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
As I work on updating some payroll information on this website I thought I would put together some Minnesota Twins payroll information that I found interesting. As you might expect MLB team payroll information is pretty inconsistent depending on where you look. For the most part my sources are Forbes, Spotrac, Cot’s and Fangraphs. It is dang near impossible to compare apples to apples and as many of you know, you can pretty much get the numbers to show whatever you want them to show. So here are some interesting fun Twins Payroll fun facts.
From 1991-2023 the Twins have spent $1,066,264,835 guaranteed money on 117 free agents.
Since 2010 when Target Field opened through 2023 the Twins have ranked 10th, 9th, 11th, 21st, 18th, 19th, 18th, 21st, 18th, 18th, 18th, 16th, 18th and 17th.
History above seems to indicate where ownership wants the Twins opening days payroll to rank, it will be interesting to see where it ends up when the 2024 season opens.
Minnesota Twins single game tickets for the entire 2023 home schedule went on sale in mid-January and for the first few days the Twins even waived all ticket buying fees. Nice gesture but the fee gouging on ticket sales needs to stop. It is not just the Twins, it is across the board, selling tickets is a part of doing business and it should not be an extra charge thrown on top of already high ticket prices. Maybe the fee waiver for that short span of time was to try to cover the Minnesota Twins embarrassment for their ticket price increase of about 4.29% after a 2022 season in which they finished in third place with a 78-84 and 14 games behind the division winning Cleveland Guardians. Prices in 86 categories of 93 categories across all three tiers went up by anywhere from $1 to $5. The Twins are coming off their lowest attendance since 2001 excluding the the 2020-2021 season impacted by COVID.
Single Game Tickets
Tiered ticket pricing for single game tickets first started in Minnesota back in 2006 and over the years the Twins have had anywhere between two to five ticket tiers. In 2019 the Twins dropped back to three price tiers and that policy remains in place in 2023. Assuming, that all goes as planned there will again be 81 home games in Target Field, 65 of the 81 games (including the Home Opener) have been designated as “select” or middle of the road games while the “value” and “premium” tiers which each had 16 games last season dropped to 8 each in 2023.
The Twins continue to use demand-based ticket pricing that they implemented in 2012 and that means that ticket prices will fluctuate based on a variety of factors but will not drop beneath a floor price that season ticket holders pay. Some people call this variable or dynamic ticket pricing and is used by many sports teams but whatever you call it, it means digging deeper in your pocket for a ticket to the ballgame. Some folks look at it as scalping your own tickets. This process kicked in the day after single game tickets went on sale.
Average ticket prices for the various tiers in 2023
As I mentioned earlier Minnesota Twins single game ticket prices for 2023 went up in most (86 of 93) ticket categories. When all is said and done an average ticket price for 2022 was $38.94 and in 2023 the average ticket price is $40.61, an average increase of $1.67 per ticket or 4.29%. Ticket prices in 2023 went up 4.71% in the “value” category, 4.29% in the “select” category and 4.04% in the “premium” category. If you want to see the details, stop by our Twins Ticket Price History page.
Late yesterday I heard the news that MLB and the players had agreed on a new agreement and that Spring Training would begin on Sunday March 13. That is such great news to hear after all this time. Although it has no direct impact on me personally other than me being a long-time baseball fan, it is as if a big load was taken off my shoulders. It instantly put me in a better mood.
I understand that all 162 games will be played and the first two series that were originally cancelled will be made up somewhere at the tail-end of the season. The regular season opens on April 7 and a number of rule changes will take place. Both leagues will now use the designated hitter, 7-inning double-headers are history as is the extra-inning ghost runner at second base, the number of play-off teams increases from 10 to 12 and the Amateur Free Agent draft has a lottery system. Players can no longer be optioned to the minors no more than five times in a season. This is a few of the rules changes that have surfaced so far. I have also read somewhere that unvaccinated players will not be allowed to play in Canada and that they will not be paid or accrue service time. Another thing I read someplace that I find extremely interesting was when the MLBPA voted that all eight player representatives that was actually participating in the negotiations voted to reject this latest proposal but the other teams out voted them while the owners voted 30-0 to accept. Very Interesting!
So now the action shifts to the front offices that have been shut down from communicating with the other teams front offices as they battle to sign free agents and make trades to fill holes on their rosters. It should be a hectic time between now and and when the season begins to be sure.
Teams need to start selling tickets. I see that the Twins will start selling single game tickets on March 17 and that they will not charge fees for two days. Only two frickin fee free days after a 99 day lockdown? If the Twins and MLB had any smarts they would waive all ticket fees for 99 days and show their fans some respect for a change. Come on MLB, how about it?
The Bomba Squad won 101 games in 2019, taking first place in the AL Central for the first time in nine years, only to get swept by the Yankees in the AL Division Series. The record breaking 2019 season brought about a 16% increase in average attendance at Target Field. More fans watched them on television, too. The Twins posted an average rating of 6.33 on FS North, fourth highest in baseball. The rating was 63% higher than 2018, the second-biggest year-over-year increase in baseball in 2019.
Forbes annually publishes what they perceive to be the values of all the major league baseball teams taking a number of things into consideration. You can find their most current list that was published by going here. Once you are at their site and you see their value ranking list, you can get more detailed information on what makes up a particulars teams value by clicking on the team name. The Minnesota Twins are ranked number 19, a nice jump up from number 23 in 2019 and you can see the detailed info that was collected by Forbes by clicking here. The 8% increase in the Minnesota Twins value from 2019 was only exceeded by the Orioles, Yankees and Nationals who all increased their value by 9%. In the AL Central division the White Sox are ranked number 14, the Detroit Tigers are ranked number 23, the Cleveland Indians are number 25 and the Kansas City Royals are number 29. As you would expect, the New York Yankees are number one at a team valuation of $5 billion (up 9% for 2019) and the Miami Marlins have the lowest team valuation at $980 million, a drop from a billion dollars in 2019.
You can find historical Minnesota team valuations on my “Payroll page“.
Looks like the Pohlad’s are doing pretty well, Calvin Griffith is probably rolling over in his grave when numbers like this are published. When any team in baseball tells you that they can’t afford to sign one of their stars, send them the Forbes link.
The Minnesota Twins took a few steps backward in 2018 and won seven fewer games (78) than they did in 2017 and their attendance reflected their play. Attendance dropped to the lowest it has been since 2004. The Twins have put a winning team on the field just twice in the last eight years. So let’s take a look at Minnesota Twins single game ticket prices for 2019.
For a number of years the Twins have had five tiers of tickets called extra value, value, select, premium and elite but in 2019 they have dropped the extra value (the lowest priced games) and elite (highest priced games) tiers and will go with just three ticket tiers (value, select, and premium). This year there will again be 81 home games in Target Field, 49 of the 81 games have been designated as “select” or middle of the road games while the “value” and “premium” tiers will each have 16 games.
The Twins continue to use demand-based ticket pricing that they implemented in 2012 and that means that ticket prices constantly go up or down to a floor price based on demand for tickets for that game. Some people call this variable or dynamic ticket pricing and is used by a number of teams but whatever you call it, it means digging deeper in your pocket for a ticket. Some folks look at it as scalping your own tickets. The floor price is based on the price of a season ticket for the same seat.
The Team Marketing Report (who recently changed ownership) Fan Cost Index (FCI) was recently published and has some interesting facts as always. The TMR Fan Cost Index represents the cost for a family of four to attend a game. TMR staff compile costs for all 30 MLB ballparks using the price of four average weighted non-premium tickets combined with four sodas, four hot dogs, two beers and two souvenir caps, plus a parking spot. Here are some of the highlights:
The cost to attend a Major League Baseball game has increased by 2.4 percent for the 2018 season, according to the Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index®. Real shocker huh?
The most expensive team to watch at the ballpark this year is the Chicago Cubs with their Fan Cost Index of $368.28. This marked the first time since 2009, and only second time since 2000, that the Boston Red Sox were not at the top of the list. They came in at second most expensive at $345.88. BOO!
The most affordable ballgame once again belongs to the Arizona Diamondbacks, with their FCI of $145.58. They’ve had a stranglehold on the lowest FCI since 2009, also boasting the least expensive average ticket price of $19.65. Nice job Arizona!
Taking into account all costs, the largest FCI jumps are the Blue Jays at 15.7, Minnesota Twins at 9 percent and Milwaukee Brewers at 8.9 percent. Twins apparently expect fans to pay for the free agents they signed.
The Minnesota Twins have a higher than average FCI and only the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros and Mariners are more expensive than our Minnesota Twins in the American League, that puts them in some pretty rarefied air. The Twins have the most expensive FCI in the AL Central Division. We give the Minnesota Twins a
Forbes magazine recently published their 2018 MLB team values for the 21st year. As you might guess, MLB teams and their owners are doing pretty well. The only team in MLB that is not yet worth at least $1 billion is the Tampa Bay Rays and their value is $900 million. The most valuable team is the New York Yankees who are worth $4 billion according to Forbes.
The Minnesota Twins are worth $1.15 billion, up 12% from last year and are the 22nd on the list. The Twins are shown with $261 million of revenue and that seems like a lot of money to most of us but only nine teams brought in less revenue last season.
The Forbes article can be found here and the list of team values can be found here. When looking at the list, if you click on the Minnesota Twins you will find more detailed financial data.
More historical information on Minnesota Twins values can be found on my “Salaries” page.
Kirby Puckett becomes the first major league player ever to sign a contract that calls for an average salary of $3 million per year when he inks a pact with the Twins for $9 million over three years.
Just a short 28 years ago this was huge money, the minimum MLB salary back then was $68,000. Jumping forward to 2017 the minimum salary for a MLB player was $535,000 a year. The highest paid player in 2017 I believe was pitcher Clayton Kershaw at $33 million.
I wonder how many long-time baseball fans are aware that there are 500 or so former MLB players, being hosed out of pensions by the league and the players’ association.
All these men have been getting since 2011 are non qualified retirement payments of $625 per quarter, up to 16 quarters, or a maximum payment of $10,000 per year. Meanwhile, the maximum IRS pension limit per year is $210,000.
One of these men is Dublin, Virginia’s Bill Dailey. Born in Arlington, Virginia in March 1935, Mr. Dailey recently turned 82.
Bill Dailey – Twins pitcher 1963 – 1964
A pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians, in 1961 and 1962, and the Minnesota Twins, in 1963 and 1964, Mr. Dailey appeared in a total of 119 games, all in relief. He notched 10 victories in 185 and two-third innings. In 1963 in what was probably Dailey’s best season, he appeared in relief 66 times for the Twins pitching a total of 108.2 innings and saved 21 games while winning 6 games and posting a 1.99 ERA.
Mr. Dailey had a career year for the Twins in 1963, when he appeared in 66 games, went 6-3, had a brilliant 1.99 Earned Run Average and recorded 21 saves. In that magical season, when the Twins were home and the opposing team was threatening, the organist for the Twins would play a parody of “Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home” called “Bill Dailey Won’t You Please Come In?”
The union representing the players, the MLBPA, doesn’t have to be the legal advocates for these men, the league doesn’t have to negotiate about this matter and the alumni association is too busy putting on golf outings.
Neither the league nor the union want to retroactively restore these men into pension coverage; instead, taxes are taken out of the nonqualified retirement payment, which cannot be passed on to a surviving spouse or designated beneficiary. So when Mr. Dailey passes on, the payment he is currently receiving is not passed on to any of his loved ones, including his wife, Anne. They are also not eligible to be covered under the league’s umbrella health insurance plan.
Former pitcher Steve Rogers is a special assistant to Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. He is the players’ pension liaison; his email address is stever@mlbpa.org and his telephone number is 646-430-2112.
If you believe that these former big league ballplayers are being treated unfairly please give Steve Rogers a call or send him an e-mail and let him know that this is totally unfair.
This article was submitted by Doug Gladstone, Author
“A Bitter Cup of Coffee; How MLB & The Players Association Threw 874 Retirees a Curve”
The Minnesota Twins have announced that all their arbitration eligible players have been signed for 2017. All five pocketed some nice change but starting pitcher Kyle Gibson increased his pay by 394% from $587,500 in 2016 to $2.9 million in 2017.
Bob Gibson
For that kind of increase I would have expected a “Cy Young” award season but I don’t remember that being the case. Lets see, I remember a real good pitcher named Gibson, oh, that was a guy named Bob Gibson and he is in the Hall of Fame. He last pitched in 1975 and his salary peaked out at $175,000.
Our Gibson, Kyle was 6-11 last season with a 5.07 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. In his 25 starts he pitched 147.1 innings and allowed 175 hits including 20 home runs. The man deserved a pay cut and not a pay increase of 394%, he should be pitching for the major league minimum this year of $535,000. But the MLB arbitration rules prohibit common sense like that.
In the old days they could give a player a maximum pay cut of 20%, that rule should still be in place. It is BS that baseball players get increases year after year no matter how bad a season they have. But that is the world we live in today. No one said that life is fair but things like this are just plain wrong.
Hey Kyle, don’t forget to increase your charitable contributions by 394% this year too. If you start 30 games in 2017 that comes out to almost $100,000 a start, you can afford it.
