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).
May 17, 1996 - On this segment of Voices of Minnesota, MPR’s Perry Finelli interviews Wayne Terwilliger, former first-base coach for the Minnesota Twins. Terwilliger discusses his youth, early playing career, hitting, and player salaries.
May 17, 1996 - On this segment of Voices of Minnesota, MPR’s Perry Finelli interviews Wayne Terwilliger, former first-base coach for the Minnesota Twins. Terwilliger discusses coaching the 1987 Twins, his role at first base, and working for the independent ball club St. Paul Saints.
May 20, 1996 - All Things Considered’s John Rabe reports from the press box of the Metrodome. Rabe gets a tutorial on how to act, orders food, gathers a few dome stories, and captures moments of the ball game.
June 10, 1996 - This hour of Midmorning features an episode of MPR’s Voices of Minnesota series. Segments include interview with David Durenberger; a Minnesota Twins update, with Marty Cordova, Chuck Knoblauch, and Paul Molitor; and a conversation with Anthony Horn, producer-creator of the Saint Paul Saints documentary Baseball, Minnesota.
July 10, 1996 - Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy breaks down Minnesota Twins players and team performance at the halfway point of 1996 Major League Baseball season. The play of Chuck Knoblauch is highlighted.
July 15, 1996 - Midday features a special Talk of Minnesota call-in program about number 34, the now-retired Minnesota Twin, Kirby Puckett. Program includes Puckett press conference and listener comments in the creation of an audio thank you letter to “Puck.”
August 13, 1996 - MPR’s sports commentator Howard Sinker discusses the faltering Minnesota Twins. Despite being in striking distance for the playoffs and having excellent play from individuals such as Paul Molitor, Sinker sees the team lacking the extra piece that would put them squarely into postseason play. Sinker is state news editor for the Star Tribune.
August 19, 1996 - This hour of Midmorning features Voices of Minnesota segments with David Lanegran, an urban geographer; a Minnesota Twins update, including interviews with players Frank Rodriguez, Scott Stahoviak, and Paul Molitor; and an Odd Jobs piece on mussel transport.
August 28, 1996 - Local sports commentator Howard Sinker discusses the excellent play of veteran Paul Molitor and Twins chances of making MLB playoffs.
November 8, 1996 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik reports on the Minnesota Twins and its allies looking to push lawmakers at the Minnesota State Capitol for a news stadium, the team going so far as to give a year’s notice as a warning on future of team in the state.