Minnesota
Twins Twins Enterprises MLB Dark Horse Franchise
1965
Minnesota Twins Home Throwback Jersey From Mitchell & Ness, With
#3 On The Jersey (Harmon Killebrew)
1984
Minnesota Twins Home Throwback Jersey From Mitchell & Ness, With
#34 On The Jersey (Kirby Puckett)
1984
Minnesota Twins Road Throwback Jersey From Mitchell & Ness, With
#34 On The Jersey (Kirby Puckett)
Minnesota
Twins Wall Clock from WinCraft
Street
Chrome Minnesota Twins Lighter by Zippo
5
oz. Minnesota Twins Hot Sauce - Set of 4 Jars
2004
Minnesota Twins Team Collage 8 x 10 Framed Photograph, Medallion and
Pin Set from The Highland Mint
Rod
Carew, Minnesota Twins Double Matted 8 X 10 Photograph (Unframed)
Minnesota
Twins Chrome License Plate Frame - Set of 2
Minnesota
Twins 12 x 12 Souvenir Pillow
Minnesota
Twins Team Logo Double Matted 8 X 10 Photograph (Unframed)
Minnesota
Twins 2004 Team Pride 8 x 10 Framed Photograph and Medallion Set by
The Highland Mint
16
oz. Minnesota Twins Picante Salsa - Set of 4 Jars
Minnesota
Twins MLB Licensed Black Tire Cover
Minnesota
Twins Pennant from Winning Streak Sports
Torii
Hunter Minnesota Twins Action Pose Bobble Head Doll from Forever Collectibles
Minnesota
Twins, professional baseball team and one of five teams in the Central
Division of the American League (AL). Named for Minnesota’s
Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the club plays at the Hubert
H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis and wears white pinstriped uniforms
with red trim. The franchise originated as the Washington Senators,
a club that joined the American League at the time of the league’s
formation in 1901.
The
Minnesota Twins reached the playoffs three times from 1961 to 1970,
during the franchise’s first 10 years. The Twins first won
the World Series in 1987. The club won another Series title in 1991.
Both championship teams were led by manager Tom Kelly and perennial
.300 hitter and All-Star outfielder Kirby Puckett.
Two
of the greatest Twins players were slugger Harmon Killebrew and
line-drive hitter Rod Carew. Killebrew won six AL home run titles
and ranks in the top ten on the all-time home run list with 573.
Carew, recognized as the best pure hitter of his day, won seven
league batting crowns and compiled a career .328 average—among
the best averages recorded in the second half of the 20th century.
The
Twins joined the league in 1961 when, despite pleas from the Congress
of the United States and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, AL officials
reluctantly allowed Washington Senators owner Calvin Griffith to
relocate his club to Minneapolis. Sam Mele was named manager in
1961 and in 1965 led the Twins to the AL pennant with sluggers Harmon
Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Zoilo Versalles. Minnesota’s hitters,
however, succumbed to pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale of
the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
In 1969
Minnesota captured the division title under the stormy leadership
of first-year manager Billy Martin. Killebrew provided the offensive
power and won the AL most valuable player (MVP) award. Rod Carew
captured the first of his seven batting titles, Oliva led the AL
in hits and doubles, and pitchers Dave Boswell and Jim Perry each
won 20 games. Despite solid hitting and pitching by the Twins, the
Baltimore Orioles swept the AL Championship Series (ALCS). Minnesota
returned to the playoffs in 1970 behind Perry, whose 24-12 win-loss
record earned him the Cy Young Award, but the Twins were once again
swept in the ALCS by the Orioles.
Minnesota’s
third base coach, Tom Kelly, became manager in 1986 and turned the
Twins into World Series champions in 1987. Outfielders Tom Brunansky
and Kirby Puckett, first baseman Kent Hrbek, and third baseman Gary
Gaetti each hit at least 28 home runs that year, while Frank Viola,
Bert Blyleven, and reliever Jeff Reardon led a strong pitching staff.
Minnesota upset the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and went on to defeat
the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Kelly was named AL
manager of the year.
Although
Minnesota finished last in 1990, pitchers Scott Erickson and Jack
Morris helped turn the team around in 1991, taking the Twins to
another AL pennant. Kelly again earned top managing honors as Minnesota
defeated the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series. However, the
Twins struggled during most of the remainder of the 1990s.
<p>Outfielder Delmon Young came to camp about 30 pounds lighter than he was at the end of the 2009 season, down from about 240 pounds to 208. The outfielder, who lost his mother to pancreatic cancer last May, also seems to be in an excellent frame of mind.</p>
<p>"He knew he needed to make some changes to his game," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We talked about him not running the bases as well last year. He was a little bigger. He knew it, too. It's something that he set his own mind out to do, to go lose some weight and get back to running the bases and all those things, moving better in the outfield. He came in great shape and he's worked his (butt) off. I tip my hat to him."</p> <p>Young's weight loss was a decision he made without any suggestion from the team, and he said his offseason was...
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=11rs7l0nd/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=300309109&prov=ap"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100309/thumb.0faba5bb14c943a38f78b67e46cb5a33.cardinals_twins_spring_baseball_flsr109.jpg" width="106" height="130" alt="St. Louis Cardinals' Adam Wainwright(notes) delivers a warm-up pitch before pitching in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins in a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Wainwright struggled, allowing five hits, four runs and two walks in two innings." align="left" border="0"></a></p><p>On a tough day for the Minnesota Twins, third base prospect Danny Valencia provided something positive. Valencia hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, and the Twins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Tuesday after learning All-Star closer Joe Nathan has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow.</p><br clear="all" />
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=12bgogi5r/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-twins-nathan&prov=ap&type=lgns"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100309/thumb.2be049ba2c8a4db8bbba690eea4c3427.twins_nathan_baseball_flnh104.jpg" width="130" height="101" alt="In this photo taken on March 6, 2010, Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Nathan(notes), right, with teammates Justin Morneau(notes), left, and Orlando Hudson(notes) (1), looks away before walking off the mound after pitching part of the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla. Nathan has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. General Manager Bill Smith says the plan is to rest Nathan for two weeks, eliminate the soreness and build strength in his elbow before making any decisions about surgery." align="left" border="0"></a></p><p>The Minnesota Twins suddenly have a glaring concern about closing games for the first time since Joe Nathan took over in 2004. Tests on Nathan's right throwing elbow have revealed a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. Nathan's 246 saves over six seasons are the most in the majors during that span.</p><br clear="all" />
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had just one complaint, and it had nothing to do with Minnesota's performance in a 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Gardenhire's problem had to do with the postgame meal for the 70-mile trip back to the Twins' training complex in Fort Myers. "Two pieces of chicken on the bus.
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=11r5p60e4/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=300307109&prov=ap"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100307/thumb.7017d0c4489a433abd5eda644bd24139.yankees_twins_spring_baseball_flnh111.jpg" width="116" height="129" alt="New York Yankees pitcher Kei Igawa(notes) works against the Minnesota Twins in the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Sunday, March 7, 2010." align="left" border="0"></a></p><p>Scott Baker was one of the highlights in a mixed day for the Minnesota Twins' pitching staff. Baker threw two effective innings, Jason Kubel homered and a Twins split-squad beat the New York Yankees 11-0 on Sunday. Baker's strong outing and Nick Blackburn's new contract was tempered by closer Joe Nathan returning to Minnesota for tests on his surgically repaired right elbow.</p><br clear="all" />
Bobby Crosby's work with Mark McGwire in the past three offseasons appears to be paying off. Crosby hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat a Minnesota Twins split squad 15-5 Sunday. "He's a good guy to have around," Crosby said of the St. Louis Cardinals' new hitting coach.
The Minnesota Twins have signed pitcher Nick Blackburn to a four-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes an $8 million club option for 2014. Last season, Blackburn went 11-11 for the second straight year then started in the division series when the New York Yankees won 4-3 in 11 innings. He finished the year with a 4.30 ERA.
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=11rg0t8gl/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=300306102&prov=ap"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100306/thumb.599c54bcfbd640be8bad41f1e49f4080.twins_red_sox_spring_baseball_flnh109.jpg" width="90" height="130" alt="Boston Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey(notes) works against the Minnesota Twins in a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday, March 6, 2010." align="left" border="0"></a></p><p>Joe Nathan appears to have avoided the problem that struck John Lackey the past two years -- a troublesome spring training injury. The Minnesota Twins closer should be "fine" after leaving Saturday's 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox with soreness and tightness in his surgically repaired right elbow, manager Ron Gardenhire said.</p><br clear="all" />
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=11rd2aacq/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=300305109&prov=ap"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100305/thumb.417a4fc3214d45879ef30253df293967.red_sox_twins_spring_baseball_flnh109.jpg" width="129" height="104" alt="Minnesota Twins' Luke Hughes (38) forces out Boston Red Sox's Josh Reddick(notes) (68) as he throws to first base for a double to end the ninth inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Friday, March 5, 2010. The Twins defeated the Red Sox 5-0." align="left" border="0"></a></p><p>Justin Morneau and Tim Wakefield each made encouraging returns to the field after a long offseason dealing with back injuries. Morneau marked his return to Minnesota with a two-run double and Wakefield tossed two scoreless innings for Boston in his first post-surgery appearance in a 5-0 victory by the Twins over the Red Sox on Friday.</p><br clear="all" />
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/mlb/SIG=11r8tfc6u/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=300304102&prov=ap"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100305/thumb.837c74b2ab2345a39f08d0fe3f8283d9.twins_red_sox_spring_baseball_flnh109.jpg" width="90" height="129" alt="Boston Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre(notes) throws out Minnesota Twins' Drew Butera in the third inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday, March 4, 2010." align="left" border="0"></a></p><p>The last time Josh Beckett and Nick Blackburn pitched, their teams lost the second game of a pair of three-game sweeps in AL division series. The stakes were much lower on Thursday night when the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Mark Wagner's tiebreaking single in the eight in the spring training opener for both teams.</p><br clear="all" />
Justin Morneau knows how much the Minnesota Twins depend on him, which is why he has long believed that he could not afford to take a day off of work once spring training started in late February. After a back injury forced him to watch his teammates rally for the AL Central division title without him in the final month of last season, Morneau may have finally come to the realization that he...
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