Minnesota Twins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minnesota Twins
2025 Minnesota Twins season
Established in 1901 Based in Minnesota since 1961
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) West Division (1969–1993)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	3 6 7 10 14 28 29 34 36 42
Colors
Red, navy blue, white
Name
Minnesota Twins (1961–present) Washington Senators (1901–1904, 1956–1960) Washington Nationals/Senators (1905–1955)
Other nicknames
Twinkies Nats (1905–1955) Grifs (1912–1920) Little Piranhas (2006) Bomba Squad (2019)
Ballpark
Target Field (2010–present) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982–2009) Metropolitan Stadium (1961–1981) Griffith Stadium (1911–1960) National Park (1904–1910) American League Park (1901–1903) Parade Park (1899) Exposition Park (1894–1900)
Major league titles
World Series titles (3)	1924 1987 1991
AL Pennants (6)	1924 1925 1933 1965 1987 1991
AL West Division titles (4)	1969 1970 1987 1991
AL Central Division titles (9)	2002 2003 2004 2006 2009 2010 2019 2020 2023
Wild card berths (1)	2017
Front office
Principal owner(s)	Pohlad family (Joe Pohlad, chairman)
President of baseball operations	Derek Falvey (Chief Baseball Officer)
General manager	Vacant
Manager	Rocco Baldelli
Mascot(s)	Twinkie (1980–1981) T.C. Bear (2000–present)

The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League's Central Division. The team gets its name from the "Twin Cities" nickname for Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

The team started in Washington, D.C., in 1901 as the Washington Senators. In 1961, the team moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Twins. They played at Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981, and then at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from 1982 to 2009. Since 2010, the Twins have played at Target Field.

The franchise has won the World Series three times: in 1924 as the Senators, and in 1987 and 1991 as the Twins.

Team History: From Washington to Minnesota

The Washington Senators: Early Years (1901–1960)

The team began in Washington, D.C., in 1901. It was one of the first eight teams in the American League. They were called the Washington Senators for many years, though sometimes they were also known as the Washington Nationals. People often called them the "Nats."

For their first ten years, the Senators usually finished near the bottom of the league. Things started to get better when 19-year-old pitcher Walter Johnson joined in 1907. Johnson became a star, winning 25 games in 1911. In 1912, the team improved a lot, with Johnson winning 33 games. The Senators finished in second place that year.

Washington's Bucky Harris scores on his home run in Game 7 of the 1924 World Series.

The team had a great period in the 1920s and 1930s. Walter Johnson was still a key player, along with other future Hall of Famers like Bucky Harris and Goose Goslin. In 1924, Johnson helped the Senators win their first American League pennant. They then played against the New York Giants in the 1924 World Series.

The World Series was very exciting, with many close games. In the deciding Game 7, the Senators were losing 3-1. But in the 8th inning, a ground ball hit a pebble and bounced over the Giants' third baseman, allowing two runs to score and tie the game. Walter Johnson came in to pitch and kept the Giants from scoring. In the 12th inning, a Giants catcher dropped a foul ball, giving the Senators another chance. On the very next pitch, Muddy Ruel hit a double, and then Earl McNeely hit another ground ball that took a strange hop, allowing Ruel to score the winning run! This was the only World Series win for the team while they were in Washington.

They made it to the World Series again in 1925 but lost. In 1933, the Senators won the pennant again but lost the World Series to the Giants. After this, the team struggled for many years. Notable players like Harmon Killebrew joined in 1954, but the team still had losing seasons.

The team's owner, Calvin Griffith, started looking for a new city because of financial reasons. In 1960, Major League Baseball allowed the team to move to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. A new Senators team was then created in Washington for the 1961 season.

The Minnesota Twins: A New Era (1961–Present)

The St. Paul Saints (pictured in 1920) played in Minnesota before the Twins arrived.

When the team moved to Minnesota, they were renamed the Minnesota Twins. They played in Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, a suburb of Minneapolis. The team quickly found success. Stars like Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison were joined by new players like Tony Oliva and Rod Carew. In 1965, the Twins won the American League pennant but lost the World Series.

The name "Twins" comes from "Twin Cities," which is a common nickname for Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The owner wanted to make sure fans in both cities felt included. The team's logo shows two men, one in a Minneapolis Millers uniform and one in a St. Paul Saints uniform, shaking hands across the Mississippi River within the shape of Minnesota. The "TC" (for Twin Cities) logo was on their caps for many years.

Success in the 1960s and 1970s

The Twins were very popular when they arrived in Minnesota in 1961. They had many talented players. In 1962, they won 91 games, their best record since 1933. In 1965, led by Mudcat Grant and Zoilo Versalles, the Twins won 102 games and the American League Pennant. However, they lost the 1965 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 1969, with new manager Billy Martin, the Twins won their first American League Western Division Championship. They had stars like Rod Carew, who stole home seven times, and Harmon Killebrew, who hit 49 home runs and won the AL MVP award. But they lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the playoffs. In 1970, they won the division again but lost to the Orioles once more.

After 1970, the team had a few tougher years. Star player Rod Carew won many batting titles, hitting .388 in 1977, which was the highest in baseball since 1941. He also won the AL MVP award that year.

World Series Wins in the 1980s and 1990s

Interior of the Metrodome.

In 1982, the Twins moved into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. In 1984, Carl Pohlad bought the team, promising to keep them in Minnesota.

The 1987 team, managed by Tom Kelly, was a big success. Key players included Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Frank Viola, and Kirby Puckett. They defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and then won the 1987 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. This was the franchise's second World Series title and first in Minnesota.

The 1991 team also had an amazing season. They went from finishing last in their division the year before to winning the World Series! This was the first time a team had done that. New players like Chuck Knoblauch and Rick Aguilera helped a lot.

President Ronald Reagan congratulates the Twins after their 1987 World Series win.

The 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves is considered one of the best ever. Many games were decided in the final moments or in extra innings. The Twins won all four of their home games in Minnesota. Game 6 was legendary for Kirby Puckett, who made an amazing catch and then hit the game-winning home run in the 11th inning. Game 7 was tied 0-0 after nine innings, going into extra innings. The Twins won in the 10th inning with a hit by Gene Larkin, after pitcher Jack Morris had pitched ten shutout innings.

After 1992, the Twins had several losing seasons. Star player Kirby Puckett had to retire early in 1997 due to vision loss. He was a fantastic player and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

The 2000s and Beyond

Justin Morneau, drafted by the Twins in 1999, won the AL MVP award in 2006.

In the early 2000s, the Twins became very strong, winning their division six times in ten years. In 2001, the team was almost shut down by Major League Baseball due to financial issues, but a court decision kept them playing.

The 2002 team made it to the American League Championship Series. In 2006, the Twins won their division on the last day of the season. This team was nicknamed the "little piranhas" because they were small but tough. That year, Justin Morneau won the AL MVP, Joe Mauer won the AL batting title, and Johan Santana won the AL Cy Young Award (best pitcher).

In 2009, the Twins won a thrilling tie-breaker game to clinch their division. Joe Mauer became only the second catcher in 33 years to win the AL MVP award. However, they lost in the playoffs to the New York Yankees.

Joe Nathan won the Rolaids Relief Man Award in 2009.

In 2010, the Twins moved to their new stadium, Target Field. They won their division again but lost to the Yankees in the playoffs.

Recent Years (2017–Present)

In 2017, the Twins surprised everyone by making the playoffs after losing 100 games the year before. This was a first for any team! They had strong players like Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer.

In 2019, the Twins had an amazing season, winning 101 games and their division. They hit 307 home runs, which was the most in MLB history for a single season! This powerful team earned the nickname the Bomba Squad. However, they lost in the playoffs to the New York Yankees.

In 2023, the Twins won their division again. They broke a long playoff losing streak by winning their first playoff game since 2004. They then won their first playoff series since 2002, beating the Toronto Blue Jays!

Target Field: The Twins' Home

Target Field in 2010.

The Twins argued that their old stadium, the Metrodome, was outdated and made it hard to compete financially. After years of discussion, a new outdoor stadium, Target Field, was built in downtown Minneapolis. It cost over $544 million and was completed in 2009. The Twins signed a 30-year lease, meaning they will stay in Minnesota for a long time.

Target Field is considered one of the best sports stadiums in North America. It hosted the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2014.

Team Uniforms

Current Uniforms (2023–Present)

Since 2023, the Twins have new uniforms.

• Home White: Features an updated "Twins" logo in red with navy numbers. The Minnesota state map with a red star (for the Twin Cities) is on the left sleeve. The cap is all-navy with a "TC" logo.
• Road Gray: Has "MINNESOTA" in navy with red numbers and navy pinstripes. The Minnesota map is also on the left sleeve. The cap is all-navy with a white "M" and a red star.
• Alternate Navy: Worn at home or on the road, with "MINNESOTA" in white and red numbers. The "TC" logo is on the left sleeve.
• Alternate Home Cream: Features a "Twin Cities" logo in navy. It has two crossed navy flags representing Minneapolis and St. Paul.
• City Connect (2024): This special blue uniform represents Minnesota's "Land of 10,000 Lakes" nickname. It has "MN" on the chest and a loon (Minnesota's state bird) on the sleeve.

Past Uniforms

The Twins have had many different looks over the years.

• From 1961 to 1971, they wore classic white pinstriped home uniforms and gray road uniforms with "Twins" in navy outlined in red. Their caps had the interlocking "TC" logo.
• In 1973, they switched to pullover uniforms, including a light blue road uniform.
• In 1987, they updated their look, bringing back pinstripes for home games and using a stylized "M" on their caps for road games. The "TC" logo moved to the sleeve.
• They also had red and navy alternate uniforms at different times.
• In 2010, when they moved to Target Field, they updated their road uniforms with a new "Minnesota" script.
• From 2015 to 2022, their home uniforms featured a "Twins" script with Kasota gold accents. They also had a red alternate uniform with a "TC" logo on the chest.
• In 2020, they brought back a throwback light blue uniform, inspired by their 1970s road uniforms.

Classic Twins uniforms

Harmon Killebrew wearing the Twins' 1961–1971 home uniform.

Orlando Cabrera wearing a throwback version of the Twins' 1972 home uniform.

Albert Williams wearing the Twins' 1973–1986 home uniform.

Rod Carew wearing the Twins' 1973–1986 powder blue road uniform.

Kent Hrbek wearing the Twins' 1987–2015 home uniform with the navy "M" cap.

Francisco Liriano wearing the Twins' 1987–2015 home uniform with the navy "TC" cap.

Phil Nevin wearing the Twins' 1987–2009 road uniform with the navy "M" cap.

Scott Baker wearing the Twins' 1997–2009 road navy alternate uniform with the navy "M" cap.

Jeff Gray wearing the Twins' 1998–2013 home navy alternate uniform with the navy "M" cap.

Jason Kubel wearing the Twins' 2006–2010 home sleeveless alternate uniform.

Brian Dozier wearing the Twins' 2010–2018 home throwback alternate uniform.

Kyle Gibson wearing the Twins' 2015–2022 home uniform.

Eddie Rosario wearing the Twins' 2010–2022 road uniform.

Jake Odorizzi wearing the Twins' 2010–2022 road navy alternate uniform.

Michael Pineda wearing the Twins' 2019–2022 home navy alternate uniform with special Independence Day-themed red cap and navy bill.

Twins players wearing the 2016–2022 home red alternate uniform with alternate red cap and navy bill.

Team Achievements and Honors

Baseball Hall of Fame Members

Many great players who played for the Twins or Senators are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Some players, like Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield, were from St. Paul and played for the Twins later in their careers. They are in the Hall of Fame mostly for their time with other teams.

Twins Hall of Fame

The Minnesota Twins also have their own Hall of Fame to honor important players and staff.

Key

Year	Year inducted
Bold	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Twin
Bold	Recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award

Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame
Year	No.	Name	Position(s)	Tenure
2000	3	Harmon Killebrew	1B	1961–74
	29	Rod Carew	2B	1967–78
	6	Tony Oliva	RF/DH	1962–76
	14	Kent Hrbek	1B	1981–94
	34	Kirby Puckett	CF	1984–95
	—	Calvin Griffith	President and Owner	1961–84
2001	—	Herb Carneal	Radio Broadcaster	1962–2007
	36	Jim Kaat	P	1961–73
2002	28	Bert Blyleven	P	1970–76 1985–88
	10	Tom Kelly	Manager	1986–2001
2003	4	Bob Allison	OF	1961–70
	—	Bob Casey	Public Address Announcer	1961–2004
2004	10	Earl Battey	C	1961–67
2005	16	Frank Viola	P	1982–89
	—	Carl Pohlad	Owner	1984–2009
2006	2	Zoilo Versalles	SS	1961–67
2007	8	Gary Gaetti	3B	1981–90
	—	Jim Rantz	Director of Minor Leagues	1986–2012
2008	38	Rick Aguilera	P	1989–95 1996–99
2009	22, 23, 59	Brad Radke	P	1995–2006
	—	George Brophy	Front office executive	1961–85
2010	7	Greg Gagne	SS	1983–92
2011	31	Jim Perry	P	1963–72
2012	17	Camilo Pascual	P	1961–66
2013	18	Eddie Guardado	P	1993–2003, 2008
	—	Tom Mee	Media Relations Director	1961–91
2016	—	John Gordon	Radio Broadcaster	1987–2011
	48	Torii Hunter	CF/RF	1997–2007, 2015
2017	5	Michael Cuddyer	RF	2001–11
	—	Andy MacPhail	General Manager	1985–94
2018	57	Johan Santana	P	2000–2007
2019	36	Joe Nathan	P	2004–2009, 2011
	—	Jerry Bell	President	1987–2002
2020	33	Justin Morneau	1B	2003–2013
2022	35	Ron Gardenhire	Coach/Manager	1991–2001 2002–2014
	32	Dan Gladden	LF	1987–1991
	12	César Tovar	IF/OF	1965–1972
2023	7	Joe Mauer	C/1B	2004–2018
2024		Terry Ryan	GM	1994–2007, 2011–2016
	43	Rick Stelmaszek	Coach	1981–2012

Retired Numbers: Honoring Legends

Banners and retired numbers displayed in the Metrodome.

The Twins honor their greatest players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again. These numbers are displayed at Target Field.

The retired numbers are:

• 3 – Harmon Killebrew
• 6 – Tony Oliva
• 7 – Joe Mauer
• 10 – Tom Kelly (Manager)
• 14 – Kent Hrbek
• 28 – Bert Blyleven
• 29 – Rod Carew
• 34 – Kirby Puckett
• 36 – Jim Kaat
• 42 – Jackie Robinson (retired by all of Major League Baseball)

Target Field retired number signs in 2010.

At Target Field, some of the stadium gates are named after these retired numbers, like Gate No. 3 for Killebrew and Gate No. 34 for Puckett.

Team Traditions and Fun Facts

• Homer Hanky: During playoffs and big games, fans wave a special towel called a Homer Hanky to cheer on the team. This tradition started in 1987.
• Clubhouse Fun: After a win, the Twins' clubhouse is known for being a party! Players often play loud rock music and video games.
• Rookie Hazing: The team has some funny traditions for new players. For example, the newest relief pitcher might have to carry water and snacks to the bullpen in a silly backpack, like a SpongeBob SquarePants or Hello Kitty backpack!
• T.C. Bear: The Twins' mascot, T.C. Bear, was introduced in 2000. He's a big, friendly bear who entertains fans.

Images for kids

• 

  President Calvin Coolidge (left) and Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson (right) shake hands following the Senators' 1924 championship.

• 

  Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, 1964.

• 

  Miguel Sanó, infielder (2015–2022).

• 

  Rod Carew.

• 

  Harmon Killebrew.

• 

  Joe Mauer.

• 

  Tony Oliva.

• 

  Kirby Puckett.

• 

  Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven played 11 seasons for the Twins.

See also

In Spanish: Minnesota Twins para niños