As we start a new year in 2020 I wanted to share a list of former Minnesota Twins players that passed away in 2019. We lost some great ones.
Pitcher Greg Booker appeared in 161 big league games over 8 seasons with three different teams. Booker spent about 6 months with the Minnesota Twins in 1989 appearing in 6 games, all in relief. Booker was “Trader” Jack McKeon‘s son-in-law.
Outfielder Lenny Green played in the major leagues for five different teams over 12 years. Green, a Korean War veteran was with the Washington Senators from 1959-1960 and became a Minnesota Twin when they moved to Minnesota and became the Twins after the 1960 season. Green was the Twins opening day center fielder when they began play in 1961. The Twins traded Green to the Angels in a three-team-trade in June of 1964. Lenny Green has always been in my list of top 10 Twins players.
Pitcher Joe Grzenda pitched in the major leagues for all or parts of 8 seasons, primarily in relief for 6 different teams. Grzenda pitched for the Twins in 1969 posting a 4-1 record with a 3.88 ERA.
Shortstop Jackie Hernandez played in the major leagues for 9 years with four different teams. One of those teams was the Minnesota Twins from 1967-1968 before being drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 1968 expansion draft. Hernandez played in the 1971 World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Outfielder/1B Jim Holt played in the majors for nine seasons with the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland A’s. Holt was selected by the Twins in the 1967 Rule 5 draft from the Oakland A’s and played for the Twins from 1968 until being traded to the A’s in August of 1974. Holt served in the Army from 1961-1965.
Infielder Ted Lepcio was a big leaguer for 10 years, the first eight were with his beloved Boston Red Sox and he wrapped up his big league career with the Tigers, Phillies, the White Sox before making his last stop with the Minnesota Twins in 1961. Lepcio had 3 hits in his first 4 games in a Twins uni, they were all home runs.
Catcher Hal Naragon big league career was interrupted after his rookie season when he was drafted by the Marines and served proudly from in 1952-1953. Naragon resumed his big league career with the Indians in 1954. The 1954 Indians won 111 games but were swept in the World Series by the New York Giants, Naragon appeared in one game in the World Series. Naragon played there until being traded to the Washington Senators during the 1959 season. Naragon was with the Senators when they moved to Minnesota after the 196o season making him one of the “original” Minnesota Twins. After retiring as an active player after the 1962 season, Naragon served as a coach for the Twins from 1963-1966 and then the Detroit Tigers from 1967-1969.
RIP gentlemen and thank you for the great memories, you are a part of Minnesota Twins history forever.
A complete list of deceased former Minnesota Twins players can be found on our “Deceased Twins” page.