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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October 9, 2002 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports from the Metrodome as The Minnesota Twins prepare to face the Anaheim Angels in Game Two of the American League Championship Series. The previous night, Twins pitcher Joe Mays helped the team beat the Angels 2-1 to open the series.
October 11, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews reporter Andrew Tellijohn about the Minnesota Twins success on the field is translating into more, and bigger, corporate sponsorships. Tellijohn covers the story in this week's edition of The Business Journal. He says the while Twin's sponsorship revenue has gone up the past two years, the Twins think it will increase even more next season.
October 11, 2002 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports it's not just the players and fans who would like to see the Minnesota Twins success in playoffs last another couple of weeks through to the World Series…so would downtown businesses and merchandisers who are profiting themselves from the Twins' success.
October 14, 2002 - MPR's William Wilcoxen presents report on Minnesota Twins and their disappointing finish to a remarkable season. A magical season came to a crashing halt for the Twins as they gave up a playoff-record 10 runs in one inning to the Anaheim Angels, whose 13-5 victory brought baseball's American League pennant to southern California for the first time.
October 14, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer speaks with Star Tribune’s LaVelle Neal about the Minnesota Twins season ending loss to the Anaheim Angels in American League Championship Series. The Angels won the series, 4–1.
January 29, 2003 - MPR's Elizabeth Stawicki reports that three Twin Cities-based news organizations are asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to keep open the option for access to documents filed as part of the lawsuit to keep the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome.
February 18, 2003 - Minneapolis Star Tribune’s LaVelle Neal gives an assessment of the Minnesota Twins as the spring training begins. Unlike last year, when most players were talking about whether the Twins would be contracted, the team is optimistic about their chances this year. The team reacted to the threat of contraction by winning the American League Central Division Championship and coming within a few games of playing in the World Series.
February 27, 2003 - Midday’s Gary Eichten talks with former Major League Baseball pitcher Bert Blyleven about the potential success for the Minnesota Twins in the 2003 MLB season. Program also includes call-in from listeners.
April 4, 2003 - The Minnesota Twins begin their home season against the Toronto Blue Jays and team officials say they expect a sold-out crowd at the Metrodome. Some Twins boosters had hoped to be laying the groundwork to replace the Dome by this time, but a ballpark bill passed in last session failed to produce a workable solution. So far in 2003, lawmakers have remained relatively mute on stadium legislation.
June 18, 2003 - Tracy Ringolsby, sports columnist for Rocky Mountain News, recently published an article looking at the Twins attendance figures and says The Twins should be contracted. That doesn't sit well with Minnesota Twins’ Dave St. Peter, who sees the numbers differently.