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Youngest Twins players to make their debuts

Who is the youngest Minnesota Twins player to make his major league debut wearing a Twins uniform? That would be right-handed pitcher Jim Manning who was born in L’Anse, Michigan on July 21, 1943 and went on to become a legendary high school basketball player winning All-State honors as a junior and as a senior. Jim held the U.P. record of most points scored in his four-year career with a total of 2,137 points, all without playing with a 3-point line. While in high school he was offered a full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in basketball and according to Tom Briere of the Minneapolis Tribune, Manning was all set to sign a baseball-basketball scholarship with the Minnesota Gophers, but declined because his first love was always baseball and the Minnesota Twins snatched him up.

After signing with the Twins for $20,000 fresh from high school, the Michigan native pitched in 12 games for Wytheville of the short-season Class D Appalachian League in 1961. Dividing his time between starting and relief, he went 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA. Others playing at Wytheville that season included future Hall of Famer Tony Oliva, who hit .410 in 64 games, and future Twins infielder and manager Frank Quilici.

Manning entered spring training 1962 with the Twins with the slimmest of chances to make the team. The Twins went with a youth movement in 1962, their second season in Minnesota after relocating from Washington, with The Sporting News commenting on the team’s “incubator infield” of 23-year-old third baseman Rich Rollins, 22-year-old second baseman Bernie Allen, and 22-year-old shortstop Zoilo Versalles. Joe Bonikowski, a 21-year-old pitcher, made the team with a strong spring training, as did a relative graybeard, 25-year-old rookie Lee Stange. (Starting pitcher Jim Kaat was 23 but was no newcomer, beginning his fourth season with the franchise. Manning, just 18 also pitched his way on to the team. He secured another niche in Twins history when he was issued jersey number 42, becoming the first Twin to wear that number although this point has been questioned.

Manning’s big league career consisted of just 5 games, all with the Minnesota Twins. The amazing part is that he did it at the age of 18 after appearing in just 12 games in the Appalachian League a year earlier.

The most thrilling Minnesota Twins moments throughout history

With so many decorated and celebrated moments studding the historic timeline of the Twins, we’re going to pick only the most thrilling moments today. Unlike some teams in the MLB, there are plenty to choose from for the Twins.

While they might not be at the dizzying heights of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Minnesota Twins have played an enormous role in the development of the MLB in the US. According to the sportsbooks, the Twins go into next season at around +3000 to win the World Series. So, sportsbooks aren’t too confident. We don’t blame them, to be honest.

While the best new betting sites focus on getting new customers through the door and offering a raft of promotions to potential new clientele, it’s unlikely they will put their hard-earned money on the Twins to get their hands on baseball’s biggest prize. WSN has compiled a list of the newest sports betting sites making a name for themselves, including those covering the top MLB markets. So, without further ado, let’s glide through some of the most thrilling moments in Minnesota Twins history.

The 1987 World Series Win

The 1987 World Series compilation video, accompanied by Bonnie Tyler’s immortal “I Need A Hero,” is something Twins fans remember vividly to this day. As far as music and sports videos go, was there a better combination?

It is still such a nostalgic period for many of us – when the team was packed with some of the best baseball talent in the US. While the last few years might have been a rollercoaster, the 1987 World Series win easily goes down as one of the most thrilling in the Twins’ history; the final out is easily one of the most thrilling – for me, it’s in the top three.

The 1987 World Series win was so memorable for many reasons, including the fact that the Twins were outscored in the regular season. Frank Viola, who etched his name into the folklore of Twins history when he was named MVP in the 87 World Series, was no stranger to thrilling baseball moments.

Having risen to the occasion against the Cardinals and proved to be the most impactful player, he was also a big part of one of the most thrilling college baseball games ever, in 1981. It was exhilarating for fans, and considering it was their first in 63 years, most had not seen a Twins team win a World Series.

Kubel’s grand slam

Aside from the World Series wins, which come with that particular level of thrill and excitement, Jason Kubel’s grand slam to complete the cycle was pure baseball cinema. Although it wasn’t in a World Series game, we couldn’t not mention it today.

It’s a moment that is ingrained in the minds of Twins fans, and although I wasn’t there, those who were still have vivid recollections of what was one of the defining moments of that MLB season. Granted, there hasn’t been much to shout about in the modern era, but Kubel’s Grand Slam is undoubtedly up there.

Mauer magic

Sticking to the more contemporary Twins events, if a name resonates with Millennial Twins fans then it has to be Joe Mauer. His 2009 season was one of the most thrilling season-long events that any Twins fan can recall in recent memory.

A sure name on any list of the greatest Minnesota players of all time, Mauer’s 2009 season consisted of 96 RBI and 28 homers. His 2,000 career hit was a special moment that I was lucky to witness – and the around-the-net catch in 2010. While the latter might not have been one of the most thrilling per se, it was one of the most entertaining and unusual.

We won’t forget Joe in a hurry – and now that his number has been retired, there’s a whole new generation of Twins fans finding out just how special a player he was. For us, he was one of the best, so we gave him his own section.

The 1991 World Series

Moving back to the World Series, the Twins’ 1991 team was packed with players who knew how to perform when it mattered most. Kirby Puckett’s triple in the bottom of the first inning put the Twins in the driving seat. His run-saving drive is still one of the best catches of modern MLB.

Puck’s performance in Game 6 in the 1991 World Series is what baseball players dream of when they first sign a pro contract – it was the very definition of an elite MLB performance. It helped define his legacy as one of the most extraordinary Twins ever, and it goes down in baseball history as one of the most thrilling Twins moments.

Not only did he have a pair of base hits and a run-saving catch, the must-win game went into the extra innings. At the bottom of the 11th, his walk-off home run clinched the game for the Twins. This list would not have been worth its salt if we didn’t feature Kirby, but his whole performance in the 1991 World Series truly is the stuff of legend.

Conclusion

Of all the Twins moments we could have touched on today, this list is a fair representation. Sure, some people might be upset that the tie-breaker in 2009 against the Tigers didn’t made the cut, but if we’re sticking to moments and games, then we’re confident that our list today is more than sufficient.

We know many other moments have narrowly missed being chosen, but we’ve covered modern events and delved into the archives to find the right blend of magic Twins moments. Hopefully, over the next decade, a few players or moments will be able to challenge some of the great Twins names that have appeared on today’s list. It’s a shame that two of the Twins’ World Series were grouped so closely in 1987 and 1991. As the drought continues, the player or players who end it will almost certainly find themselves in this conversation. However, judging by the way they have been playing recently, we could be waiting a long time for this to happen.

From High Hopes to Hard Realities: The 1975 Minnesota Twins

1961 – 1975 primary Twins logo

Fifty years ago is a long time and many of you reading this weren’t even born back then but I’m sure you Minnesota Twins fans are still interested in what went on back then. Those of you like myself that were around back then, might enjoy a quick look down memory lane. I plan to do that through some articles this season that I am borrowing from The Sporting News which was considered to to be the baseball Bible of its time and maybe some tidbits from the Star Tribune and Sid Hartman now and then. We will see how it goes and what interest there may or may not be. Feel free to make any comments you wish.

In 1974, the Minnesota Twins finished with a record of 82-80, placing them third in the American League West. The team had some standout performances, including Rod Carew winning his fourth AL batting title with a .364 average and Bobby Darwin hitting 25 home runs. The pitching staff saw Bert Blyleven (17-17), Joe Decker (16-14), and Dave Goltz (10-10) achieving double-digit wins. Despite these individual successes, the Twins struggled with consistency and attendance, which was the lowest in the American League.

The 1975 Minnesota Twins had a challenging season, finishing with a record of 76-83, which placed them fourth in the American League West. Managed by Frank Quilici, the team played their home games at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. Despite their struggles, the Twins had some standout performances. Rod Carew, the team’s star second baseman, won his fifth American League batting title with an impressive .359 average. The pitching staff saw three players achieve double-digit wins: Jim Hughes (16-14), Bert Blyleven (15-10), and Dave Goltz (14-14).

You trade to fill your needs

Not drafted out of college, Kerry Ligtenberg landed with the Minneapolis Loons of the independent Prairie League, pitching for $650 a month. In 1996, he was one class away from graduating from the University of Minnesota with an engineering degree and likely leaving baseball behind. But the Atlanta Braves took an interest in him at the urging of Loons manager Greg Olson.

The Braves signed Ligtenberg, and assistant general manager Dean Taylor offered to compensate Olson for the find. Olson was practical enough to ask for what his club really needed — 12 dozen baseballs and two dozen bats. A steal of a deal for the Braves, for whom Ligtenberg went on to make 254 appearances over five seasons.

-credit to Anthony Castrovince

They knocked in 100 and scored 100

Every good baseball team needs those big bopper’s that that can knock in the ducks off the pond and it is even better, when he too, can also score a lot of runs. Those kind of hitters don’t come around too often but the Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators franchise has been blessed with 13 of those types of players and they have accomplished this feat a total of 18 times since 1901.

Hitters like this aren’t always power hitters and they aren’t always high average hitters either. Hitters on the list below have hit as many home runs as 49 by Harmon Killebrew or as few as 5 by Buddy Meyer. Some hit for very high averages like Rod Carew‘s .388 or as low as Bob Allison‘s .266 (which in today’s game wouldn’t be considered low at all.) Six of the 13 are MLB Hall of Fame players.

The first player in franchise history to turn this trick was outfielder Goose Goslin who who actually did it three years in a row from 1924-1926. The Senators won the World Series in 1924 and lost the World Series in 1925. If you want to learn more this Hall of Fame player take a few minutes and stop by here.

Six Minnesota Twins players have accomplished this rare feat over the years with Bob Allison being the first in 1962 and Michael Cuddyer being the most current player to it it back in 2006. Killebrew and Kirby Puckett are the only two Twins to do it twice.

The MLB career leader’s in this feat are Lou Gehrig with 13, Alex Rodriguez and Babe Ruth with 12, Barry Bonds and Jimmie Foxx with 11 and Henry Aaron with 10.

Franchise players with 100 runs and 100 RBI in a season

The Southpaw Legacy: Celebrating Minnesota Twins’ Left-Handed Pitching Greats

Left-handed or “southpaw” pitchers are relatively rare in Major League Baseball (MLB). Approximately 10-15% of pitchers in MLB are left-handed. This scarcity makes left-handed pitchers quite valuable, as they can exploit the platoon advantage against predominantly right-handed hitting lineups.

The Twins have had some good lefty starters over the years like Jim Kaat, Frank Viola, Johan Santana but there have not been very many of them. Historically starters that were left handed did not throw as hard as most right handed starters and were considered as being “crafty”. That seems to be changing now as there are more hard throwing left-handed pitchers than ever.

The Warren Spahn Award is presented each season by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). The award is named after Warren Spahn, who holds the MLB record in wins for a left-handed pitcher with 363.^[1] The Warren Spahn Award was created in 1999 by Richard Hendricks, the founder of the Territorial Capital Sports Museum, formerly Oklahoma Sports Museum, to honor Spahn, who resided in Oklahoma. The award has been won by 15 different pitchers through 2024. The winner is chosen based on rankings, which are based on wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. The only Twins pitcher to win this award is Johan Santana who won it 2004 and 2006.

Determining the MLB team with the best left-handed pitchers can be subjective, but one team that stands out is the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve had legendary left-handed pitchers like Clayton Kershaw, who has been a dominant force for over a decade, and Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Other teams with notable left-handed pitchers include the New York Yankees with Whitey Ford and Andy Pettitte, and the Boston Red Sox with Lefty Grove and Chris Sale.

The most left handed starters the Twins have ever had with ten or more starts in a season were four in 1964 when Gerry Arrigo, Jim Kaat, Jim Roland and Dick Stigman started 88 games between them. In the 64 seasons the Twins have played, there have only been six seasons in which they have had no left handed pitchers with at least ten starts and they were in 1995, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2024. See a trend here? In 2024 there were 16 MLB teams with zero left handed starters with at least ten starts.

How many of the Twins lefties on the list below have you seen pitch and who was your favorite?

Minnesota Twins left-handed starters from 1961 through 2024 with 10 or more starts

Senators/Twins franchise left handed pitchers with one or more career starts

Twins Tickets Then and Now: A Journey from the Met to Target Field

Back in 1961, when the Twins first started playing ball in Minnesota, catching a game at Metropolitan Stadium was a straightforward affair. You had three ticket options: a “general admission” ticket for $1.50, a “reserved grandstand” ticket for $2.50, or a “box seat” for $3.00. No extra fees, no hidden costs. Just imagine it—$3.00 back then is roughly $31.67 in today’s money. Now, take a trip to Target Field today and see what kind of ticket that $31.67 will get you after all the fees and extra charges.

Those early Twins ticket prices stayed the same for seven years while the team played in Bloomington. And they had some great teams during that time, including the 1965 squad that won the American League Pennant, only to lose the World Series in a nail-biting seven games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fun fact: The Twins were considered to have one of the highest payrolls in baseball back then! Calvin Griffith, the owner, is often remembered as a cheapskate today, but things were quite different.

Fast forward to 1981, the last year the Twins played at Met Stadium, and they still kept things simple with just four ticket categories: general admission, unreserved grandstand, reserved grandstand, and box seats. General admission went for $3, and box seats were $7. It wasn’t until 1988, seven years into their stint at the Metrodome, that the first double-digit ticket price of $10 appeared for a lower deck reserved seat. And by 1992, after winning the World Series twice, the $3.00 general admission ticket was gone for good. Can you think of anything you can get today for the same price you could 30 years ago? It’s a tough one!

Things took a real turn in 2006 when the Twins introduced dynamic ticket pricing. It was a game-changer, literally. Now, the price you paid depended on the ticket demand for that game. The person sitting next to you might have paid more or less than you. Ticket prices could go up but rarely went down, since they couldn’t dip below what a season ticket holder paid. It was a win for the team but a bit of a kicker for fans, as ticket prices soared with increasing demand.

The screws tightened further on dynamic pricing, and by 2024, all Twins tickets were dynamically priced from the get-go, whereas before, there had been a base price for a short period. When I couldn’t figure out Twins ticket prices anymore, I reached out to Eddie Eixenberger, the Twins VP of Ticket Sales and Strategy. We had what seemed like a pleasant chat, and he promised to get back to me with some data. But he never did, and my follow-up attempts were unsuccessful. It became pretty clear that the Twins, under Dave St. Peter, had no interest in sharing information about ticket pricing or numbers.

In the past, the Twins made base season ticket numbers available to the public, and local newspapers often wrote about them. Recently, though, when I asked Dave St. Peter for this data, he made it clear that they wouldn’t provide it anymore—at least to me. What’s the big secret? Why shouldn’t the fans have access to this data? The only reason I can think of is that the Twins might be embarrassed by the numbers.

That’s why I didn’t publish Twins ticket price info for 2024 on this site. Imagine my surprise when the Twins rolled out their 2025 ticket plan. It’s a tangled web of rewards and pricing that you practically need a lawyer to navigate. Apparently, the Twins haven’t heard of the KISS principle—Keep It Simple, Stupid!

Twins ticket price history

Former Twins players that passed away in 2024

Another trip around the Sun and it is once again time to to look back and remember former Minnesota Twins that have gotten the call to their final resting place. They may be gone from this earth but their memories remain.

Garrabrant Ryerson Alyea was born on December 8, 1940 in Passaic, New Jersey and passed away on February 4, 2024. Alyea, originally signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1962 but made his major league debut with the Washington Senators in 1965. Alyea was traded to the Minnesota Twins on March 21, 1970 for pitchers Joe Grzenda and Charlie Walters. Yes, the same Charlie Walters that writes for the St. Paul Pioneer Press now days. Alyea, primarily a left fielder played for the Twins from 1970-1971 before being picked up in the Rule 5 draft (rules were different back then) by the Oakland A’s. Brant’s best season in pro ball was in 1970 with the Minnesota Twins. Alyea had a son, Brant Alyea Jr. that played minor league ball for Toronto, Texas and the New York Mets from 1985 to 1990. Brant Alyea played in the major leagues for all or parts of 1965, 1968-1972 appearing in 371 games for the Senators, Twins. A’s and Cardinals.

MLB radio and TV history

Major league baseball and how we follow it keeps changing. When major league baseball first started in the early 1900’s, you had to buy a ticket to attend the game. But where is a will, there is a way. Fans that didn’t have the money for a ticket would sometimes go downtown and gather in front of the offices of the local newspaper, where they eagerly awaited the latest scores. When the newspaper received the latest scores from a telegrapher at the ballpark, a newsboy would write the information on a bulletin board, updating it every inning, some newspapers even had someone with a megaphone calling out the updates. It became a place for fans to socialize, as everyone stood on the street in front of their favorite publication, hoping for good news about the game.

For many baseball fans it was not possible to wait around at a newspaper building, which meant their only other option was buying a copy of the newspaper itself. Back in 1915, newspapers published morning, midday, afternoon, and evening editions; and if there was a big sports event (like a World’s Series), there was even a late-night edition with the very latest scores, and when there was what we today call “breaking news” about a major story, there might be a special edition called an “extra.”

But in the period from 1912 onward, there was one other option, although it still wasn’t widely known or widely utilized. There was a growing number of amateur wireless operators (what we today would call ham radio operators), most of whom still communicated by Morse code, but a few were experimenting with voice. And some of these wireless enthusiasts were also baseball fans. They got to know the telegraphers who transmitted the game reports from local ballparks, and whenever there was information to share, they sent it out to their friends.

Students on college campuses also joined in, amateurs were becoming an information conduit for their fellow sports fans. For example, at Tufts College in Medford, Massachusetts, the Tufts Wireless Society, which made its debut in January 1912, soon became known for transmitting the latest football and baseball scores. During the 1912 World’s Series between the Red Sox and the New York Giants, the scores and updates were received and then posted.

In that decade before commercial radio came along, the majority of the fans relied on print journalism to keep up with their favorite team; most major cities had more than one newspaper (Boston in the 1910’s had eight), and every city had its own popular local sportswriters who not only discussed wins and losses; they interviewed local players and gave fans more insight into their favorite team.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. We hope you are all enjoying Christmas with your families and friends. But, don’t forget all those folks that are out there working today and protecting you and unable to spend Christmas with their loved ones.

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Youngest Twins players to make their debuts

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