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).
June 6, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Terry Ryan, Minnesota Twins general manager, about the team’s selection of Cretin-Durham Hall catcher Joe Mauer as the first overall pick in the baseball draft.
July 3, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports that multiple players on the Minnesota Twins may be chosen for the upcoming 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Halfway through their baseball season the Minnesota Twins are perched at the top of their division, with the second best record in the American League. The strong performance of a team many experts picked to finish last remains the surprise story of the year in baseball.
July 9, 2001 - The Minnesota Twins will send three players to the All-Star Game. It's the first time since 1996 that the team has sent more than one player to the game. Pitchers Joe Mays and Eric Milton, and shortstop Christian Guzman have led the surprising Twins this year. LaVelle Neal provides commentary about the team’s success in first half of 2001.
July 11, 2001 - What a difference a year can make. The Twins come out of this year's All-Star Break in first place, with a five game lead over Cleveland in the Central Division. Last year at this time, Minnesota was 18 1/2 games behind first place. Baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy credits a combination of great pitching and some well-timed offense.
August 3, 2001 - Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield will be inducted into the Hall and Midday has a Baseball Hall of Fame extravaganza to preview the event with the recorded words of Kirby Puckett himself, sports analyst Howard Sinker live from Cooperstown, and comments from MPR listeners.
August 3, 2001 - All Things Considered baseball analyst Kevin Hennessy provides a commentary on former baseball star Kirby Puckett, who played his entire career with the Twins. Puckett's attitude and his love for the game won him the admiration of countless fans…including Hennessy.
August 14, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Minneapolis Star Tribune sports commentator LaVelle Neal about the Minnesota Twins struggling with the pressures of a pennant race.
September 19, 2001 - MPR's William Wilcoxen reports on Minnesotans returning to the national pastime, after taking a week off from baseball to mourn the lives lost on September 11th, 2001. The Twins turned in a sparkling performance in front of a small crowd at the Metrodome. Several fans and players said it felt good to get back into the swing of life's routine.
October 12, 2001 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports that Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly says he's stepping down after 15 full seasons. Under Kelly's tenure, the Twins won two World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. This year, the Twins finished second in the American League Central, snapping an eight year run of losing seasons.
October 12, 2001 - All Things Considered’s Lorna Benson talks with sports commentator Kevin Hennessy about the retirement of Tom Kelly, who has managed the Minnesota Twins manager for 16 seasons. Kelly was skipper for the 1987 & 1991 World Series championship seasons.