In 1961, Minnesota gained its first professional sports team when the Washington Senators moved to Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington and became the Minnesota Twins. The team enjoyed relatively quick success, winning the American League pennant in 1965 behind the hitting of Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew, and the pitching of Mudcat Grant and Jim Kaat. The Twins lost the World Series that year to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The team didn't make another trip to the World Series until 1987, when they became Word Series champions…a feat the Twins repeated in 1991.
By 1987, the Twins moved into the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The team's move to that domed stadium was controversial, as would be its move to Target Field in 2010. Both projects were preceded by years of debate and controversy over whether public investments in stadiums were worthwhile.
Nine Twins players have have had their numbers retired: Harmon Killebrew (3), Tony Oliva (6), Joe Mauer (7) Kent Hrbek (14), Bert Blyleven (28), Rod Carew (29), Kirby Puckett (34), and Jim Katt (36).
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January 7, 1991 - Former Minnesota Twins owner Calvin Griffith reflects on Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and life. Griffith also comments on who he thinks should be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
February 5, 1991 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports on the Minnesota Twins signing of veteran Major League Baseball pitcher Jack Morris. It is a “coming home” of sorts, as he attended Highland Park High School in St. Paul, Minnesota.
February 7, 1991 - MPR’s Bill Wareham profiles new Minnesota Twin, and St. Paul native, Jack Morris. Includes comments from Morris on his transition from Detroit Tigers to Minnesota Twins.
February 21, 1991 - Morning Edition’s Loren Omoto gets a phone interview “describer” of the new spring training home for the Minnesota Twins. Located in Fort Myers, the Hammond Stadium at the Lee County Sports Center offers a very intimate experience to fans watching games.
April 8, 1991 - MPR’s Bill Wareham gets sports writer appraisals of what the1991 MLB season may hold for the Minnesota Twins. The consensus is things look much better, both in roster and atmosphere from the year prior.
June 12, 1991 - Howard Sinker provides cautious positive commentary on the the good play of the Minnesota Twins in the early part of 1991 MLB season.
June 27, 1991 - All Things Considered’s Gary Eichten gets the inside scoop from Kevin Strong, a baseball player from Minneapolis who finds himself as a rookie for the Minnesota Twins minor league affiliate Elizabethton Twins.
July 9, 1991 - Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Mudcat Grant gives his impressions of the current Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Grant also reminisces on his past All-Star Game experience.
July 16, 1991 - Tom Kelly, Minnesota Twins manager, gives updates on the status of Twins pitching staff.
August 12, 1991 - A psychologist tells MPR’s Gary Eichten that he thinks the Minnesota Twins psyche is in good shape going into the final part of 1991 MLB season.