August 19, 2002 - Major League Baseball players have set a tentative strike date for the end of month as the 2002 MLB season enters its final weeks. The key issue is a desire by owners to impose a luxury tax on high-payroll teams. The union thinks taking away too much money from the high-spending teams would slow salary increases. Many Minnesota Twins fans say they're worried a strike could spell the end of the team.
August 29, 2002 - Major League Baseball owners and players may be close to settling their differences and avoiding a walkout. But, without an 11th hour reprieve, players will strike on August 28th, 2002. Those in and around the Metrodome who depend on the Twins for income say a strike would have substantial short and long term effects on their pocketbooks…and on baseball in Minnesota.
August 30, 2002 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports on a pivotal day for the future of Major League Baseball, as players and fans await word on whether the weekend's games will proceed as usual or will be cancelled by a player's strike. A strike could prematurely end a stellar season for the Minnesota Twins. The threat of a strike has already soured some fans on the national pastime.
August 30, 2002 - Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports on labor agreement between Major League Baseball and its players union, which allows the Minnesota Twins to continue one of the team's best seasons without interruption. Twins executives joined baseball teams and fans around the country in hailing the agreement.
September 2, 2002 - MPR sports commentator and Star Tribune writer Jay Weiner comments on agreement between the players' union and the team owners, averting a Major League Baseball strike. Weiner sees the revenue sharing plan as a win for Twins owner Carl Pohlad.
September 5, 2002 - Dave St. Peter, vice president of business affairs with the Minnesota Twins, discusses team’s preparation for post season play as regular MLB season nears completion.
September 16, 2002 - Gordon Wittenmyer, who follows the Twins for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, comments on the Minnesota Twins preparing for the post season for the first time since 1991. The Twins clinched the AL Central with a win over Cleveland Indians and a Chicago White Sox loss to the New York Yankees. Wittenmyer says the prior night's locker room celebration went on and on.
September 19, 2002 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Jock Olson, director of golf at Interlachen Country Club, on Solheim Cup being hosted in Edina, Minnesota. Olson breaks down the various golfers attending the event and the course itself.
September 30, 2002 - For the first time in eleven years, the Minnesota Twins head into Major League Baseball's playoffs. The Twins will be underdogs when they open their best-of-five game series with the Western Division champion Oakland A's on the West Coast. Whether they win or lose in the playoffs, 2002 will go down as a landmark season for the Twins.
October 1, 2002 - The Minnesota Twins open the postseason on the road against the Oakland Athletics. One is in the playoffs for the third straight year, the other hasn't tasted baseball's post-season since 1991…but as MPR’s Jon Gordon reports from Oakland, the Twins and the A's have a lot in common.