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 1, 2003 - After two years worth of losses to the New York Yankees, the Minnesota Twins earned a victory when it mattered most. The Twins took the lead in their best-of-five-game playoff series by beating New York 3-1 in Yankee Stadium on the strength of strong Twins pitching and solid fielding.
October 3, 2003 - The Minnesota Twins' first round playoff series with the New York Yankees is even at one game apiece as the teams head to the Twin Cities for two games. New York evened the series by pulling out a 4-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.
October 6, 2003 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that more than 55,000 fans crowded into the Metrodome only to see an 8-1 loss end the Minnesota Twins' baseball season. After winning the first game, the Twins scored only once in each of the next three games...allowing the Yankees to take the best-of-five playoff series three games to one.
January 6, 2004 - A profile report of former Major League Baseball player Paul Molitor, upon the announcement of his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Molitor was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from Cretin High School.
January 16, 2004 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports on vying proposals in the Twin Cities regarding a new ballpark. As policymakers and state officials pore over the details of 26 stadium ideas submitted, one thread emerges bright and clear…aside from the plans that call for new gambling revenues, all the major proposals rely heavily on increased tax dollars to build new homes for the Twins and Vikings.
March 16, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty announced his stadium plans, with the governor's stadium advisory commission recommending the state build new ballparks for both the Minnesota Twins and the Vikings. Midday presents report and holds a discussion on plan and takes listener calls.
March 22, 2004 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen reports on Victory Sports One, the Twins' new network. Nearly two-thirds of the Twins' games will be televised on the new network that is currently unavailable to most Minnesotans. Wilcoxen looks at the standoff between the Twins' new network and the region's leading cable and satellite providers.
March 30, 2004 - A plan to build two new stadiums for the Minnesota Twins and Vikings has taken another step forward. The bill advanced fairly easily out of the House Government Operations Committee without the lengthy debate that has often accompanied stadium discussions. The plan remains a work-in-progress, but critics contend it's not receiving the full scrutiny it deserves.
April 5, 2004 - The Minnesota Twins are aiming for a third straight division title, and they're confident another one can be had. Midday host Gary Eichten and Howard Sinker, sports commentator and state news editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, discuss the outlook for the Minnesota baseball team on the opening day of the season.
April 5, 2004 - General Manager Terry Ryan gives an appraisal of The Minnesota Twins as they open 2004 Major League Baseball season with a home game against the Cleveland Indians. During the off-season, the Twins lost key players through free agency and traded others to cut payroll. Ryan says he doesn't think the roster changes will stop the Twins from winning a third straight division title.