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 7, 2001 - The Minnesota Twins may be back at the State Capitol to jumpstart their push for a new stadium. Last month, the ballpark legislation was tabled in a House committee, leading many lawmakers to declare the proposal dead. But the unexpected strength of the team on the field may be turning public sentiment…and some legislators are taking notice.
May 9, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews Twins outfielder Matt Lawton, who predicts the Twins will continue to do well as long as their pitchers keep it together. The Minnesota Twins are dominating the defending World Champs, winning three of four games against the New york Yankees so far this season.
May 11, 2001 - Matt Hoy, Twins vice president for Operations, discusses new security measures being put in place at the Metrodome after unwanted activity during a game by fans in the previous week. The team will distribute a "Fan Code of Conduct" card to fans as they enter. It states: “The Minnesota Twins are committed to creating a safe, comfortable and enjoyable ballpark experience."
May 11, 2001 - Minnesota Twins' unexpected success on the field is helping persuade in a new Minnesota House stadium proposal. In it, citizen contributions are stripped from the proposal and state government would contribute only by waiving the tax on construction supplies.
May 14, 2001 - The agency that manages the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis presented a report which concludes the public favors a new ballpark for the Twins…but the Vikings can make do in the Metrodome if it's renovated. Consultant John Himle, who distilled the comments into the report, says they show the public feels an urgency to deal with the Twins stadium issue. He also says the comments are not related to the teams current success on the field.
May 14, 2001 - MPR's Michael Khoo reports on a House committee approving a package that removes most of the public subsidies from the ballpark plan. The Twins say it's doubtful they would support such a deal, but they say they were encouraged by the suggestion they study the financing plan used for the Minnesota Wild hockey arena.
May 17, 2001 - Twins are now off to the best start in franchise history. In an interview with MPR’s Lorna Benson, baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy attributes most of the team's early success to good pitching.
May 22, 2001 - Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports that a handful of teams are surprising the baseball world with strong starts this season, but none is more surprising than the Twins. The Twin Cities will get a look at the top two teams in baseball, when the Minnesota Twins host the Seattle Mariners at the Metrodome.
June 4, 2001 - As the Minnesota Twins hold a 1/2 game lead in the American League Central and prepare for a series against the Cleveland Indians, Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with sports commentator LaVelle Neal about what the rest of season may hold for the Twins.
June 5, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports on The Minnesota Twins making St. Paul's Joe Mauer the first pick in Major League Baseball's 2001 draft of amateur players. Mauer is a three-sport star at Cretin-Derham Hall High School, who is ranked among the best athletes the Twin Cities have ever produced.