50 Greatest Twins

The 50 Greatest Twins were voted on by an expert panel of print, radio, and television journalists throughout Twins Territory and senior members of the Minnesota Twins staff and announced in May of 2010.

2010 Twins 50 year anniversary logo

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Rick Aguilera – pitcher – 1989 – 1999

Bob Allison – outfield – 1961 – 1970 *

Earl Battey – catcher – 1961 – 1967 *

Bert Blyleven – pitcher – 1970-1976 and 1986 – 1988

Lyman Bostock – outfield – 1975  – 1977 *

Tom Brunansky – outfield – 1982 – 1988

Rod Carew – 2B/1B – 1967 – 1978

John Castino – 3B/2B – 1979 – 1984

Michael Cuddyer – outfield – 2001 – 2011

Gary Gaetti – 3B – 1981 -1990

Greg Gagne – SS – 1983 – 1992

Ron Gardenhire – manager – 2002 – 2014

Dan Gladden – outfield – 1987 – 1991

Dave Goltz – pitcher – 1972 – 1979

Jim  “Mudcat” Grant – pitcher – 1964 – 1967 *

Eddie Guardado – pitcher – 1993 – 2003 and 2008

Larry Hisle – outfield – 1973 – 1977

Kent Hrbek – 1B – 1981 – 1994

Torii Hunter – outfield – 1997 – 2007

Jim Kaat – pitcher – 1961 – 1973

Tom Kelly – 1B/coach/manager – 1975 and 1983 – 2001

Harmon Killebrew – 1B/3B/outfield – 1961 – 1974 *

Chuck Knoblauch – 2B – 1991 – 1997

Jerry Koosman – pitcher – 1979 -1981

Corey Koskie – 3B – 1998 – 2004

Gene Larkin – 1B/outfield – 1987 -1993

Billy Martin – 2B/coach/manager – 1965 – 1969 *

Gene Mauch – manager – 1976 – 1980 *

Joe Mauer – catcher – 2004 – 2018

Sam Mele – manager – 1961 – 1967 *

Paul Molitor – DH/1B – 1996 – 1998

Justin Morneau – 1B – 2003 – 2013

Jack Morris – pitcher – 1991

Joe Nathan – pitcher – 2004 -2011

Tony Oliva – OF/DH/coach 1962 – 1978 and 1985-1991

Camilo Pascual – pitcher – 1961 -1966

Jim Perry – pitcher – 1963 – 1972

Kirby Puckett – outfield – 1984 – 1995 *

Frank Quilici –  2B/coach/manager – 1965, 1967 – 1975 *

Brad Radke – pitcher – 1995 – 2006

Jeff Reardon – pitcher – 1987 – 1989

Johan Santana – pitcher – 2000 – 2007

Roy Smalley – SS – 1976 – 1982 and 1985 – 1987

Rick Stelmaszek – coach – 1981 – 2012 *

Kevin Tapani – pitcher – 1989 – 1995

Cesar Tovar – outfield/3B/2B/SS – 1965 – 1972 *

Zoilo Versalles – SS – 1961 – 1967 *

Frank Viola – pitcher – 1982 – 1989

Dave Winfield – DH/outfield – 1993 – 1994

Al Worthington – pitcher – 1964 – 1969

* = Deceased

As part of the 50  greatest Twins celebration week-end (September 3-5, 2010) there was an “legends game” and the team captains were Tom Kelly and Paul Molitor. Twin Cities broadcasters served as umpires including Don Shelby of WCCO Television, Randy Shaver of KARE 11, Jim Rich of FOX 9 News and Joe Schmidt of KSTP Eyewitness News.

Here is a short video of what transpired when Kent Hrbek was playing 1B.

8 comments

  1. Where’s Walter Johnson? OK, he wasn’t a Twin, but he was a franchise player. Most of the 50 listed couldn’t hold his glove.

    1. Orlo, I understand what you are saying but this is a true Minnesota Twins list and is not a franchise list and only goes back to 1961. No question that Johnson was the greatest pitcher in franchise history and possibly the greatest pitcher ever.

  2. We are opening a restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida Called Maverick Grille. We would like a picture for our wall. The picture of the 50 Hall of Famers would be excellent. How can I get one?

    1. I would say that contacting the Minnesota Twins would be your best bet. Good luck with your restaurant, hopefully I get a chance to stop by when I am down there during the winter months.

    2. Are you looking for a picture of the 50 greatest twins? If so, I can help you out. Let me know. I can send you a picture of the one I have. I can get another, a friend of mine has the photo rights. Can get in 16×20 or a smaller like mine, which i will send a pic of. Should run around $25.00. For the picture.

      1. We both are aware the first leg of voting is to pick from the 1987 and 1991 teams. Harper spent 1988-93 here, .306 average. Below is a quote from Bill James on Harper. It was taken from his Wiki page

        Harper should have had a much better career than he did. He lost a lot of his career to other people’s stupidity. He was drafted by the Angels in 1977, hit .293 with 24 homers, 101 RBI at Quad Cities in 1978, then hit .315 with 37 doubles, 90 RBI at El Paso in 1979. The Angels at that time were building entirely around free agents and veterans, in no mood to give a young player a chance. At Salt Lake City in ’81 he hit .350 with 45 doubles, 28 homers, 122 RBI. The Angels traded him to Pittsburgh. The Pirates already had Tony Pena and Steve Nicosia; they needed another catcher like they needed a fifth baseman. Harper tried to convert to the outfield or first base. He wasn’t fast enough to play the outfield; nobody was sure he would hit enough to play first. He bounced over to St. Louis, Detroit, Oakland, Minnesota. He was (28) by the time he got a chance to play.

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