Transcripts

[? KAREN BORRIS: ?] Saint Paul crowds might not have been as large as the Minneapolis crowds. Saint Paul was perhaps less glitzy, produced smaller quantities of confetti, and seemed more inclined to behave when a cop said step back. But the crowd waiting at the State Capitol Mall could claim better mood-setting music, thanks to John Hughes and his pipes.

For the record, Hughes claims to know the start of the Twins song, but hasn't mastered the whole tune just yet. In 1987, the Capitol Mall was covered with people as far as the eye could see. A crowd estimated as a quarter of a million. In 1987, the Capitol was where the official victory ceremonies took place. It was the place to be. This time around, the parade passed through the mall, which was just fine for the fans lining the curbs.

SPEAKER: Don't seem to be as many people out here. I think they're all going to be in Minneapolis today instead of here, because the ceremonies are being held at the Metrodome.

JIM SMITH: I think it's much more organized. Not as many people. Of course, they had to rally here. I think they're just having the parade today, though.

[? KAREN BORRIS: ?] That last person was Jim Smith of Forest Lake, who like most on the mall, got a front row standing space half an hour before parade time. In 1987, state Trooper Pat McArdle was on the Capitol steps trying to reinforce the snow fencing place there to keep a quarter of a million people from storming the champs. It was definitely better planned this year, according to Trooper McArdle.

TROOPER MCARDLE: It's not quite as many people here. There's about 1/50 of the people here, it looks like, and people aren't quite as rowdy. In 1987, they were crashing down the snow fences, and people are doing pretty well here today.

[? KAREN BORRIS: ?] Off in the distance, the crowd was catching its first glimpse of the squad car flashers, and the helicopters seemed to be getting closer. It was getting colder. Snow was being reported and acknowledged. The wind seemed to be picking up, and in an instant, all the discomfort was forgotten as the first cars rounded the bend for a swing past the Capitol.

And suddenly, there were Carl and Eloise Pohlad. If you reached out, you could probably touch the truck, and the trucks kept coming. Tom Kelly, Tony Oliva and his family. Brian Harper laughing when a couple of kids ignored the cops and came off the curb to exchange high fives with the catcher, Greg Gainey, with a sweatshirt wrapped on his head.

Scott Erickson wore black. What else? He rode with roommate Chili Davis. One of the first questions Davis asked when he arrived on the Twins doorstep was, what do the World Series rings look like? Dan Gladden was more than pleased to give Davis a view of the ring Gladden rode by.

Kirby and Tonia Puckett rode by Kent and Gene Hrbek, and then the last player truck with Saint Paul's own series most valuable player, Jack Morris, riding all alone in a crowd.

JACK MORRIS: It's an incredible celebration for everybody in Minnesota. It's wonderful. It's more than I thought it would be. I've been through one in Detroit, and these people have shown their support on a cold day here in Minnesota, it's beautiful.

JOHN BOULEVARD: Got to back up a little bit. Got to back up a little bit.

[? KAREN BORRIS: ?] Ahead of Morris was John Ireland Boulevard. More fans cheering, the truck moved on and the crowd left behind watched the magic team move away, move past them, and the Capitol Mall slowly became just another piece of real estate. From the State Capitol, I'm [? Karen ?] Borris.