of their home games in their two World Series victories. Regardless, the Metrodome has often been considered inadequate mainly because of its relatively low income producing power and in the 1990s and early 2000s the Twins were often rumored to be moving to such places as [[New Jersey]], [[Las Vegas metropolitan area|Las Vegas]], [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]], the [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]]-[[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]] area, and others in search of a more financially competitive market. The team was nearly contracted (disbanded) in 2002, a move which would have eliminated the Twins and the [[Montreal Expos]], now the [[Washington Nationals]], franchises. The Twins survived largely due to a court decision which forced them to play out their lease on the Metrodome. In October of 2005 the Twins went back to state court asking for a ruling that they have no long-term lease with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the owner of the Metrodome where the Twins currently play. In February 2006 the court did rule favorably on the Twins motion. Thus, the Twins were not obligated to play in the Metrodome after the 2006 season. This removed one of the roadblocks that prevented [[contraction]] prior to the 2002 season and cleared the way for the Twins to either be relocated or disbanded prior to the 2007 season if a new deal was not reached. ===The future=== For a long time, the Twins wished to move from the Metrodome to the [[Twins Ballpark|site]] behind Target Center within the next half decade, claiming that the Metrodome generates too little revenue for the Twins to be competitive. In particular, the Twins receive very little revenue from luxury suite leasing (as the majority 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, and the capacity of the stadium is far too high for baseball. However, attempts to spur interest and push legislative efforts towards a new stadium repeatedly failed prior to 2006. 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, the Vikings also have a stadium proposal in various stages of development, and the Twins and Gophers are in the process of constructing their new stadiums. On [[May 21]] [[2006]], the Twins' [[Twins Ballpark|new stadium]] received the approval of the Minnesota House of Representatives, with a vote of 71-61, and then received approval from the Senate, with a nailbiting vote of 34-32, after 4 a.m. on the second-to-last day of the 2006 legislative session. The bill moved on to [[Governor of Minnesota|Governor]] [[Tim Pawlenty]], who signed it during a special pre-game ceremony at the [[HHH Metrodome]] on May 26, 2006 (the Twins played the Seattle Mariners that night) on what will be the first home plate installed in the new stadium. ===New ballpark=== [[Twins Ballpark]], the future stadium of the Twins is being built in what was a parking lot at the north end of downtown Minneapolis within walking distance of the [[Target Center]]. The [[Hiawatha Line|Hiawatha Light Rail line]] will be extended to the ballpark area with a connection to the [[Northstar Commuter Rail]], which will have its final station at the ballpark. Preliminary plans call for a seating capacity of 40,000 seats and 72 suites. There will be approximately 34 rest rooms compared to only 16 in the Metrodome. The concourses will be open to the playing field with a view of the downtown Minneapolis skyline from every seat in the park. There will not be a retractable roof on the stadium which would add about $200 million on to the cost which is currently set at $522 million. This has received some objection due to the potentially harsh game conditions in early April (similar to other northern pro baseball teams such as the White Sox, Cubs, Tigers, Indians, Red Sox, etc.) and the potential risk of resulting lost revenue. The official groundbreaking for the stadium, originally scheduled for [[2 August]] [[2007]], was postponed to [[August 30]] due to the collapse of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]]. However, officials still expect the work to be completed in time for the 2010 home opener. With the new ballpark bill, a provision was signed into law that allows the state of Minnesota the right of first refusal to buy the team if it is ever sold, and requires that the name, colors, World Series trophies and history of the team remain in Minnesota if the Twins are ever moved out of state (a reaction to the loss of the [[Minnesota North Stars]] to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] in [[1993 in sports|1993]]). The stadium, according to current renderings, will be clad in Minnesota limestone, featuring a canopy cover for the seating area, as well as potentially trees in the outfield area. The concourses of the stadium will be wider than those in the Metrodome and will be heated. <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:new twins stadium.jpg]] --> ===Team statistics=== [[Image:061307-Twins-TC.jpg|200px|right|thumb|TC, the Twin's mascot.]] * Best regular season record: [[1965 in baseball|1965]] (102-60) * Worst regular season record as [[Washington Senators]]: [[1904 in baseball|1904]] (38-113) * Worst regular season record as [[Minnesota Twins]]: [[1982 in baseball|1982]] (60-102) * Longest win streak: [[1991 in baseball|1991]] (15 games, [[June 1]] to [[June 16]]) * World Series Home Record: 17-5. (8-0 at home in last two series, [[1987 World Series|1987]] and [[1991 World Series|1991]]} * World Series Away Record: 2-16. (No road wins since [[1925 World Series|1925]]'s Game 1) * Ballpark gimmick: [[Homer Hanky]] (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) * Mascot: [[TC (mascot)|TC]], introduced in [[2001 in baseball|2001]]. * Team Song: ''We're Gonna Win, Twins,'' by [[Dick Wilson]], introduced in 1961. * Spring Training Facility: [[Hammond Stadium]], [[Fort Myers, Florida]] * The team and the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|Metrodome]] were featured in the [[1994 in film|1994]] motion picture ''[[Little Big League]]''. *The party atmosphere of the Twins clubhouse after a win is well-known, the team's players unwinding with loud [[Rock and roll|rock music]] (usually the choice of the winning [[pitcher]]) and [[video game]]s. 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 brightly-colored small child's backpack ([[Barbie]] in 2005, [[SpongeBob Squarepants]] in 2006, [[Hello Kitty]] in 2007), and many of its players, both past and present, are notorious [[prank]]sters. *A new nickname was unintentionally introduced by White Sox manager [[Ozzie Guillén]], who called the Twins "Little [[Piranha]]s" as they gobbled up wins in July through August in the 2006 season. In 2007, the Twins sometimes play an animated sequence of piranhas munching under that caption, in situations where the Twins are scoring runs via "small ball". *[[Bob Casey (baseball announcer)|Bob Casey]] was the Twins first public-address announcer starting in 1961 and going until his death in 2005. He was well known for his unique delivery and his signature announcements of "NOOO Smoking in the Metrodome, either go outside or quit!", "Centerfielder, #34, KIRRBYYYYYYY PUCKETTTTTT!!!" and asking fans not to 'throw anything or anybody' onto the field. *The Twins were the first [[World Series]] champion to lose three away games and still win the series by winning all four home games; doing it in [[1987 World Series|1987]] and again in [[1991 World Series|1991]]. The [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] duplicated this feat in [[2001 World Series|2001]], when they became the first [[National League]] team to do so. *The Twins are the first team in Major League history to sweep the [[Player of the Month]], Pitcher of the Month, and Rookie of the Month awards, accomplishing this feat in June 2006 with catcher [[Joe Mauer]], pitcher [[Johan Santana]], and Rookie Pitcher [[Francisco Liriano]]. *In [[2006 in baseball|2006]], the club became one of the most decorated in recent baseball history, with [[Justin Morneau]]'s MVP following the AL Cy Young Award won by [[Johan Santana]] and the AL batting title by [[Joe Mauer]]. The last team to have done it was the [[1962 in baseball|1962]] [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. In addition to this, center fielder Torii Hunter was awarded the [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award]] for his defense in the 2006 season, and Mauer and Morneau each received a [[Silver Slugger Award]] for the offense as [[catcher]] and [[first baseman]] respectively. *Tradition holds in the MLB that the Twins are always the final team to report for spring training.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080209&content_id=2369718&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: New faces mark start of Twins camp<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Titles== {{start}} {{succession box | title = World Series Champions<br>Washington Senators | years = [[1924 World Series|1924]] | before = [[New York Yankees]]<br>[[1923 World Series|1923]] | after = [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]<br>[[1925 World Series|1925]] }} {{succession box | title = World Series Champions<br>Minnesota Twins | years = [[1987 World Series|1987]] | before = [[New York Mets]]<br>[[1986 World Series|1986]] | after = [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]<br>[[1988 World Series|1988]] }} {{succession box | title = World Series Champions<br>Minnesota Twins | years = [[1991 World Series|1991]] | before = [[Cincinnati Reds]]<br>[[1990 World Series|1990]] | after = [[Toronto Blue Jays]]<br>[[1992 World Series|1992]] and [[1993 World Series|1993]] }} {{end}} ---- {{start}} {{succession box | title = American League Champions<br>Washington Senators | years = [[1924 in baseball|1924]] and [[1925 in baseball|1925]] | before = [[New York Yankees]]<br>[[1921 in baseball|1921]], [[1922 in baseball|1922]], and[[1923 in baseball|1923]] | after = [[New York Yankees]]<br>[[1926 in baseball|1926]], [[1927 in baseball|1927]], and[[1928 in baseball|1928]] }} {{succession box | title = American League Champions<br>Washington Senators | years = [[1933 in baseball|1933]] | before = [[New York Yankees]]<br>[[1932 in baseball|1932]] | after = [[Detroit Tigers]]<br>[[1934 in baseball|1934]] and [[1935 in baseball|1935]] }} {{succession box | title = American League Champions<br>Minnesota Twins | years = [[1987 American League Championship Series|1987]] | before = [[Boston Red Sox]]<br>[[1986 American League Championship Series|1986]] | after = [[Oakland Athletics]]<br>[[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]], [[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]], and [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]] }} {{succession box | title = American League Champions<br>Minnesota Twins | years = [[1991 American League Championship Series|1991]] | before = [[Oakland Athletics]]<br>[[1988 American League Championship Series|1988]], [[1989 American League Championship Series|1989]], and [[1990 American League Championship Series|1990]] | after = [[Toronto Blue Jays]]<br>[[1992 American League Championship Series|1992]] and [[1993 American League Championship Series|1993]] }} {{end}} ==Current roster== {{Minnesota Twins roster}} [[Minnesota Twins all-time roster]]: A complete list of players who played in at least one game for the Twins franchise. ==Minor league affiliates== *'''AAA:''' [[Rochester Red Wings]], [[International League]] *'''AA:''' [[New Britain Rock Cats]], [[Eastern League (baseball)|Eastern League]] *'''Advanced A:''' [[Fort Myers Miracle]], [[Florida State League]] *'''A:''' [[Beloit Snappers]], [[Midwest League]] *'''Rookie:''' [[Elizabethton Twins]], [[Appalachian League]] *'''Rookie:''' [[GCL Twins]], [[Gulf Coast League]] ==Baseball Hall of Famers== ===Washington Senators=== {| |valign="top"| *[[Stan Coveleski]] *[[Joe Cronin]] *[[Ed Delahanty]] *[[Rick Ferrell]] |width="50"| |valign="top"| *[[Lefty Gomez]] *'''[[Goose Goslin]]''' *[[Clark Griffith]] *'''[[Bucky Harris]]''' |width="50"| |valign="top"| *'''[[Walter Johnson]]''' *[[Heinie Manush]] *'''[[Sam Rice]]''' *[[Al Simmons]] |width="50"| |valign="top"| *[[George Sisler]] *[[Tris Speaker]] *[[Early Wynn]] |} ===Minnesota Twins=== {| |valign="top"| *'''[[Rod Carew]]''' *[[Steve Carlton]] |width="50"| |valign="top"| *'''[[Harmon Killebrew]]''' *[[Paul Molitor]] |width="50"| |valign="top"| *'''[[Kirby Puckett]]''' *[[Dave Winfield]] |} *Affiliation according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum : '''Names in Bold''' Inducted as Senators or Twins Molitor and Winfield, [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] natives and [[University of Minnesota]] graduates, came to the team late in their careers and were warmly received as "hometown heroes," but were elected to the Hall on the basis of their tenures with other teams. Both swatted their 3,000th hit with the Twins. Cronin, Goslin, Griffith, Harris, Johnson, Killebrew and Wynn are listed on the Washington Hall of Stars display at [[Robert F. Kennedy Stadium]]. So are [[Ossie Bluege]], [[George Case]], [[Joe Judge]], [[George Selkirk]], [[Roy Sievers]], [[Cecil Travis]], [[Mickey Vernon]] and [[Eddie Yost]]. ===Twins Hall of Fame=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:left;" |- !Class of 2000!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Harmon Killebrew]]||First Baseman||1961-74 |- |align="center"|[[Rod Carew]]||Second Baseman||1967-78 |- |align="center"|[[Tony Oliva]]||Outfielder||1962-76 |- |align="center"|[[Kent Hrbek]]||First Baseman||1981-94 |- |align="center"|[[Kirby Puckett]]||Outfielder||1984-95 |- |align="center"|[[Calvin Griffith]]||President and Owner||1961-83 |- !Class of 2001!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Herb Carneal]]||Radio Broadcaster||1962-2007 |- |align="center"|[[Jim Kaat]]||Left-handed Pitcher||1961-73 |- !Class of 2002!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Bert Blyleven]]||Right-handed Pitcher||1970-76, 1985-88 |- |align="center"|[[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]]||Manager||1986-2001 |- !Class of 2003!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Bob Allison]]||Outfielder||1961-70 |- |align="center"|[[Bob Casey (baseball announcer)|Bob Casey]]||Public Address Announcer||1961-2004 |- !Class of 2004!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Earl Battey]]||Catcher||1961-67 |- !Class of 2005!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Frank Viola]]||Left-handed Pitcher||1982-89 |- |align="center"|[[Carl Pohlad]]||Owner||1984-Present |- !Class of 2006!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Zoilo Versalles]]||Shortstop||1961-67 |- !Class of 2007!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Gary Gaetti]]||Third Baseman||1981-90 |- |align="center"|[[Jim Rantz]]||Director of Minor Leagues||1986-Present |- !Class of 2008!!Affiliation!!Years w/ Twins |- |align="center"|[[Rick Aguilera]]||Right-handed Pitcher||1989-95, 1996-99 |} ==Retired numbers== [[Image:Metrodome curtain of fame.JPG|thumb|left|350px|Metrodome banners]] The Metrodome's upper deck in center and right fields is partly covered by a curtain containing banners of various titles won, and retired numbers. {| class="wikitable" style="font-style:bold; font-size:100%; border:3px" cellpadding="2" |-align="Center" bgcolor="000081" link="#000011" |<imagemap> Image:TwinsRetired3.png|95px default [[w:Harmon Killebrew|Harmon Killebrew]]</imagemap><font color="white"> <br><b>Harmon<br>Killebrew OF-1B-3B: 1954-60 (WAS)<br>OF-1B-3B: 1961-74 (MIN) </font> |<imagemap> Image:TwinsRetired6.png|95px default [[w:Tony Oliva|Tony Oliva]]</imagemap><font color="white"> <br><b>Tony<br>Oliva OF: 1962-76 (MIN)<br>Coach: 1976-78 (MIN)<br>Coach: 1985-91 (MIN)<br></font> |<imagemap> Image:TwinsRetired14.png|95px default [[w:Kent Hrbek|Kent Hrbek]]</imagemap><font color="white"> <br><b>Kent<br>Hrbek 1B: 1981-94 (MIN) </font> |<imagemap> Image:TwinsRetired29.png|95px default [[w:Rod Carew|Rod Carew]]</imagemap><font color="white"> <br><b>Rod<br>Carew 1B-2B: 1967-78 (MIN) </font> |<imagemap> Image:TwinsRetired34.png|95px default [[w:Kirby Puckett|Kirby Puckett]]</imagemap><font color="white"> <br><b>Kirby<br>Puckett OF: 1984-95 (MIN) </font> |<imagemap> Image:TwinsRetired42.png|95px default [[w:Jackie Robinson|Jackie Robinson]]</imagemap><font color="white"> <br><b>Jackie<br>Robinson Retired by<br> Baseball </font> |- |} ==Notable Players== {| |valign="top"| *[[Rick Aguilera]] *[[Bob Allison]] *[[Earl Battey]] *[[Juan Berenguer]] *[[Bert Blyleven]] *[[Dave Boswell]] *[[Tom Brunansky]] *[[Luis Castillo]] # *[[Bill Campbell (baseball player)|Bill Campbell]] *[[Rod Carew]] *[[Dean Chance]] *[[Michael Cuddyer]] ^ *[[Bobby Darwin]] *[[Chili Davis]] *[[Scott Erickson]] *[[Gary Gaetti]] *[[Greg Gagne (baseball player)|Greg Gagne]] *[[Dan Gladden]] *[[Carlos Gomez]] ^ *[[Lenny Green]] *[[Mudcat Grant]] *[[Eddie Guardado]] # </td><td width=33% align=left valign=top> *[[Tom Hall]] *[[Brian Harper]] *[[Livan Hernandez]] ^ *[[Kent Hrbek]] *[[Torii Hunter]] # *[[Jim Kaat]] *[[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]] *[[Harmon Killebrew]] *[[Chuck Knoblauch]] *[[Corey Koskie]] # *[[Jason Kubel]] ^ *[[Gene Larkin]] *[[Francisco Liriano]] ^ *[[Shane Mack (baseball player)|Shane Mack]] *[[Joe Mauer]] ^ *[[Doug Mientkiewicz]] # *[[Justin Morneau]] ^ *[[Jack Morris]] *[[Joe Nathan]] ^ *[[Pat Neshek]] ^ *[[Al Newman]] *[[Joe Niekro]] </td><td width=33% align=left valign=top> *[[Tony Oliva]] *[[David Ortiz]] # *[[Camilo Pascual]] *[[Jim Perry (baseball)|Jim Perry]] *[[A.J. Pierzynski]] # *[[Kirby Puckett]] *[[Frank Quilici]] *[[Brad Radke]] *[[Jeff Reardon]] *[[Rich Reese]] *[[Rich Rollins]] *[[Johan Santana]] # *[[Roy Smalley (AL baseball player)|Roy Smalley]] *[[Kevin Tapani]] *[[Danny Thompson]] *[[César Tovar]] *[[Zoilo Versalles]] *[[Frank Viola]] *[[Stan Williams]] *[[Dave Winfield]] *[[Al Worthington]] *[[Delmon Young]] ^ *[[ Alex Brunn]] |} ('''^''' indicates active with Twins) ('''#''' indicates active in MLB not on Twins) ==Radio & Television== As of 2007, the Twins' new [[Flagship (radio)|flagship]] [[radio station]] is [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]], 1500 kHz AM. It replaces [[WCCO (AM)|WCCO]], which held broadcast rights for the Twins since the team moved to Minneapolis in 1961. The original radio voices of the Twins in 1961 were [[Halsey Hall]] and, after the first year, [[Herb Carneal]], sponsored by the [[Hamm's Brewery|Hamm's Brewing Company]]. In 2006, [[John Gordon (baseball)|John Gordon]], Herb Carneal, [[Dan Gladden|Dan "The Dazzle Man" Gladden]], and [[Jack Morris]] provided radio commentary. The television rights are held by [[FSN North]] with [[Dick Bremer]] as the [[play-by-play]] announcer and former Twin [[Bert Blyleven]] as [[color analyst]]. They are sometimes joined by [[Ron Coomer]] and [[Roy Smalley (AL baseball player)|Roy Smalley]]. Blyleven was suspended by the team briefly in [[2006 in baseball|2006]] for inadvertently saying [[obscenity|obscene words]] on a live telecast; he did not realize the broadcast was live and assumed a second take of the segment could be taped. FSN North also produces game telecasts on [[WFTC]], "My 29" in the Twin Cities. On April 1st, 2007, [[Herb Carneal]], the radio voice of the Twins for all but one year of their existence, died in his home in [[Minnetonka, Minnesota]] after a long battle with a list of illnesses. Carneal is currently in the Hall of Fame. ==References== *''The Washington Senators'', by [[Shirley Povich]] {{reflist}} ==See also== {{Commonscat|Minnesota Twins}} *[[Baseball Hall of Fame]] *[[Minnesota Twins Season-by-Season Records|Twins Season-by-Season Records]] *[[Minnesota Twins award winners and league leaders|Twins Award Winners and League Leaders]] *[[Minnesota Twins team records|Twins Records and Milestone Achievements]] *[[List of Minnesota Twins broadcasters|Twins Broadcasters and Media]] *[[Minnesota Twins managers and ownership|Twins Managers and Ownership]] *[[Minnesota Twins Draft History|Twins Draft History]] *[[Twins-White Sox rivalry]] *[[Twins-Athletics rivalry]] *[[Wayne Hattaway|Wayne 'Big Fella' Hattaway]] ==External links== *[http://www.mlb.com Major League Baseball] *{{MLBTeam|Minnesota|Twins|MIN}} *[http://www.cooloftheevening.com 1965 Minnesota Twins book] *[http://www.JustinMorneau.com Justin Morneau Fan Site] *[http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/al/tcmin/twins.html Sports E-Cyclopedia] *[http://www.sportiki.com/index.php?title=Minnesota_Twins Minnesota Twins at Sportiki] *[http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?t=65 Twins' logo history] *[http://getboofed.wordpress.com/ 'Get Boofed' Twins Wordpress Blog] {{Minnesota Twins|width=100}} {| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% align="center" |- ! style="background:#ccccff"| [[World Series]] Championship Navigation Boxes |- | {{1924 Washington Senators}} {{1987 Minnesota Twins}} {{1991 Minnesota Twins}} |} {{MLB Team Minnesota Twins}} {{MLB}} {{Minnesota Sports}} {{Cleanup|date=July 2007}} [[Category:Major League Baseball teams]] [[Category:Minnesota Twins|*]] [[Category:Sports in Minneapolis, Minnesota]] [[Category:Baseball teams in Minnesota]] [[Category:Sports clubs established in 1901]] ''elcajonfarms'' 15:05, 2 April 2008 (UTC) [[cs:Minnesota Twins]] [[da:Minnesota Twins]] [[de:Minnesota Twins]] [[es:Minnesota Twins]] [[fr:Twins du Minnesota]] [[ko:미네소타 트윈스]] [[id:Minnesota Twins]] [[it:Minnesota Twins]] [[he:מינסוטה טווינס]] [[hu:Minnesota Twins]] [[nl:Minnesota Twins]] [[ja:ミネソタ・ツインズ]] [[pl:Minnesota Twins]] [[pt:Minnesota Twins]] [[ru:Миннесота Твинс]] [[simple:Minnesota Twins]] [[sv:Minnesota Twins]] [[uk:Міннесота Твінз]] [[zh:明尼蘇達雙城]]