July 12, 2008 – Did you know that there are only two Minnesota Twin uniform numbers between 0 and 60 that have been worn by only one player each? Junior Ortiz, the sometimes “strange but like-able” catcher from Puerto Rico wore the number 0 in 1990 and 1991. During one of those seasons after a prolonged slump, Ortiz asked that his first name be changed to Joe but after a time he found that did not help so he went back to Junior. Ortiz also served as the designated catcher for Scott Erickson in the Twins 1991 World Series championship season. The only other number lower than 60 that has graced the uniform back of only one player is the famous number 3 worn by Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.
How about number 13 you ask? The first Twin to wear the number 13 was outfielder Bill Tuttle from 1961 through 1962. Jerry White, the current Twins 1B coach has worn the number 13 since 1999 and has worn the number longer than any other Twin. Other Twins players to wear the number 13 were:
Rich Reese – 1964-1965
John Roseboro – 1968-1969
Dick Woodson – 1972-1974
Tom Lundstedt – 1975
Mike Pagliarulo – 1991-1993
Todd Walker – 1996
Lucky or unlucky, we will let you be the judge of that.
The number worn by more Twins players than any other? The number 21, currently worn by outfielder Delmon Young.