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).
January 11, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that a citizens panel put together by the Minnesota Twins to look at the baseball team's future has finished its work. After six months of study, Minnesotans for Major League Baseball says the state risks losing the Twins unless the team gets a new ballpark combined with financial reforms in big league baseball.
January 16, 2001 - Local baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy shares his thoughts about former Twins outfielders Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett, who both have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame.
January 16, 2001 - It may be a big day for Minnesota baseball as results of this 2001's Hall of Fame balloting will be announced and two of Minnesota's own…Dave Winfield, a Saint Paul native; and Kirby Puckett, a 12-year star Twin…are strong candidates for enshrinement.
January 16, 2001 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen provides a brief profile of baseball star Kirby Puckett, who along with Dave Winfield, have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Winfield is a St. Paul native whose 22-year major league career included a couple of seasons with the Minnesota Twins. But at the team offices in the Metrodome, the biggest celebration was for Puckett, who during his twelve years in Minnesota became one of the Twins' best and most popular players.
January 17, 2001 - Jim Kaat, former Twins broadcaster, and Howard Sinker, MPR sports analyst, discuss Baseball Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett. Program also features Kirby’s retirement statement, reports on his election to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and call-in commentary from listeners.
January 17, 2001 - MPR’s sports commentator Jay Weiner reflects on the early days of Kirby Puckett after the announcement that St. Paul native Dave Winfield and the Minnesota Twins legend Puckett were elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Hall in their first year of eligibility.
January 31, 2001 - MPR’s Laura McCullum reports on the Minnesota Twins latest effort to find support for a stadium plan at the State Capitol. This time, team officials are taking a go-slow approach, listening to legislators and floating ideas. Some lawmakers are warming to one idea that doesn't involve a direct taxpayer subsidy, but they say funding a new ballpark won't be a top priority during a busy budget session.
February 23, 2001 - LaVelle Neal, who covers spring training of the Minnesota Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, gives his hopeful appraisal of the team. The Twins' front office has been busy signing their best young players, which has the team thinking about reaching the .500 mark this year.
March 16, 2001 - Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy comments on the positive potential of the Minnesota Twins with the continued signing of strong young players, such as Brad Radke, LaTroy Hawkins, Cristian Guzman, and Corey Koskie. It is a change from the rock-bottom salary strategy for players that team had done in prior years.
March 20, 2001 - When the Minnesota Twins last made a major push for a new ballpark, team officials argued they needed the facility to make them financially competitive with the rest of the league. In the four years since that effort failed at the Legislature, player salaries have risen so high that the team now concedes that revenue from a new ballpark alone won't balance their books.