Last offseason was the serious polling—now it’s time for some fun!
Last offseason, I ran a poll series dedicated to sleuthing out the top Minnesota Twins of all time. It was a fairly studious endeavor, with two presiding rules: no managers and players needed 5+ seasons in a Twins uniform. We all crowd-sourced a solid list.
This offseason, it’s time to throw “everything else” onto the pile! Spent one season in Twins Territory? No big deal! Only involved in coaching or broadcasting? C’mon down! We may even see some movies, music, non-corporeal beings, locations, & even members of the American Bar Association make appearances!
So, here is Round 1 of this crazy—and hopefully fun!—journey…
Jack Morris
- Is it possible to cement a regional legacy with one game? That’s essentially what Black Jack did in 1991. The St. Paul native was solid (125 ERA+) in the regular season. But in the playoffs he took charge of the staff, culminating with 10 scoreless innings in Game 7 of the ‘91 World Series before Gene Larkin sent us home happy. There is a case for Morris’ masterpiece as the single greatest pitching performance in MLB history.
Set Number: X35596 TK7 R1 F15
Tom Kelly
- If you’ve ever seen or heard TK through various media outlets, you might be forgiven for thinking “there’s something a little off about this guy”. But that’s only because the man eats, sleeps, and breathes the sport of baseball. Creating the “Twins way” of focusing on fundamentals, Kelly has—to this day—brought home the only two men’s professional sporting championships to the state of Minnesota. In an era where “gut instinct” (rather than data) was the primary decision-maker, TK’s gut was unmatched.
photo by: Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Paul Molitor
- Despite a long, Hall of Fame career elsewhere, the St. Paul-born, Gopher-playing Molitor didn’t play for his hometown major league squad until 39 years of age (1996-1998). Even then, his .341 BA campaign in ‘96 was remarkable! After assuming various coaching roles in the Twins organization from 2005-2014, Molly assumed the top dugout perch from 2015-2018. Even after being let go, Molitor remained—and remains—active as a roving instructor.
Photo by Richard Orndorf/MLB via Getty Images
The Metrodome
- One could argue that the ballpark before and the ballpark after the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome were more pleasant. Former Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer referred to the Dome as “the other place” upon its irrelevance. But: Dome Dogs, lime green turf, deafening noise, t-shirt dropping blimps, wind currents, impossible pop-ups, giant baggies, plexiglass, and—most importantly—championships. Remember that dump of an apartment after college that you built all your formative memories in? Yeah—that’s the Metrodome.
Photo by JOHN CROFT/Star Tribune via Getty Images
Herb Carneal
- There are a few challengers to the “Voice of the Twins” moniker, but Herb Carneal still lays claim to that throne. Herb missed the first year—1961—of Twins baseball but then was on the radio mic from 1962-2006. His melodic baritone “hi everybody!” sign-on and friendly demeanor are why your grandfather—maybe even father—revere him to this day. When the Twins captured their first championship, it was Carneal calling Gaetti-to-Hrbek.