TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
Charles “Chuck” Nieson, a right-handed pitcher who spent seven seasons in the Minnesota Twins organization and made two major league appearances during a short September call-up in 1964, passed away on April 7, 2026, in Ortonville, Minnesota. He was 83.
Born September 24, 1942, in Hanford, California, Nieson developed into a promising young arm at Fresno State University, becoming just the fifth Bulldogs player ever to reach the major leagues. The Twins signed him as an amateur free agent before the 1962 season, beginning a long and steady climb through the organization’s minor-league system.
Nieson debuted that summer with the Fort Walton Beach Jets, striking out more than a batter per inning and showing the swing-and-miss ability that would remain his calling card. He advanced to Double-A Charlotte in 1963 and then to AAA Atlanta in 1964, earning a September promotion to Minnesota at age 21.
Former Minnesota Twins catcher Tom Nieto, a member of the franchise’s unforgettable 1987 World Series championship team, passed away on March 27 at the age of 65. His family shared that he died in Florida following a heart attack, leaving behind a long baseball life that touched clubhouses across the majors and minors alike.
Nieto’s career wound through several organizations, but in Minnesota he found the role that Twins fans remember best: a reliable, defense first catcher who helped stabilize a pitching staff during one of the most pivotal seasons in franchise history.
From California to the Big Leagues
Born in Downey, California, Nieto played his college ball at Oral Roberts University before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round in 1981. He reached the majors in 1984 and served as Darrell Porter’s backup during the Cardinals’ 1985 pennant run.
After a stop in Montreal, the Expos dealt him to Minnesota — a move that would place him squarely in the middle of one of the most improbable championship seasons in modern baseball.
A Quiet Contributor to a Loud Season
The 1987 Twins were a team built on personality, power, and the Metrodome’s peculiar magic. But every championship club needs its glue pieces, and Nieto was one of them. Working behind the plate with a staff that included Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven, Les Straker, and a bullpen full of characters, Nieto provided the steady defensive presence that managers covet in a backup catcher. He appeared in 47 games that season, and while his offensive numbers were modest, his value came in the trust the staff placed in him and the professionalism he brought to the job.
He earned a World Series ring that fall as the Twins stunned the baseball world by beating the Cardinals — the very team that drafted him — in seven games. For Twins fans, his name sits comfortably in that long list of role players whose contributions don’t always show up in the box score but are woven into the fabric of a championship.
The Minnesota Twins have had a number of work-horse starting pitchers over the years but Jim Kaat stands on the top of the hill with 2,959.1 inning logged. In his Twins career “Kitty” pitched in 468 games with 422 of them as a starter. Back then it was not unusual for starters to pitch in relief now and then as needed. Here is a look at a list of pitchers with 500 or more innings logged wearing a Twins uniform.
Now let’s take a look at the Senators/Twins franchise leaders in innings pitched and who else but Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson would you expect to head this list? Over 5,900 innings, my goodness. Look at the rest of his numbers as compared to more modern pitchers.
That said how about taking a look across all of MLB and look at innings pitched over 1,000 and then we see a number of modern day pitchers with over 5,000 innings logged. I did not expect to find that to be the case.
There’s nothing quite like Opening Day in Major League Baseball. Before the first pitch is thrown, before the first bullpen meltdown, before the first “why is he bunting” moment… every team is tied for first place. Hope is undefeated, and so are the Minnesota Twins.
For one glorious morning, the standings are perfect. 0–0. Everyone’s equal. Everyone’s alive. Everyone’s dreaming. And for the Twins, that feeling travels with them this year — all the way to Baltimore.
A Fresh Start in Baltimore
The Twins will open their season on the road at Camden Yards, a ballpark that always seems to glow on Opening Day. The Orioles will have their crowd buzzing, the flags will be snapping in the breeze, and the Twins will step onto the field with the same clean slate as everyone else.
There’s something fitting about starting the year away from home. It sharpens the focus. It strips away distractions. It reminds a team that nothing is guaranteed and everything must be earned. And for Minnesota, it’s a chance to make an early statement.
New Faces, New Storylines, Same Beautiful Game
Every season brings a few new names to learn and a few familiar ones to watch closely. Maybe a rookie surprises. Maybe a veteran finds one more gear. Maybe someone becomes the unexpected hero of April. That’s the magic of this sport — you never know who will define the next six months.
For Twins fans, Opening Day is the moment when all the offseason debates fade away. Trades, signings, payroll talk, ownership chatter — none of it matters when the anthem ends and the starter toes the rubber. For a few hours, it’s just baseball again.
The Eternal Promise of 162 Games
Baseball is the only sport that gives you this much runway. 162 games. 162 chances to surprise, frustrate, delight, and occasionally confuse. And the Twins, for all their ups and downs, always find a way to make the journey interesting. Maybe this is the year the rotation clicks. Maybe the lineup stays healthy. Maybe the baseball gods smile on Minnesota for once. On Opening Day, all of that feels possible.
A Day for Joy, Not Judgment
There will be plenty of time for analysis, frustration, and second?guessing. That’s part of the fun, too. But not today.
Today is for:
Fresh scorecards
First hot dogs of the season
Kids skipping school
Adults pretending they’re not checking the game at work
The crack of the bat echoing through Camden Yards
The belief — however cautious — that this could be something special
Opening Day is baseball’s way of saying: “Let’s try this again. You never know what might happen.”
And for the Twins? Why Not Us
Every team starts in first place. Every fanbase starts with hope. Every season starts with a story waiting to be written. So here’s to the Minnesota Twins — undefeated, unburdened, and officially back.
The first three month of 2025 the Detroit Tigers got off to a 53-32 start but then in the back half of the season they played 34-43 baseball. From April 1 through September 27 they were in first place for all but two days, then they lost their final game of the season and finished in second place one game out of first behind the Cleveland Guardians. That isn’t going to happen again and the Tigers are going to be the American Leagues Central Division Champions with 91 wins.
The Kansas City Royals are going to get their starting pitching rolling again in 2026 and will give the Tigers a run for their money but in the end the Tigers with ace pitchers Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez will prevail and the Royals will finish second with a 86-76 record.
Home runs are always fun to see if your team hits them. How many times have you been to a ballgame where your favorite team has a player that hits two or more home runs in the same game. Not too often I bet. That thought crossed my my mind recently so I decided to look at up and see who the Senators/Twins franchise leaders were in multi (two or more) home run games in a single regular season and a career.
You think you know who it is? Take a guess on who it was and what year it happened before you look it up. From 1901-2025 the franchise leaders in multi home run regular season games in a single season can be found at: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/F8SHL
Who do you think is the Senators/Twins franchise career leader? That answer should not be that tough. From 1901-2025 the franchise leaders in multi home run regular season games in a franchise career can be found at: https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/3DmpE
A Durable Bullpen Workhorse Whose Lone Minnesota Season Still Resonates
Wayne Allan Granger, one of baseball’s earliest true relief specialists and a model of late 1960s durability, passed away on February 25, 2026, at age 81. A veteran of nine big-league seasons and 451 appearances, Granger pitched for seven organizations, but his single season with the Minnesota Twins remains a compelling chapter in both his career and the franchise’s early 1970s story.
Early Life and Rise to the Majors
Born March 15, 1944, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Granger grew up in the small town of Huntington, where he became a multi-sport standout and a dominant high-school pitcher. After attending Springfield College, he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965 and converted to relief shortly afterward. His low three-quarters delivery and heavy sinker became his signature.
Granger broke into the majors in 1968 with St. Louis and quickly became one of the most heavily used relievers in baseball. His 1969 season with Cincinnati—90 appearances, setting a major-league record—cemented his reputation as a durable, trusted bullpen arm. He followed that with a league leading 35 saves in 1970, earning back-to-back Sporting News NL Fireman of the Year awards.
Minnesota Twins: A Promising Start and a Tumultuous Summer (1972)
The Twins acquired Granger from Cincinnati on December 3, 1971, sending left-hander Tom Hall to the Reds. Minnesota believed it was adding a proven late-inning stabilizer to pair with Dave LaRoche. For the first two months of 1972, Granger looked like the All-Star caliber reliever he had been in Cincinnati. He retired 19 of the first 22 left-handed batters he faced and posted a 0.85 ERA through the end of June, collecting five saves in his first seven appearances. His sinker was crisp, and his command sharp.
The old way in: Target Field’s ticket windows, now symbolic of a system fans no longer use.
Target Field used to be a place where anyone could wander in, grab a seat, and watch a ballgame. But the 2026 Twins have made one thing abundantly clear: the future of this franchise runs through season ticket holders, not the average Joe who shows up a few times a summer.
Everything about the new MyTwins Membership structure — from the credit-based Choice Plans to the traditional Reserved Plans to the carefully gated perks — points in one direction. The Twins want commitment. They want predictability. They want fans who are willing to sign up, log in, and buy in.
Everyone else? They can still come, of course. But they’re no longer the priority.
Choice Plans: Flexibility, With a Price Tag
Choice Plans are the Twins’ attempt to modernize loyalty. You buy a credit balance — $600, $900, $1500, $3000, $4500, or $7500 — and pick your games and seats as the season unfolds.
But here’s the part the marketing glosses over: the lower your credit tier, the fewer seats you’re allowed to choose from.
It’s flexibility, but stratified. The more you spend, the more of Target Field becomes available. The less you spend, the more you’re nudged toward the margins.
What You Get
Up to 25% off tickets
25% off concessions
No ticket fees
Seat options tied directly to your tier
MyTwins Rewards points
It’s a plan built for fans who want freedom — but only after they’ve paid for it.
Reserved Plans: The Inner Circle
Reserved Plans are the old-school anchor: 20-game, half season, or full season packages with the same seats every time. These are the fans the Twins clearly want to cultivate — the ones who commit early, show up often, and keep the revenue stream steady.
What You Get
Up to 25% off tickets
25% off concessions
Full ticket exchange privileges
Priority access to postseason seats
MyTwins Rewards points
If Choice Plans are flexible loyalty, Reserved Plans are the velvet rope.
Pablo Lopez in bullpen on Feb 16, 2026 just prior to throwing live BP
It was my second trip out to the Lee Health Sports Complex this year on Monday, February 16th and when I arrived I was shocked by the amount of cars in the parking lot, more than I have ever seen out there except for a Twins Spring Training game. At first didn’t realize what was going on until I saw the Bloodmobile and a number of Lee County safety vehicles and realized it was the annual Lee Health Sports Complex hosting the Minnesota Twins Open House and Health Fair.
I had been out to the complex about a week earlier, just before Spring Training opened and their were a number of players around but this day was special, it was the first day of Spring Training for the position players. Once I got through the throng of people the Open House attracted I started taking some pictures of PFP and then headed over to the bullpen down the third base line to see who was throwing a bullpen and was happy to see Pablo Lopez and Cole Sands hard at work. I watched them both throw for awhile and then went over to the backfields to see what was going on there. I left about Noon or so and headed for home.
Later in the day I was surprised to hear that Lopez had been throwing live BP and walked off he mound in the middle of “an inning” with a bit of a sore elbow. The Twins reported it more as a precautionary move but also stated that Lopez would be having an MRI. Once “MRI” was mentioned, I was concerned.
The next day the word was out, Lopez has been diagnosed with a significant tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. He is getting a second opinion but that is just a formality and it looks like Pablo Lopez will not be pitching for the Twins in 2026. This will be his second TJ surgery.
That is such horrific news for the Minnesota Twins to lose their Ace on the first day of Spring Training, particularly coming off the tumultuous past year the team and the fans have encountered. Lopez is the leader of the Twins staff and starting pitching was the teams strength.
Unlike most Twins fans, I do not think this is a bad team. Granted, they are probably not a playoff team but they are not as bad as they played after the trade deadline fire sale decimated the team and the team morale in the second half of 2025. I was thinking of it more as a team that could play .500 ball and be competitive. This injury could not have happened at a more inopportune time.
But, that is baseball and injuries happen, the Twins starting pitching depth will be tested. There is no one there that can replace Pablo Lopez but someone needs to step up and we will have to wait and see who that is and if he can help carry the load and help this team win. It’s at times like this you have to remember that baseball is a team game and the loss of one player doesn’t mean the end of the season before it has even started, it just makes the challenge a bit more difficult. Don’t give up on this team yet.
If you want to be notified when I post a blog, sign up to get on the list in the upper right-hand corner of the home page. It is free. Thank you and have a great day.
Joe Nossek, a versatile outfielder and trusted baseball mind whose career touched six major?league seasons and spanned decades in coaching and scouting, passed away on February 12, 2026. He was 85.
Joseph Rudolph Nossek born November 8, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio, Nossek was a standout long before he ever wore a professional uniform. At Ohio University, he became a first?team All?American outfielder in 1961, one of the most decorated players in program history. His excellence across every level of competition eventually earned him enshrinement in the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, the Ohio University Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Euclid High School Sports Hall of Fame — a testament to the breadth of his impact from hometown fields to the national stage.
When the Minnesota Twins signed him before the 1961 season, they backed their belief with a $45,000 signing bonus, an extraordinary figure for the era. For a young franchise still defining itself after the move from Washington, Nossek represented a premium investment in talent, projection, and character.
He made his major?league debut with Minnesota in 1964, but it was the following year that cemented his place in Twins history. Appearing in 87 games for the 1965 American League champions, Nossek played all three outfield positions and even logged time at third base, giving manager Sam Mele a defensive option he trusted. He hit .218 that season, but his value was never measured in batting average. He was a glove?first role player on a roster loaded with stars — Killebrew, Oliva, Allison, Grant — and he carved out his niche by doing the little things right.
His most memorable moments came on the biggest stage. In the 1965 World Series against the Dodgers, Nossek started four games in center field and collected four hits, including two singles off Sandy Koufax — a small but proud footnote in a series dominated by pitching greatness. Nossek was also involved in a some-what controversial play in game 7 and if you don’t about it or don’t remember it you can read about it in Nossek’s SABR Bio to which you will find a link below.
After the 1966 season began, the Twins sold his contract to the Kansas City Athletics, where he enjoyed his most productive year, hitting .261 across 87 games. He later spent time with the Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals, finishing his playing career in 1970. Across six seasons, Nossek appeared in 295 major?league games, collecting 132 hits and posting a .228 career average.
