MPR’s Mike Mulcahy reports on American League pennant celebration at the Metrodome as fans reacted loudly to the AL Champion Minnesota Twins taking the field as part of event. The Twins now go onto the MLB World Series.
MPR’s Mike Mulcahy reports on American League pennant celebration at the Metrodome as fans reacted loudly to the AL Champion Minnesota Twins taking the field as part of event. The Twins now go onto the MLB World Series.
[CHEERS] MIKE MULCAHY: The Metrodome gates opened at 8:30, but the fans had to wait two hours for the Twins to arrive. After waiting 23 years for the team to make it to the World Series again, though, no one complained. Most agreed with Larry Dobbs of Minneapolis that the Twins will win the World Series.
LARRY DOBBS: They're hard to beat. They're the best team in baseball right now. There's no question about it. No other team is better. [INAUDIBLE] struggling. The Tigers are struggling. Twins are going to win it all way.
MIKE MULCAHY: Before the team arrived from Detroit, fans cheered video highlights that played on the scoreboard. They threw rolls of paper and wadded up tinfoil on the field and started several impromptu waves. The cheers held at an ears-splitting level for most of the night. And in fact, the crowd booed only twice. First, at Governor Rudy Perpich's face on the scoreboard and again when former Twins owner, Calvin Griffith, was shown getting off the team plane. But when the players themselves arrived, it was all positive. Pitcher Bert Blyleven, who won yesterday's game against Detroit, was the only player to address the crowd.
BERT BLYLEVEN: Last year on fan appreciation day, I did feel that this organization had something to offer. And I really feel that with 24 guys, we had a goal out of spring training to win our division. And we were the underdogs going into Detroit. But we showed them, didn't we?
[CHEERS]
MIKE MULCAHY: Other Twins players said they were overwhelmed by the display of fan support. Pitcher Joe Niekro, who pulled one of his trademark emery boards out of a pocket to the crowd's delight, said the team was expecting 5,000 to 10,000 to show up, nothing more than 50,000 that did. Playoff MVP, Gary Gaetti, said he was at a loss for words.
[? JOE NIEKRO: ?] With this kind of support, you can't lose. You just can't lose.
[? GARY GAETTI: ?] You look like it hasn't sunk in yet. Like you're floating.
[? JOE NIEKRO: ?] I am, I mean, I'm still enjoying the feeling. But this is just winning it was [INAUDIBLE] This was just unbelievable. I don't even know how to describe it. I had to break down. It was just too much for me.
MIKE MULCAHY: First baseman, Kent Hrbek declared the night a celebration, not a greeting. But it was second baseman Steve Lombardozzi who had the last word. Lombardozzi was asked whom he would rather face in the series, the San Francisco Giants or the Saint Louis Cardinals?
STEVE LOMBARDOZZI: Well, it doesn't matter. It didn't matter who we faced, Toronto or Detroit. It doesn't matter. Bring them on and bring them to the dome.
MIKE MULCAHY: Twins second baseman, Steve Lombardozzi. I'm Mike Mulcahy.
[CHEERS]
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