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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July 18, 1994 - MPR’s John Biewen reports on Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad’s push for change in deal with Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. The Twins organization says it is losing money, much of it due to business structure of Major League Baseball, which puts a greater strain on small market teams.
August 4, 1994 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with local sports commentator Howard Sinker about the retirement of Minnesota Twin first baseman Kent Hrbek. Sinker shares high praise of Hrbek, who played an integral part on the Twins roster for the 1987 and 1991 World Series Championships.
August 4, 1994 - MPR’s Lorna Benson profiles Kent Hrbek, the Minnesota Twins veteran star, who is retiring after 14 years with the team. In those years, he became a power hitter, a stellar defensive player, and a fan favorite. He retires with two Major League baseball World Series rings.
September 15, 1994 - MPR’s Jon Gordon reports on reaction from Twins organization over season-ending Major League Baseball strike.
February 1, 1995 - MPR’s Marilyn Butler reports on the Minnesota Twins organization completing annual winter caravan, despite an ongoing Major League Baseball strike. That leaves the Twins traveling without star players and looking at the possibility of replacement players for an upcoming MLB 1995 season.
April 3, 1995 - Local sports commentator Howard Sinker shares his thoughts on the state of professional baseball coming out of Major League Baseball strike. Sinker sees a long road ahead in getting fans excited again about the game.
April 3, 1995 - As the Minnesota Twins come out of the Major League Baseball strike, Jerry Bell shares discount program for upcoming game tickets. Bell also expresses the ongoing concern for small market teams over a lack of revenue sharing in the MLB.
April 26, 1995 - Scott Miller, St. Paul Pioneer Press baseball writer, shares his Opening Day experience of 1995 Major League Baseball season, in which the Minnesota Twins lost 9-0 to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway ballpark.
April 27, 1995 - With the home opener at hand, local sports commentator Howard Sinker gives his rough appraisal of Minnesota Twins in the 1995 MLB season.
April 28, 1995 - MPR’s Jon Gordon interviews baseball fans at the Minnesota Twins regular season home opener of the 1995 Major League Baseball season. Gordon gets the varied responses of fans after an eight month MLB strike, which ended the MLB 1994 season and delayed start of 1995.