The Twins and the Yankees have been at it longer than anyone can remember.

For a large fraction of the Minnesota Twins fans, the Yankees clearly represent three things:  a franchise that has a bottomless pit for a budget and can buy players and championships, a team that after the wild card was established the Twins have to face in every  post-season, and the team that the Twins (the good Twins' teams) lost to in every post-season.   So the Yankees have been the proverbial thorn on the Twins' side or a major pain on their back side.  For most fans, this relationship of the Twins-Yankees franchises is a recent one and it became apparent as the Twins got better this Millennium, since the Yankees were always in the other division.   But this cannot be further than the truth.  The two franchises have a long intertwining history that goes all the way back to the dark ages (of baseball.)

Both the Twins and Yankees franchises were founding members of the American League in 1901.  The Yankees started their American League life as the Baltimore Orioles and the Twins as the new franchise in Washington that moved from Kansas City (the Blues,) which took the name of the NL team that was there and dissolved in 1899, the Senators.   The KC Blues were part of the old Western League the predecessor of the American League.  I am digressing here, but it is important for Twins' fans.  The league was founded in 1893 and was comprised by mainly Midwestern teams.  One of the founding teams of the Western League was the Sioux City Corn Huskers.  In 1894 Charles Comiskey bought the Sioux City club and transferred to St. Paul, MN and called them the St. Paul Saints.   The Saints moved to Chicago (the time the Blues moved to Washington DC to become the Senators) and became the White Stockings aka the White Sox.   So think about that the next time the Twins decide to wear Saints' uniforms.  But I am digressing.  Back to the Twins and the Yankees...

The Yankees did not last much in Baltimore.  Just a couple years before they moved to the Bronx and became the Highlanders with pretty much a brand new squad.  The first ever game of the Highlanders, fate has it, was against the Twins nee Senators in Washington.  Promptly the Senators won 3-1:

Both teams were wallowing in mediocrity in the aughts and the teens (and the Highlanders changed their name to the Yankees in 1913 to no avail). But in the roaring twenties, the Yankees and the Senators were the 2 teams that dominated the AL. The Yankees of Babe Ruth, Wait Hoyt and Lou Gehrig went to the World Series from '21-'23 and from '26-'28 (won in '23, '27 and '28) and the Senators of Walter Johnson, Goose Goslin and Sam Rice went in '24 and '25 and won their first trip.  

 

 

 

 

With the interruption of a World Series trip by the Senators in 1933, the two franchises went in opposite ways from then on, with the Yankees (well) being the Yankees and the Senators (well) being the Senators.   Twins' fans might dislike the Yankees right now, but the two teams have had pretty good relationships at least in their front offices since day one and a lot of cross-polination.

In addition to Billy Martin who managed both the Twins and the Yankees, the following two Hall of Fame managers managed in both franchises: Clark Griffith (1903-1908 Highlanders and 1912-1920 Senators; Bucky Harris (1924-1928, 1935-1942, 1950-1954 Senators and 1947-1938 Yankees.)  Harris won World Series with both teams (1924 and 1947, which were in his first year with each team).  Griffith and Martin, in addition to managing MLB teams in the Twins and Yankees franchises, they also played for both teams.

 

Speaking about playing for both teams, there are not 2 other teams in major league baseball that have more players playing for both than the Twins and the Yankees.   The proximity and the train between New York and Washington DC helped in the early ages before the airplanes (and there were a lot of players who were going up and down the east coast try to make a living before the '40s,)  but the exchanges have continued up to now.   The following 175 players (including many All Stars and four Hall of Famers) played for both the Yankees' and the Twins' franchises (and a lot of these players got traded between the 2 franchises; look for players who played for both in the same season or in consecutive seasons) :  

 

Spencer Adams (Senators 1925, Yankees 1926),
Bernie Allen (Twins 1962-66, Yankees 1972-73),
John Anderson (Senators 1905-07, Highlanders 1904-05),
Pete Appleton (Senators 1936-39, 1945, Yankees 1933),
Luis Ayala (Twins 2009, Yankees 2011),
Willie Banks (Twins 1991-93, Yankees 1997-98),
Walter Beall (Senators 1929, Yankees 1924-27),
Lou Berberet (Senators 1956-58, Yankees 1954-55),
Garland Braxton (Senators 1927-30, Yankees 1925-26),
Tommy Byrne (Senators 1953, Yankees 1943, 1946-51, 1954-57),
Bullet Joe Bush (Senators 1926, Yankees 1922-24),
Archie Campbell (Senators 1929, Yankees 1928),
John Candelaria (Twins 1990, Yankees 1988-89),
Roy Carlyle (Senators 1925, Yankees 1926),
Ben Chapman (Senators 1936-37, 1941, Yankees 1930-36),
Mike Chartak (Senators 1942, Yankees 1940, 1942),
Al Cicotte (Senators 1958, Yankees 1957),
Tex Clevenger (Senators 1956-60, Yankees 1961-62),
Orth Collins (Senators 1909, Highlanders 1904),
Wid Conroy (Senators 1909-11, Highlanders 1903-08),
Ron Coomer (Twins 1995-2000, Yankees 2002),
Don Cooper (Twins 1981-82, Yankees 1985),
Clint Courtney (Senators 1955-59, Yankees 1951),
Stan Coveleski, HOF (Senators 1925-27, Yankees 1928),
Herb Crompton (Senators 1937, Yankees 1945),
Roy Cullenbine (Senators 1942, Yankees 1942),
Nick Cullop (Senators 1927, Yankees 1926),
Jim Deshaies (Twins 1993-94, Yankees 1984),
Chili Davis (Twins 1991-92, Yankees 1998-1999),
Ron Davis (Twins 1982-86, Yankees 1978-81),
Rick Dempsey (Twins 1969-72, Yankees 1973-76),
Jimmie DeShong (Senators 1936-39, Yankees 1934-35),
Sonny Dixon (Senators 1953-54, Yankees 1956),
Jack Doyle (Senators 1902, Highlanders 1905),
Lew Drill (Senators 1902-04, Orioles 1902),
Kid Elberfeld (Senators 1910-11, Highlanders 1903-09),
Roger Erickson (Twins 1978-81, Yankees 1982-83),
Scott Erickson (Twins 1990-95, Yankees 2006),
Alvaro Espinoza (Twins 1984-86, Yankees 1988-91),
Alex Ferguson (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1918, 1921, 1925),
Wes Ferrell (Senators 1937-38, Yankees 1938-39),
Tom Ferrick (Senators 1947-48 and 1951-52, Yankees 1950-51),
Pete Filson (Twins 1982-86, Yankees 1987),
Ray Fontenot (Twins 1986, Yankees 1983),
Eddie Foster (Senators 1912-19, Highlanders 1910),
Ray Francis (Senators 1922, Yankees 1925),
George Frazier (Twins 1986-87, Yankees 1981-83),
Billy Gardner (Senators/Twins 1960-61, Yankees 1961-62),
Milt Gaston (Senators 1928, Yankees 1924),
Joe Gedeon (Senators 1913-14, Yankees 1916-17),
Al Gettel (Senators 1949, Yankees 1945-46),
Lefty Gomez, HOF (Senators 1943, Yankees 1930-42),
Wayne Granger (Twins 1972, Yankees 1973),
Clark Griffith, HOF (Senators 1912-14, Highlanders 1903-07),
Randy Gumpert (Senators 1952, Yankees 1946-48),
Bump Hadley (Senators 1926-31, 1935, Yankees 1936-1940),
Jimmie Hall (Twins 1963-66, Yankees 1969),
Joe Harris (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1914),
Harry Harper (Senators 1913-19, Yankees 1921),
LaTroy Hawkins (Twins 1995-2003, Yankees 2008),
Neal Heaton (Twins 1986, Yankees 1993),
Sean Henn (Twins 2009, Yankees 2005-07),
Steve Howe (Twins 1985, Yankees 1991-96),
Tom Hughes (Senators 1904-09, 1911-13, Orioles/Highlanders 1902, 1904),
Jackie Jensen (Senators 1952-53, Yankees 1950-52),
Don Johnson (Senators 1951-52, Yankees 1947, 1950),
Sad Sam Jones (Senators 1928-31, Yankees 1922-26),
Tim Jordan (Senators 1901, Highlanders 1903),
Jim Kaat (Senators/Twins 1959-1973, Yankees 1979-80),
Bill Keister (Senators 1902, Orioles 1901),
Roberto Kelly (Twins 1996-97, Yankees 1987-92),
Frank Kitson (Senators 1906-07, Highlanders 1907),
John Knight (Senators 1912, Highlanders/Yankees 1909-11, 1913),
Andy Kosco (Twins 1965-67, Yankees 1966),
Chuck Knoblauch (Twins 1991-97, Yankees 1998-01),
Bob Kuzava (Senators 1950-51, Yankees 1951-54),
Frank LaPorte (Senators 1912-13, Highlanders 1905-10),
Dave LaRoche (Twins 1972, Yankees 1981-83),
Lyn Lary (Senators 1935, Yankees 1929-34),
Chris Latham (Twins 1997-99, Yankees 2003),
Jack Lelivelt (Senators 1909-11, Highlanders/Yankees 1912-13),
Duffy Lewis (Senators 1921, Yankees 1919-20),
Jim Lewis (Twins 1983, Yankees 1982),
Slim Love (Senators 1913, Yankees 1916-18),
Kevin Maas (Twins 1995, Yankees 1990-93),
Danny MacFayden (Senators 1941, Yankees 1932-34),
Billy Martin (Twins 1961, Yankees 1950-57),
Tippy Martinez (Twins 1988, Yankees 1974-76),
Mickey McDermott (Senators 1954-55, Yankees 1956),
Danny McDevitt (Twins 1961, Yankees 1961),
Darnell McDonald (Twins 2007, Yankees 2012),
Mike McNally (Senators 1925, Yankees 1921-24)
Doug Mientkiewicz (Twins 1998-04, Yankees 2007),
Larry Milbourne (Twins 1982, Yankees  1981-82, 1983),
Willy Miranda (Senators 1951, Yankees 1953-54),
Chad Moeller (Twins 2000, Yankees 2010),
George Mogridge (Senators 1921-25, Yankees 1915-20),
Mike Morgan (Twins 1998, Yankees 1982),
Tom Morgan (Senators 1960, Yankees 1951-52; 1954-56),
George Murray (Senators 1926-27, Yankees 1922)
Dan Naulty (Twins 1996-98, Yankees 1999),
Denny Neagle (Twins 1991, Yankees 2000),
Graig Nettles (Twins 1967-69, Yankees 1973-83),
Bobo Newsom (Senators 1935-37, 1943, 1946-67, 1952, Yankees 1947)
Joe Niekro (Twins 1987-88, Yankees 1895-87),
Irv Noren (Senators 1950-52, Yankees 1952-56),
Jesse Orosco (Twins 2003, Yankees 2003),
Al Orth (Senators 1902-04, Highlanders 1904-09),
Champ Osteen (Senators 1903, Highlanders 1904),
John Pacella (Twins 1982, Yankees 1982),
Carl Pavano (Twins 2009-12, Yankees 2005-08),
Roger Peckinpaugh (Senators 1922-26, Yankees 1913-21),
Eddie Phillips (Senators 1934, Yankees 1932),
Sidney Ponson (Twins 2007, Yankees 2006, 2008),
Bob Porterfield (Senators 1951-55, Yankees 1948-51),
Jake Powell (Senators 1930-36, 1943-45, Yankees 1936-40),
Jerry Priddy (Senators 1943, 1946-47, Yankees 1941-42),
Pedro Ramos (Senators/Twins 1955-61, Yankees 1964-66),
Shane Rawley (Twins 1989, Yankees 1982-84),
Jeff Reardon (Twins 1987-89, Yankees 1994),
Harry Rice (Senators 1931, Yankees 1930),
Roxey Roach (Senators 1912, Highlanders 1910-11),
Eddie Robinson (Senators 1949-50, Yankees 1954-56),
Kenny Rogers (Twins 2003, Yankees 1996-97),
Jim Roland (Twins 1962-64, 1966-68, Yankees 1972),
Braggo Roth (Senators 1920, Yankees 1921),
Muddy Ruel (Senators 1923-30, Yankees 1917-20),
Dutch Ruether (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1926-27)
Allen Russell (Senators 1923-25, Yankees 1915-19),
Mark Salas (Twins 1985-87, Yankees 1987),
Fred Sanford (Senators 1951, Yankees 1949-51),
Ray Scarborough (Senators 1942-43, 1946-50, Yankees 1952-53)
Germany Schaefer (Senators 1909-14, Yankees 1916),
Art Schult (Senators 1957, Yankees 1953),
Johnny Schmitz (Senators 1953-55, Yankees 1952-53),
Everett Scott (Senators 1925, Yankees 1922-25),
Kip Selbach (Senators 1903-04, Orioles 1902),
Hank Severeid (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1926),
Howie Shanks (Senators 1912-22, Yankees 1925),
Spec Shea (Senators 1952-55, Yankees 1947-49, 1951),
Ruben Sierra (Twins 2006, Yankees 1995-96, 2003-05),
Roy Smalley (Twins 1976-82, 1985-87, Yankees 1982-84),
Elmer Smith (Senators 1916-1917, Yankees 1922-23),
Gabby Street (Senators 1908-11, Highlanders 1912),
Eric Soderholm (Twins 1971-75, Yankees 1980),
Jake Stahl (Senators 1904-06, Highlanders 1908),
Dick Starr (Senators 1951, Yankees 1947-48),
Bud Stewart (Senators 1948-50, Yankees 1948),
Steve Sundra (Senators 1941-42, Yankees 1936-40),
Jesse Tannehill (Senators 1908-09, Highlanders 1903),
Dick Tettelbach (Senators 1956-57, Yankees 1955),
Bob Tewksbury (Twins 1997-98, Yankees 1986-87),
Myles Thomas (Senators 1929-30, Yankees 1926-29),
Jack Thoney (Senators 1904, Orioles/Highlanders 1902, 1904),
Luis Tiant (Twins 1970, Yankees 1979-80)
Cesar Tovar (Twins 1965-72, Yankees 1976),
Bob Unglaub (Senators 1908-10, Highlanders 1903),
Elmer Valo (Senators 1960/Twins 1961, Yankees 1960),
Hippo Vaughn (Senators 1912, Highlanders 1908-12),
Bobby Veach (Senators 1925, Yankees 1925),
Jake Wade (Senators 1946, Yankees 1946),
Danny Walton (Twins 1973, 1975, Yankees 1971),
Gary Ward (Twins 1979-83, Yankees 1987-89),
Jim Weaver (Senators 1928, Yankees 1931),
Rondell White (Twins 2006-07, Yankees 2002),
Bob Wiesler (Senators 1956-58, Yankees 1951, 1954-55),
Stan Williams (Twins 1970-71, Yankees 1963-64),
Archie Wilson (Senators 1952, Yankees 1951-52),
Dave Winfield, HOF (Twins 1993-94, Yankees 1981-90),
Barney Wolfe (Senators 1904-06, Highlanders 1903-04),
Harry Wolverton (Senators 1902, Highlanders 1912),
Dick Woodson (Twins 1969-70 & 1972-74, Yankees 1974),
Butch Wynegar (Twins 1976-82, Yankees 1982-86),
Tom Zachary (Senators 1919-25, 1927-28, Yankees 1928-29),
Bill Zuber (Senators 1941-42, Yankees 1943-46). 

 

 

 

And thus the story goes...  

If you are interested, you can find more Twins history posts here.

How the integration barrier broke for the Twins' franchise

February is African American/Black History Month so I wanted to contribute by looking at the integration of the Twins franchise. And it did happen at the Senators' years. The Washington Senators, even though they were one of the first Major League teams to break the ethnicity barrier, in 1913 by featuring two 17 year old lefty outfielders, Merito Acosta and Jack Calvo, both born in Cuba (and the team had a long pipeline of Cuban talent, pre-Castro), was one of the last to break the color barrier and integrate. Only the New York Yankees (1955), the Philadelphia Phillies (1957), the Detroit Tigers (1958) and the Boston Red Sox (1959) integrated later than the Senators.

The first black player made his appearance on the Senators on September 6, 1954 at Griffith Stadium and he was Cuban-born Carlos Paula (Conill). Carlos Paula was born in Havana on Monday November 28, 1927. He made his debut in the US in 1952, at age 24, playing for the Decatur Commodores of the integrated and unaffiliated, class D, Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. He played as a Right Fielder in 119 of the 127 games, hit .334 and slugged .495 mainly because of 23 doubles and 16 triples; he also had 6 HRs. The next season, he started also in Decatur, hitting .265 and slugging .490 in the first 26 games. He was then traded to the Paris Indians of the unaffiliated class B Big State (mainly Texas) League. Even though the Indians were in the League basement with a 48-96 record, Paula played 97 games, hit .309 and slugged .462 with 20 doubles, 9 triples and 6 Home Runs. This caught the eye of the Senators who purchased him from the Paris Indians in the off-season. Paula started his Senators' career with their Charlotte Hornets A league (South Atlantic) affiliate. He hit .309 and slugged .495, with a league leading 13 triples (he also had 24 doubles and 14 home runs) in 153 games. This gained him a call up to the bigs in September.

His first appearance in the majors was at Griffith Stadium on both games of a double-header against the Philadelphia Athletics. He started the first game as the Left Fielder and batted 5th, between Peter Runnels and Jim Lemon. His first action on the game was when he led the bottom of the second of a 0-0 game against Arnie Portocarrero. He struck out swinging. His first action on the field was on the top of the 3rd inning when he caught a fly ball at LF hit by Spook Jacobs (The Senators' starter in that game was Johnny Schmitz.) His second plate appearance came at the bottom of that inning with Mickey Vernon on second, Paul Runnels at first and one out with the Senators leading 1-0. He hit a long out at Right Fielder Joe Taylor. His next plate appearance came in the bottom of the 4th with the Senators really making Arnie Portocarrero work, the score up 4-0, two outs and runners on the corners. Mickey Vernon on third and Peter Runnels (who was walked to face the rookie) on first. Paula pulled a balled to the Center Field gap for a double that ended Portocarerro's day and got the Senators up 6-0. Paula singled in his next plate appearance (to the Center) against Marion Fricano on the bottom of the 6th with two outs. His final at bat was at the bottom of the 9th with Roy Dietzel on first and one out. He flew out at Center. All in all he finished that game with 2 hits, a double and 2 runs batted in, in 5 plate appearances. He also led the team (other than 1st baseman Mickey Veron) with 4 put outs and was perfect on the field. The Senators won 8-1. At that point a new leaf was turned in the Twins' Franchice history. The team was finally integrated.

At the nightcap the same day, Paula also started at Left Field and batted 5th between Runnels and Lemon. Paula went hit-less in that game in 4 plate appearances and the Senators lost 2-3. He played in 7 more games that season (started 3 more at LF, played in an other there and pinch hit in the rest) and in those total nine games, he hit .167/.231/.208. His double and the 2 RBIs on his debut were his only ones of the season. He just managed 2 more singles and a couple of BBs in the other 8 games. Paula played the whole 1955 season with the Senators. He appeared in 115 games, had 374 plate appearances, and hit a very respectable .299/.332./.449 (111 OPS+) He finished the season with 105 hits, 20 doubles, 7 triples, 6 HRs, 17 BB (3 intentional) and 47 strike outs; he stole 2 bases and was cause stealing three times, grounded into 9 double plays and was hit by a pitch 2 times. He also had 4 sacrifice flies. His 1956 season was his last in the majors. He played in 33 games with the Senators, hitting .183/.250/.341 and he was optioned to their AAA club, the Louisville Colonels of the American Association. After 53 games he was sold to the Yankees' affiliate Denver Bears, also of the American Association. After 25 games with the Bears, in order to make room in the club for future All-Star Norm Siebern, the Yankees sold him to the Philies who assigned him to their AAA club, the Miami Marlins of the International League. He played just 11 games with them before he was released. His total line at the American Association in 1956 was .319/.385/.549 with 16 HRs and 58 RBI. The next season he played with the AAA Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, then a New York Giants' affiliate. In 1958 he played with the AAA Sacramento Solons (unaffiliated) of the Pacific Coast League. In 1959, he started the season with the Solons who were now the AAA club of the Milwaukee Braves and mid-season 1959 he was traded to the International League (AAA) Cincinnati Reds affiliate, Havana Sugar Kings. We all know what happened in Cuba in 1959, but Carlo Paula's situation there is not clear. He played 31 games with the Sugar Kings and next season he surfaced in Mexico, playing 88 games with the Mexico City Tigres of the Mexican League who were the League Champions. That season, 1960, his age 32 season, was the last professional baseball season for Carlos Paula.

Paula died at the age of 55 in Miami, FL on April 25, 1983.

The Washington Senators did not sign a US-born African American player until they signed Joe Black (the first African American pitcher in the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952) as a free agent on August 7, 1957.

Not a Garden Variety Top 10 List - Part 2: Twins Franchise On Base Percentage Leaders

This is the second installment of the franchise top ten lists, which started with the Batting Average List earlier this week. Again, the purpose is to provide a glimpse of the great players who wore the Franchise's uniform, being Twins or Senators.

As with Batting Average, there are two top ten lists for each category: Single Season Best and Career Best. Career Best takes into consideration cumulative performance for only the Twins' or Senators' years of a player's career. In other words, what Carew did with the Angels does not matter. And the top-10 lists are not a single top ten list. Because of the variations of the game through out the years, a Senators' top ten list is merged with a Twins' top ten list to give the franchise's best (usually 20-30) players in a category.

So in the lists, we get the ranking in the franchise and the ranking of a particular player among Senators or Twins, depending what uniform that player won. Because the purpose of this is to be a history lesson and a celebration of the great players who played for our beloved franchise, and not a debate about who is better than whom, I am not adding commentary on performances. Also, because these units are somewhat freestanding the way they are posted, I am profiling every player including the ones appearing in earlier lists. The stats in the profiles are career totals and not franchise totals.

There we go: On Base Percentage

Franchise Single Season:

Franchise 1 Was 1 Myer, B (1938) .454
Franchise 2 Min 1 Carew, R (1977) .449
Franchise 3 Min 2 Knoblauch, C (1996) .448
Franchise 4 Min 3 Mauer, J (2009).444
Franchise 5 Was 2 Goslin, G (1928) .442
Franchise 6 Was 3 Yost, E (1950) .440
Franchise 6 Was 3 Myer, B (1935) .440
Franchise 8 Min 4 Carew, R (1974) .433
Franchise 9 Min 5 Mauer, J (2006) .429
Franchise 10 Min 6 Killebrew, H (1969) .427
Franchise 11 Was 5 Goslin, G (1926) .425
Franchise 12 Min 7 Knoblauch, C (1995) .424
Franchise 13 Was 6 Yost, E (1951) .423
Franchise 14 Was 7 Cronin, J (1930) .422
Franchise 15 Min 8 Carew, R (1975) .421
Franchise 15 Was 9 Goslin, G (1924) .421
Franchise 15 Was 10 Stone, J (1936) .421
Franchise 18 Was 11 Myer, B (1934) .419
Franchise 19 Was 12 Judge, J (1920) .416
Franchise 20 Min 9 Mauer, J (2008) .413
Franchise 21 Was 13 Yost, E (1956) .412
Franchise 21 Was 13 Schaefer, G (1911) .412
Franchise 23 Min 10 Carew, R (1978) .411
Franchise 23 Min 10 Carew, R (1973) .411
Franchise 23 Min 10 Killebrew, H (1970) .411

Franchise Career:

Franchise 1 Min 1 Mauer .403
Franchise 2 Min 2 Carew .393
Franchise 2 Was 1 Myer, B .393
Franchise 4 Was 2 Stone, J .392
Franchise 5 Min 3 Knoblauch, C .391
Franchise 6 Was 3 Yost, E .389
Franchise 7 Was 4 Cronin, J .387
Franchise 8 Was 5 Goslin, G .386
Franchise 9 Was 6 Ruel, M .382
Franchise 10 Min 4 Lawton, M .379
Franchise 10 Was 7 Judge, J .379
Franchise 12 Min 5 Killebrew, H .378
Franchise 13 Was 8 Spence, S .377
Franchise 14 Min 6 Braun, S .376
Franchise 15 Min 7 Mack, S .375
Franchise 15 Was 9 Rice, S .375
Franchise 17 Was 10 Ferrell, R .374
Franchise 18 Min 8 Koskie, C .373
Franchise 19 Was 11 Manush, H .371
Franchise 20 Was 12 Travis, C .370
Franchise 21 Was 13 Lewis, B .368
Franchise 22 Min 9 Mientkiewicz, D .367
Franchise 22 Min 9 Hrbek, K .367







Who is who of the Senators Listed, with a bit of biographic information and a picture (alphabetically):




Cronin, J
---------



Joseph Edward Cronin
Born: October 12, 1906 in San Francisco, CA
Died: September 7, 1984, Osterville, MA
SS

1926-1927 Pittsburgh, 1928-1934 Senators, 1935-1945 Red Sox.
Career: .301/.390/.468, 170 HR, 1424 RBI, 1232 R, 2285 H, 87 SB

7 times All Star: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941
AL MVP 1930
Hall of Fame (elected 1956 as a Red Sox' Player)
His number 4 retired by Boston

Ferrell, R
-----------



Richard (Rick) Benjamin Ferrell
Born: October 12, 1905 in Durham, NC
Died: July 27, 1995 in Bloomfield Hills, MI
C


1929-1932 and 1941-1943St. Louis, 1932-1937 Boston, 1937-1941 and 1944-1947 Senators
Career: .281/.378/.363, 28 HR, 734 RBI, 687 R, 1692 H, 29 SB.

8 times All Star: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 (Boston), 1937, 1938, 1944, 1945 (Senators)
Hall of Fame (elected 1984 as a Red Sox' Player)

Goslin, G
-----------



Leon Allen (Goose) Goslin
Born: October 16, 1900 in Salem, NJ
Died: May 15, 1971, Bridgeton, NJ
OF

1921-1930, 1933, 1938 Senators, 1930-1932 St. Louis, 1934-1938 Detroit
Career: .316/.387/.500, 248 HR, 1609 RBI, 1482 R, 2735 H, 175 SB

All Star 1936
World Series Winner 1924 (Senators) 1935 (Detroit)
Hall of Fame (Elected 1968 as a Minnesota Twin not as a Senator)


Judge, J
----------



Joseph Ignatius (Joe) Judge
Born: May 25, 1894 in Brooklyn, NY
Died: March 11, 1963 in Washington DC
1B

1915-1933 Senators, 1933-1934 Red Sox
Career: .298/.378/.420, 71 HR, 1034 RBI, 1185 R, 2352 H, 213 SB

World Series Winner 1924 (Senators)




Lewis, B
----------



John Kelly (Buddy) Lewis
Born: August 10, 1916 in Gastonia, NC
Died: February 18, 2011 in Gastonia, NC
3B

1935-1941, 1945-1947 Senators; in the US Air Force from 1942-1944 flew more than 350 missions in WWII
Career: .297/.368/.420, 71 HR, 607 RBI, 830 R, 1563 H, 83 SB

All Star: 1938, 1947


Manush, H
-----------



Henry Emmett (Heinie) Manush
Born: July 20, 1901 in Tuscumbia, AL
Died: May 21, 1971 in Sarasota, FL
OF

1923-1927 Detroit, 1928-1930 St Louis, 1930-1935 Senators, 1936 Boston, 1937-1938 Brooklyn, 1938-1939 Pittsburgh
Career: .330/.377/.479, 110 HR, 1183 RBI, 1288 R, 2524 H, 114 SB

Led AL in Batting Average in 1926 and in Hits in 1928 and 1933
All Star (1934, Senators)
Hall of Fame (Elected 1964, Detroit Tigers)




Myer, B
---------



Charles Solomon (Buddy) Myer
Born: March 16, 1904 in Ellisville, MS
Died: October 31, 1974 in Baton Rouge, LA
2B

1925-1927, 1929-1941 Senators, 1927-1928 Red Sox
Career: .303/.389/.406 38 HR, 850 RBI, 1174 R, 2131 H, 156 SB

Led the AL in Batting Average in 1935 and Stolen Bases in 1928
Two times All Star: 1935, 1937



Rice, S
---------



Edgar Charles (Sam) Rice
Born: February 20, 1890 in Morocco, IN
Died: October 13, 1974 in Rossmoor, MD
OF

1915-1933 Senators, 1934 Cleveland
Career: .322/.374/.427, 34 HR, 1078 RBI, 1513 R, 2987 H, 351 SB

Led the AL in Hits 1924, 1926 and Stolen Bases in 1920
World Series Champion 1924 (Senators)
Hall of Fame (elected 1963, Minnesota Twins)



Ruel, M
--------



Herold Dominic (Muddy) Ruel
Born: February 20, 1896 in St. Louis, MO
Died: November 13, 1963 in Palo Alto, California
C

1915, 1933 St Louis, 1917-1920 Yankees, 1921-1922 Red Sox, 1923-1931 Senators, 1931-1932 Detroit, 1934 White Sox
Career: .275/.365/.332 4 HR, 534 RBI, 493 R, 1242 H, 61 SB

World Series Champion 1924 (Senators)

Schaefer, G
-------------



Herman A. (Germany) Schaefer
Born: February 4, 1877 in Chicago, IL
Died: May 16, 1919 in Saranac Lake, NY
IF


1901-1902 Chicago, 1905-1909 Detroit, 1909-1914 Senators, 1916 Yankees, 1917 Cleveland
Career: .257/.319/.320 9 HR, 308 RBI, 497 R, 972 H, 201 SB.


Spence, S
----------



Stanley (Stan) Orville Spence
Born: March 20, 1915 in S.Portsmouth, KY
Died: January 9, 1983 in Kinston, NC
OF

1940-1941, 1948-1949, Red Sox, 1942-1947 Senators, 1949 St Louis
Career: .282/.369/.437 95 HR, 575 RBI, 541 R, 1090 H, 21 SB

All Star: 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947 (all with Senators)


Stone, J
--------



John "Rocky" Thomas Stone
Born: October 10, 1905 in Mulberry, TN
Died: November 30, 1955 in Shelbyville, TN
OF

1928-1933 Detroit, 1934-1938 Senators
Career: .310/.376/.467 77 HR, 707 RBI, 739 R, 1391 H, 45 SB



Travis, C
----------



Cecil Howell Travis
Born: August 8, 1913 in Riverdale, GA
Died: December 16, 2006 in Riverdale, GA
SS

1933-1941, 1945-1947 Senators; 1941-1944 US Army, received Bronze Star for injuries
Career: .314/.370/.416 27 HR, 657 RBI, 665 R, 1544 H, 23 SB

Led the AL in Hits, 1941
All Star: 1938, 1940, 1941


Yost, E
---------



Edward "The Walking Man" (Eddie) Frederick Joseph Yost
Born: October 13, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY


1944-1958 Senators, 1959-1960 Detroit, 1961-1962 LA Dodgers (spent part of the 1945 Season in the US Navy)
Career: .254/.394/.371, 193 HR, 683 RBI, 1215 R, 1863 H, 72 SB


Let the AL in OBP 1959, 1960 in Runs 1959
All Star 1952 (Senators)







Who is who of the Twins listed, with a bit of biographic information and a picture (alphabetically):

Braun, S
---------



Stephen (Steve) Russell Braun
Born: May 8, 1948 in Trenton, NJ
OF

1971-1976 Twins, 1977-1978 Seattle, 1978-1980 Kansas City, 1980 Toronto, 1981-1985 St Louis
Career: .271/.371/.367 52 HR, 388 RBI, 466 R, 969 H, 45 SB

World Series Champion 1982 (St Louis)

Carew, R
----------



Rodney (Rod) Cline Carew
Born: October 1, 1945 in Gatun, Canal Zone
IF

1967-1978 Twins, 1979-1985 Angels
Career: .328/.393/.429 82 HR, 1015 RBI, 1424 R, 3053 H, 353 SB

Led AL in Batting Average: 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978; in OBP 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978 in OPS 1977 in Runs 1977, Hits 1973, 1974, 1977
All Star: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 (Twins), 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 (Angels)
MVP 1977
Rookie of the year 1967
Roberto Clemente Award 1977
Uniform number 29 Retired by the Twins (1987) and Angels (1991)
Hall of Fame (elected 1991, Minnesota Twins)


Hrbek, K
---------



Kent Alan Hrbek
Born: May 21, 1960 in Minneapolis, MN
1B

1961-1994 Twins
Career: .283/.367/.481 293 HR, 1086 RBi, 903 R, 37 SB


All Star 1982
World Series Champion 1987, 1991, Twins
Uniform number 14 was retired by the Twins (1995)


Killebrew, H
-------------



Harmon "Killer" Clayton Killebrew
Born: June 29, 1936 in Payette, ID
1B

1954-1960 Senators, 1961-1974 Twins, 1975 Royals
Career: .256/.376/.509 573 HR, 1584 RBI, 1283 R, 2086 H, 19 SB

Led AL in Home Runs 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1969, in RBI in 1962, 1969 and 1971, in OBP in 1969 and in SLG% in 1963
All Star: 1959, 1960 (Senators) 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 (Twins)
MVP 1969
Uniform number 3 Retired by the Twins (1975)
Hall of Fame (elected 1984, Minnesota Twins)


Knoblauch, C
------------



Edward Charles (Chuck) Knoblauch
Born: July 7, 1968 in Houston, TX
2B


1991-1997 Twins, 1998-2001 Yankees, 2002 Kansas City
Career: .289/.378/.406 98 HR, 615 RBI, 1132 R, 1839 H, 407 SB

All Star 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 (all with Twins)
Gold Glove 1997
Silver Slugger 1995, 1997
World Series Champion: 1991 (Twins), 1994, 1996, 1997 (Yankees)
Rookie of the Year 1991 (Twins)

Koskie, C
-----------



Cordel (Cory) Leonard Koskie
Born: June 28, 1973 in Anola, MB, Canada
3B

1998-2004 Twins, 2005 Blue Jays, 2006 Brewers
Career: .275/.367/.458 124 HR, 506 RBI, 516 R, 71 SB

Lawton, M
----------



Matthew (Matt) Lawton
Born: November 30, 1971 in Gulfport, MS
OF

1995-2001 Twins, 2001 Mets, 2002-2004 Indians, 2005 Cubs, 2005 Yankees, 2006 Mariners
Career: .259/.368/.417 138 HR, 631 RBI, 756 R, 165 SB

All Star: 2000 (Twins), 2004 (Indians)


Mack, S
---------



Shane Lee Mack
Born: December 7, 1963 in Los Angeles, CA
OF

1987-1988 San Diego, 1990-1994 Twins, 1997 Boston, 1998 Kansas City, 1998 Oakland
Career: .299/.364/.456 80 HR, 398 RBI, 436 R, 853 H, 90 SB

World Series Champion 1991 (Twins)


Mauer, J .
----------



Joseph (Joe) Patrick Mauer
Born: April 19, 1983 in St. Paul, MN
C

2004- Twins
Career: .323/.403/.471 84 HR, 502 RBI, 545 R, 1096 H, 35 SB

Led the AL in Batting Average 2006, 2008, 2009, in OBP in 2009, in Slugging percentage in 2009 and in OPS in 2009
All Star: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
Silver Slugger: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010,
Gold Glove: 2008, 2009, 2010
AL MVP 2009

Mientkiewicz, D
---------------



Douglas Andrew Mientkiewicz
Born: June 19, 1974 in Toledo, OH
1B

1998-2004 Twins, 2004 Red Sox, 2005 Mets, 2006 Royals, 2007 Yankees, 2008 Pirates, 2009 Dodgers
Career: .271/.360/.405 66 HR, 405 RBI, 422 R, 899 H, 14 SB

Gold Glove: 2001 (Twins)
World Series Champion (2004 Red Sox)





Next: Slugging Percentage.

Not a Garden Variety Top 10 List - Part 1: Twins Franchise Batting Average Leaders

This off-season I decided to start a project and I will share part of it here, and this is the first installment. I have always been interested in the history of the Twins' franchise from the Western League Kansas City Blues (the late 19th Century Blues who moved to DC to form the American League, not the early 20th century American Association Blues) to the founding member of the American League, Washington Senators to the Minnesota Twins. And it is unfortunate that the current Twins' owners have never embraced the history of their franchise. And a lot of the current Twins' fans may have heard that Harmon Killebrew was a Senator once or that there was a great pitcher by the name of Walter Johnson who played for the Senators, but not much is known about the other greats who wore the Senators uniform. Add to this fact the realizations that a. the Twins moved to Minnesota a month more than 61 years ago and b. a decent part of the Twins' fan base was born after the Twins won their last World Series, and I think that a lot of the Twins greats are becoming somewhat obscured. When this series is finished here, I will be profiling (with pictures as well) about 275 players who wore the franchise uniform either as Senators or as Twins, from 1901 to the present. And I figured that an interesting way to do it, would be to create top 10 lists for the franchise in several hitting and pitching categories. This way, the picture of how a player fits in the big picture of the franchise might become more clear, esp. when considering players for things like the Twins' Hall of Fame, which is currently happening.

Now about the lists: There are two top ten lists for each category: Single Season Best and Career Best. Career Best takes into consideration cumulative performance for only the Twins' or Senators' years of a player's career. In other words, what Carew did with the Angels does not matter. And the top-10 lists are not a single top ten list. Because of the variations of the game through out the years, a Senators' top ten list is merged with a Twins' top ten list to give the franchise's best (usually 20-30) players in a category. So in the lists, we get the ranking in the franchise and the ranking of a particular player among Senators or Twins, depending what uniform that player won. Because the purpose of this is to be a history lesson and a celebration of the great players who played for our beloved franchise, and not a debate about who is better than whom, I am not adding commentary on performances.

The time travel starts with Batting Average:

Single Season Ranking:

Franchise 1, Min 1, Carew, R (1977) .388
Franchise 2, Was 1, Goslin, G (1928) .379
Franchise 3, Min 2, Mauer, J (2009) .365
Franchise 4, Min 3, Carew, R (1974) .364
Franchise 5, Min 4, Carew, R (1975) .359
Franchise 5, Was 2, Travis, C (1941) .359
Franchise 7, Min 5, Puckett, K (1988) .356
Franchise 8, Was 3, Goslin, G (1926) .354
Franchise 9, Was 4, Vernon, M (1946) .353
Franchise 10, Min 6, Carew, R (1973) .350
Franchise 10, Was 5, Rice, S (1925) .350
Franchise 12, Was 6, Rice, S (1930) .349
Franchise 12, Was 6, Myer, B (1935) .349
Franchise 12, Was 6, Manush, H (1934) .349
Franchise 15, Min 7, Mauer, J 2006 .347
Franchise 16, Was 9, Cronin, J (1930) .346
Franchise 17, Was 10 Travis, C (1937) .344
Franchise 17, Was 10 Goslin, G (1924) .344
Franchise 19, Was 12 Manush, H (1932) .342
Franchise 20, Was 13 Stone, J (1936) .341
Franchise 20, Min 8 Molitor, P (1996) .341
Franchise 20, Min 9 Knoblauch, C (1996) .341
Franchise 23, Min 10 Puckett, K (1989) .339

Franchise Career Ranking:

Franchise 1, Min 1 Carew, R .334
Franchise 2, Was 1 Manush, H .328
Franchise 3, Min 2 Mauer, J .323
Franchise 3, Was 2 Rice, S .323
Franchise 3, Was 2 Goslin, G .323
Franchise 6, Min 3 Puckett, K .318
Franchise 7, Was 4 Stone, J .317
Franchise 8, Was 5 Travis, C .314
Franchise 9, Min 4 Mack, S .309
Franchise 10, Min 5 Harper, B .306
Franchise 11, Was 6 Cronin, J .304
Franchise 11, Min 6 Oliva, T 304
Franchise 11, Min 6 Knoblauch, C .304
Franchise 14, Was 7 Myer, B .303
Franchise 15, Was 8 Judge, J .299
Franchise 16, Was 9 Lewis, B .297
Franchise 16, Was 9 West, S .297
Franchise 18, Was 11 Spence, S .296
Franchise 19, Was 12 Gandil, C .293
Franchise 20, Was 13 Ruel, M .290
Franchise 21, Was 14 Kuhel, J .288
Franchise 21 Was 14 Case, G .288
Franchise 21, Was 14 Vernon, M .288
Franchise 24, Min 8 Hisle, L .286
Franchise 25, Was 17 Milan, C .285
Franchise 26, Min 9 Braun, S .284
Franchise 26, Min 9 Hatcher, M .284


Who is who of the Senators Listed, with a bit of biographic information and a picture (alphabetically):

Case, G
-------



George Washington Case
Born: November 11, 1915 in Trenton, NJ
OF

1937-1945 Senators, 1946 Cleveland and ended career in 1947 with Senators

4 times all star: 1939, 1943, 1944 and 1945
Led the AL in stolen bases in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1946


Cronin, J
---------



Joseph Edward Cronin
Born: October 12, 1906 in San Francisco, CA
Died: September 7, 1984, Osterville, MA
SS

1926-1927 Pittsburgh, 1928-1934 Senators, 1935-1945 Red Sox.
Career: .301/.390/.468, 170 HR, 1424 RBI, 1232 R, 2285 H, 87 SB

7 times All Star: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941
AL MVP 1930
Hall of Fame (elected 1956 as a Red Sox' Player)
His number 4 retired by Boston


Gandil, C
---------



Arnold (Chick) Gandil
Born: January 19, 1887 in St.Paul, MN
Died: December 13, 1970 in Calistoga, CA
1B

1010 White Sox, 1912-1915 Senators, 1916 Cleveland, 1917-1919 White Sox
Career: .277/.327/.362, 11 HR, 557 RBI, 449 R, 1176 H, 153 SB.
1917 World Series Winner (White Sox)


Goslin, G
-----------



Leon Allen (Goose) Goslin
Born: October 16, 1900 in Salem, NJ
Died: May 15, 1971, Bridgeton, NJ
OF

1921-1930, 1933, 1938 Senators, 1930-1932 St. Louis, 1934-1938 Detroit
Career: .316/.387/.500, 248 HR, 1609 RBI, 1482 R, 2735 H, 175 SB

All Star 1936
World Series Winner 1924 (Senators) 1935 (Detroit)
Hall of Fame (Elected 1968 as a Minnesota Twin not as a Senator)


Judge, J
----------



Joseph Ignatius (Joe) Judge
Born: May 25, 1894 in Brooklyn, NY
Died: March 11, 1963 in Washington DC
1B

1915-1933 Senators, 1933-1934 Red Sox
Career: .298/.378/.420, 71 HR, 1034 RBI, 1185 R, 2352 H, 213 SB

World Series Winner 1924 (Senators)


Kuhel, J
----------



Joseph Anthony (Joe) Kuhel
Born: June 25, 1906 in Cleveland, OH
Died: February 26, 1984 in Kansas City, KS
1B

1930-1937, 1944-1946 Senators, 1938-1943, 1946, 1947 White Sox
Career: .277/.359/.406, 131 HR, 1049 RBI, 1236 R, 2212H, 178 SB

Lewis, B
----------



John Kelly (Buddy) Lewis
Born: August 10, 1916 in Gastonia, NC
Died: February 18, 2011 in Gastonia, NC
3B

1935-1941, 1945-1947 Senators; in the US Air Force from 1942-1944 flew more than 350 missions in WWII
Career: .297/.368/.420, 71 HR, 607 RBI, 830 R, 1563 H, 83 SB

All Star: 1938, 1947


Manush, H
-----------



Henry Emmett (Heinie) Manush
Born: July 20, 1901 in Tuscumbia, AL
Died: May 21, 1971 in Sarasota, FL
OF

1923-1927 Detroit, 1928-1930 St Louis, 1930-1935 Senators, 1936 Boston, 1937-1938 Brooklyn, 1938-1939 Pittsburgh
Career: .330/.377/.479, 110 HR, 1183 RBI, 1288 R, 2524 H, 114 SB

Led AL in Batting Average in 1926 and in Hits in 1928 and 1933
All Star (1934, Senators)
Hall of Fame (Elected 1964, Detroit Tigers)


Milan, C
---------



Jesse "Deerfoot" Clyde Milan
Born: March 25, 1887 in Linden, TN
Died: March 3, 1953 in Orlando, FL
OF

1907-1922 Senators
Career: .285/.353/.353, 17 HR, 617 RBI, 1004 R, 2100 H, 495 SB

Led AL in Stolen Bases 1912 and 1913


Myer, B
---------



Charles Solomon (Buddy) Myer
Born: March 16, 1904 in Ellisville, MS
Died: October 31, 1974 in Baton Rouge, LA
2B

1925-1927, 1929-1941 Senators, 1927-1928 Red Sox
Career: .303/.389/.406 38 HR, 850 RBI, 1174 R, 2131 H, 156 SB

Led the AL in Batting Average in 1935 and Stolen Bases in 1928
Two times All Star: 1935, 1937



Rice, S
---------



Edgar Charles (Sam) Rice
Born: February 20, 1890 in Morocco, IN
Died: October 13, 1974 in Rossmoor, MD
OF

1915-1933 Senators, 1934 Cleveland
Career: .322/.374/.427, 34 HR, 1078 RBI, 1513 R, 2987 H, 351 SB

Led the AL in Hits 1924, 1926 and Stolen Bases in 1920
World Series Champion 1924 (Senators)
Hall of Fame (elected 1963, Minnesota Twins)



Ruel, M
--------



Herold Dominic (Muddy) Ruel
Born: February 20, 1896 in St. Louis, MO
Died: November 13, 1963 in Palo Alto, California
C

1915, 1933 St Louis, 1917-1920 Yankees, 1921-1922 Red Sox, 1923-1931 Senators, 1931-1932 Detroit, 1934 White Sox
Career: .275/.365/.332 4 HR, 534 RBI, 493 R, 1242 H, 61 SB

World Series Champion 1924 (Senators)



Spence, S
----------



Stanley (Stan) Orville Spence
Born: March 20, 1915 in S.Portsmouth, KY
Died: January 9, 1983 in Kinston, NC
OF

1940-1941, 1948-1949, Red Sox, 1942-1947 Senators, 1949 St Louis
Career: .282/.369/.437 95 HR, 575 RBI, 541 R, 1090 H, 21 SB

All Star: 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947 (all with Senators)


Stone, J
--------



John "Rocky" Thomas Stone
Born: October 10, 1905 in Mulberry, TN
Died: November 30, 1955 in Shelbyville, TN
OF

1928-1933 Detroit, 1934-1938 Senators
Career: .310/.376/.467 77 HR, 707 RBI, 739 R, 1391 H, 45 SB



Travis, C
----------



Cecil Howell Travis
Born: August 8, 1913 in Riverdale, GA
Died: December 16, 2006 in Riverdale, GA
SS

1933-1941, 1945-1947 Senators; 1941-1944 US Army, received Bronze Star for injuries
Career: .314/.370/.416 27 HR, 657 RBI, 665 R, 1544 H, 23 SB

Led the AL in Hits, 1941
All Star: 1938, 1940, 1941

Vernon, M
-----------



James Barton (Mickey) Vernon
Born: April 22, 1918 in Marcus Hook, PA
Died: September 24, 2008 in Media, PA
1B

1939-1943, 1946-1947, 1950-1955 Senators, 1949-1950, 1958 Cleveland, 1956-1957 Boston, 1959 Milwaukee, 1960 Pittsburgh; US Army 1944-1945
Career: .286/.359/.428 172 HR, 1311 RBI, 1196 R, 2495 H, 137 SB

Led the AL in Batting Average in 1946 and 1953
All Star: 1946, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1955 (Senators) 1956 (Boston) 1958 (Cleveland)
World Series Champion 1960

West, S
---------



Samuel (Sam) Filmore West
Born: October 5, 1904 in Longview, TX
Died: November 23, 1985 in Lubbock, TX
OF

1927-1932, 1938-1941 Senators, 1933-1938 St Louis, 1942 White Sox
Career: .299/.371/.425 75 HR, 838 RBI, 934 R, 1838 H, 53 SB

All Star: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937 (all with St Louis)



Who is who of the Twins listed, with a bit of biographic information and a picture (alphabetically):

Braun, S
---------



Stephen (Steve) Russell Braun
Born: May 8, 1948 in Trenton, NJ
OF

1971-1976 Twins, 1977-1978 Seattle, 1978-1980 Kansas City, 1980 Toronto, 1981-1985 St Louis
Career: .271/.371/.367 52 HR, 388 RBI, 466 R, 969 H, 45 SB

World Series Champion 1982 (St Louis)

Carew, R
----------



Rodney (Rod) Cline Carew
Born: October 1, 1945 in Gatun, Canal Zone
IF

1967-1978 Twins, 1979-1985 Angels
Career: .328/.393/.429 82 HR, 1015 RBI, 1424 R, 3053 H, 353 SB

Led AL in Batting Average: 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978; in OBP 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978 in OPS 1977 in Runs 1977, Hits 1973, 1974, 1977
All Star: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 (Twins), 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 (Angels)
MVP 1977
Rookie of the year 1967
Roberto Clemente Award 1977
Uniform number 29 Retired by the Twins (1987) and Angels (1991)
Hall of Fame (elected 1991, Minnesota Twins)

Harper, B
---------



Brian David Harper
Born: October 16, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA
C

1979, 1981 Angels, 1982-1984 Pittsburgh, 1985 St Louis, 1986 Detroit, 1987, 1985 Oakland, 1998-1993 Twins, 1994 Milwaukee
Career: .295/.329/.419 63 HR, 428 RBI, 339 R, 931 H, 8 SB

World Series Champion 1991, Twins


Hatcher, M
----------



Michael Vaughn (Mickey) Hatcher
Born: March 15, 1955 in Cleveland, OH
OF

1979-1980, 1987-1990 Dodgers, 1981-1986 Twins
Career: .280/.313/.377 38 HR, 375 RBI, 348 R, 946 H, 11 SB

World Series Champion 1988, Dodgers

Hisle, L
---------


Larry Eugene Hisle
Born: May 5, 1947 in Portsmouth, OH
OF

1968-1971 Philadelphia, 1973-1977 Twins, 1978-1982 Milwaukee
Career: .273/.347./.452 166 HR, 674 RBI, 652 R, 1146 H, 128 SB

Led the AL in RBI in 1977
All Star 1977 (Twins), 1978 (Milwaukee)

Knoblauch, C
------------



Edward Charles (Chuck) Knoblauch
Born: July 7, 1968 in Houston, TX
2B


1991-1997 Twins, 1998-2001 Yankees, 2002 Kansas City
Career: .289/.378/.406 98 HR, 615 RBI, 1132 R, 1839 H, 407 SB

All Star 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 (all with Twins)
Gold Glove 1997
Silver Slugger 1995, 1997
World Series Champion: 1991 (Twins), 1994, 1996, 1997 (Yankees)
Rookie of the Year 1991 (Twins)



Mack, S
---------



Shane Lee Mack
Born: December 7, 1963 in Los Angeles, CA
OF

1987-1988 San Diego, 1990-1994 Twins, 1997 Boston, 1998 Kansas City, 1998 Oakland
Career: .299/.364/.456 80 HR, 398 RBI, 436 R, 853 H, 90 SB

World Series Champion 1991 (Twins)


Mauer, J .
----------



Joseph (Joe) Patrick Mauer
Born: April 19, 1983 in St. Paul, MN
C

2004- Twins
Career: .323/.403/.471 84 HR, 502 RBI, 545 R, 1096 H, 35 SB

Led the AL in Batting Average 2006, 2008, 2009, in OBP in 2009, in Slugging percentage in 2009 and in OPS in 2009
All Star: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
Silver Slugger: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010,
Gold Glove: 2008, 2009, 2010
AL MVP 2009


Molitor, P.
-----------



Paul Leo Molitor
Born: August 22, 1956 in St. Paul, MN
IF/DH

1978-1992 Milwaukee, 1993-1995 Toronto 1996-1998 Twins
Career: .306/.369/.448 234 HR, 1307 RBI, 1782 R, 3319 H, 504 SB

All Star: 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992 (Milwaukee) 1993, 1994 (Toronto)
Silver Slugger 1987, 1988 (Milwaukee) 1993 (Toronto) 1996 (Twins)
World Series Champion 1993 (Toronto)
World Series MVP 1993
Hall of Fame (elected 2004, Milwaukee)
Uniform number 4 retired (Milwaukee 1999)



Oliva, T
---------



Pedro (Tony) Oliva
Born: July 20, 1940 in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba
OF

1962-1976 Twins
Career: .304/.353/.476 220 HR, 947 RBI, 870 R, 1917 H, 86 SB


All Star: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 (Twins)
Gold Glove: 1966
Rookie of the year 1964
Uniform number 6 retired (Twins, 1991)


Puckett, K
-----------



Kirby Puckett
Born: March 14, 1961 in Chicago, IL
Died: March 6, 2006 in Phoenix, AZ
OF

1984-1995 Twins
Career: .318/.360/.477 207 HR, 1085 RBI, 1071 R, 2304 H, 134 SB

Led the AL in Batting Average 1989, in RBI 1994 and in Hits in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
All Star: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
All Star MVP: 1993
Silver Slugger 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994
World Series Champion: 1987, 1991
ALCS MVP: 1991
Roberto Clemente Award: 1996
Hall of Fame (Elected 2001; Minnesota Twins)


Next: On Base Percentage Ranking