| The Minnesota Twins are a Major league
| |
| | record for 1987, away from the Metrodome,
|
| Baseball team that moved to Minnesota in
| |
| | the Twins had an appalling 29-52 mark.
|
| 1961 from Washington D.C where the were
| |
| | The Twins only won nine road games after
|
| known as the Washington Senators. The
| |
| | the All-Star break. The Twins won more
|
| Twins have played their home games at the
| |
| | games in 1988, but could not overcome the
|
| Metrodome in Minneapolis since 1982.
| |
| | powerhouse division rival Oakland
|
| They have been to the World Series in
| |
| | Athletics. 1989 saw a decline in the win
|
| 1965, 1987, and 1991, winning in 1987 and
| |
| | column.
|
| 1991. In 2002, the Twins were threatened
| |
| | 1990s: From worst to first to worst again
|
| with contraction along with the Montreal
| |
| | The Twins surprisingly did quite poorly,
|
| Expos. They made it to the ALCS, and were
| |
| | finishing last in their division with
|
| allowed to stay in Minnesota.
| |
| | only 74 wins. 1991 brought breakout years
|
| Notable current and former Twins include
| |
| | from newcomers Shane Mack, Scott Leius,
|
| Kirby Puckett, Bert Blyleven, Harmon
| |
| | Chili Davis, and rookie of the year Chuck
|
| Killebrew, Paul Molitor, Johan Santana,
| |
| | Knoblauch, along with consistently
|
| Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, Eddie Guardado,
| |
| | excellent performances from stars Hrbek
|
| David Ortiz, A.J. Pierzynski, Corey
| |
| | and Puckett. The pitching staff excelled
|
| Koskie, and Kent Hrbek.
| |
| | as well, with Scott Erickson, Rick
|
| The St. Paul Saints are a American
| |
| | Aguilera, and St. Paul native Jack Morris
|
| Association team. The team was formerly
| |
| | having all-star years. The Twins defeated
|
| of the Northern League. The team was
| |
| | the Atlanta Braves to win the nail biting
|
| founded in 1993 as an Inaugural team in
| |
| | 1991 World Series (which has been
|
| the league. They won the Northern League
| |
| | considered by some to be the greatest of
|
| Championship in 1993, 1995, 1996, and in
| |
| | all-time). Game 6 is widely considered to
|
| 2004. Notable current and former players
| |
| | be one of the greatest World Series games
|
| include Kevin Millar, Darryl Strawberry,
| |
| | ever played. With the scored tied 3-3 in
|
| Jack Morris, and Ila Borders. The Saints
| |
| | the bottom of the 11th inning, Kirby
|
| play their home games at Midway Stadium
| |
| | Puckett stepped up to the plate and drove
|
| in St. Paul.
| |
| | the game winning home run into the left
|
| The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are a
| |
| | field seats to force a decisive Game 7.
|
| Northern League team founded in in 1996.
| |
| | Enlarge All three of the Twins' Series
|
| They won the Northern League Title in
| |
| | were decided in seven games, with the
|
| 1998 and in 2003.
| |
| | latter series ending in a dramatic
|
| The "Minnesota" designation, instead of
| |
| | 10-inning, 1-0 shutout by series MVP
|
| "Minneapolis", comes from the fact that
| |
| | Morris. 1991 was also the first time any
|
| the team is intended to represent the
| |
| | team finishing last in its division the
|
| twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul (and,
| |
| | previous year advanced to the World
|
| presumably, the entire state). This fact
| |
| | Series, with both the Twins and Braves
|
| is reinforced by the stylized TC logo
| |
| | accomplishing this unprecedented feat. In
|
| worn on home caps, and by their mascot,
| |
| | both this and the Twins' previous World
|
| TC Bear. The name "Twins" derives from
| |
| | Series appearance, the home team won each
|
| the popular name of the region, the Twin
| |
| | game, which had never occurred before.
|
| Cities. Owner Calvin Griffith originally
| |
| | ESPN rated the 1991 World Series as the
|
| wished to name the team the Twin Cities
| |
| | best ever played in a 2003 centennial
|
| Twins, but was persuaded by the governor
| |
| | retrospective of the World Series.
|
| and other state officials to name the
| |
| | 1992 saw another superb Oakland team that
|
| team for the whole state instead (unheard
| |
| | the Twins could not overcome, despite an
|
| of at the time, though later the Texas
| |
| | excellent 90-win season. After 1992, the
|
| Rangers and the California Angels -- now
| |
| | Twins again fell into an extended slump,
|
| the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim--,
| |
| | posting a losing record each year through
|
| would follow their lead). However, the
| |
| | 2000. From 1994 to 1997 a long sequence
|
| original "Twin Cities Twins" TC logo was
| |
| | of retirements and injuries (including
|
| kept.
| |
| | superstars Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett)
|
| 1960s: The Twins arrive in Minnesota and
| |
| | hurt the team badly, and Tom Kelly spent
|
| rise in the standings The Twins were
| |
| | the remainder of his managerial career
|
| eagerly greeted in Minnesota when they
| |
| | attempting to rebuild the Twins. In 1998,
|
| arrived in 1961, and they advanced to the
| |
| | management cleared out the team of all of
|
| World Series in 1965, driven by the
| |
| | its players earning over 1 million
|
| exciting play of superstar first baseman
| |
| | dollars (except for pitcher Brad Radke)
|
| Harmon Killebrew.
| |
| | and rebuilt from the ground up; the team
|
| They were defeated in the World Series by
| |
| | barely avoided finishing in the cellar
|
| the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the
| |
| | that year, finishing just five games
|
| championship drive cemented the team's
| |
| | ahead of perennial cellar dwellers
|
| relationship with the people of
| |
| | Detroit Tigers and avoiding the
|
| Minnesota.
| |
| | humiliating mark of 100 losses by just
|
| 1970s: From first place to mediocrity The
| |
| | eight games.
|
| team continued to post winning records
| |
| | In 1997, owner Carl Pohlad almost sold
|
| through 1971, winning the first two
| |
| | the Twins to North Carolina businessman
|
| American League West division titles.
| |
| | Don Beaver, who would have moved the team
|
| However, they then entered a decade-long
| |
| | to the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro -
|
| slump, finishing around .500 for the next
| |
| | Winston-Salem - High Point) area of the
|
| eight years. Tony Oliva and Rod Carew
| |
| | state. The defeat of a referendum for a
|
| continued to provide offensive power, but
| |
| | stadium in that area and a lack of
|
| Killebrew's batting average suffered and
| |
| | interest in building a stadium for the
|
| the pitching staff languished.
| |
| | Twins in Charlotte killed the deal.
|
| 1980s: Building a new home, a World
| |
| | 2000s: A perennial contender Things
|
| Champion In the early 1980s, The Twins
| |
| | turned around, and in 2001 to 2005, the
|
| fell further, winning only 37% of its
| |
| | Twins compiled the longest streak of
|
| games in 1981 and 1982. Through 1981, the
| |
| | consecutive winning seasons since moving
|
| team played its games at Metropolitan
| |
| | to Minnesota, going 85-77 in 2001, 94-67
|
| Stadium in Bloomington, a suburb south of
| |
| | in 2002, 90-72 in 2003, 92-70 in 2004 and
|
| the Twin Cities. The Mall of America now
| |
| | 83-79 in 2005. From 2002 to 2004, the
|
| occupies the spot where the "Old Met"
| |
| | Twins compiled their longest streak of
|
| stood, complete with home plate and the
| |
| | consecutive league/ division
|
| seat where Harmon Killebrew hit a 520
| |
| | championships ever (previous were the
|
| foot home run. The 1982 season brought
| |
| | 1924 World Champion-1925 AL Champion
|
| the team indoors, into the Metrodome,
| |
| | Senators and the 1969–70 Twins).
|
| which is in downtown Minneapolis near the
| |
| | Threatened with closure by league
|
| Mississippi River. After several losing
| |
| | contraction in 2002, the team battled
|
| seasons in the Dome, the arrival of 1980s
| |
| | back to reach the American League
|
| superstars Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett
| |
| | Championship Series before being
|
| electrified the team and sent the team
| |
| | eliminated 4-1 by that year's eventual
|
| back to the World Series. The Twins
| |
| | World Series champion Anaheim Angels.
|
| defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to win
| |
| | Their streak of three straight division
|
| the 1987 World Series. The 1987 Twins
| |
| | titles, along with some bitterly fought
|
| were unique from the standpoint that with
| |
| | games, have helped to create an intense
|
| their regular season record of 85-77,
| |
| | rivalry with the Chicago White Sox in
|
| they became worst performing team
| |
| | recent years, starting with 2000 when the
|
| (winning percentage wise) to win the
| |
| | Sox clinched the division at the
|
| World Series. While their 56-25 record at
| |
| | Metrodome, and heating up especially in
|
| the Metrodome was the best overall home
| |
| | 2003, 2004 and 2005.
|
