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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May 17, 2011 - MPR’s Matt Sepic presents a rememberence report on Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who passed away May 17, 2011. Sepic highlights some of the things that made Killebrew a special ball player.
May 17, 2011 - Midday presents a special hour remembering Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, who died of esophageal cancer at the age of 74. Program includes a profile, interviews, and call-in comments from listeners.
May 18, 2011 - A collection of Minnesota Twins fans and former players comments about Harmon Killebrew, who for many, will be known as much for his off-field demeanor as his ability to hit home runs.
May 27, 2011 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer presents moments from Harmon Killebrew tribute at Target Field. Hundreds of people attended the event in honor of the Minnesota Twins' first Hall of Famer.
August 9, 2011 - MPR’s Brandt Williams profiles John Gordon, who as the radio broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins, has documented some of the biggest moments in the team's history. Gordon announced he will retire after the 2011 Twins season comes to a close.
September 5, 2011 - For some baseball fans, a trip to the ballpark is not complete without a cold beer. For MPR reporter Brandt Williams, one of the best things about going to a baseball game is listening to the sound of the ballpark's mobile bartenders…the beer vendors.
April 6, 2012 - We all love the fight song "Win Twins," but on this Opening Day, there's a new anthem to be added to the mix that will allow us to show even more love for our Twins. MPR’s Tom Weber shares the story of how this anthem came to be.
April 10, 2012 - MPR’s Brandt Williams covers the Minnesota Twins 2012 home opener against the Anaheim Angels, and previews the upcoming season…will they be any good this year?
April 13, 2012 - Kent Hrbek joins Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer to discuss the unveiling of a Kent Hrbek bronze statue outside Target Field in Minneapolis. Hrbek will join Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Kirby Puckett as the only players to be immortalized in bronze outside the ballpark.
June 5, 2012 - Howard Sinker, digital sports editor for Star-Tribune.com, gives an appraisal of the potential picks for the Minnesota Twins in the Major League Baseball Draft. In 2011, only one major league team finished with a worse record than Minnesota and because of that year's dismal performance, the Twins will have the second overall pick in the amateur player draft.