Paul Leo Molitor,nicknamed "Molly" and "the Ignitor",is an American former professional baseball player and manager. During his 21-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB),he played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1978–1992),Toronto Blue Jays (1993–1995),and Minnesota Twins (1996–1998). He was known for his exceptional hitting and speed. He made seven All-Star Game appearances,and was the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1993. Molitor currently ranks tenth on the all-time MLB career hits list with 3,319. He is one of only five players in history with 3,000+ hits,a lifetime .300+ batting average,and 500+ career stolen bases.
James Edward Rice is an American former professional baseball left fielder and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). Rice played his entire 16-year MLB career for the Boston Red Sox. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Carl Michael Yastrzemski Sr.,nicknamed "Yaz",is an American former professional baseball player who played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He started his career primarily as a left fielder,but also played 33 games as a third baseman. Later in his career,he was mainly a first baseman and designated hitter.
Torii Kedar Hunter is an American former professional baseball center fielder and right fielder. Hunter currently serves as Special Assistant to Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,and Detroit Tigers from 1997 through 2015. Hunter was a five-time All-Star,won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as a center fielder,and was a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Roger Eugene Maris was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is best known for setting a new MLB single-season home run record with 61 home runs in 1961.
Harmon Clayton Killebrew Jr.,nicknamed "the Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon",was an American professional baseball first baseman,third baseman,and left fielder. He spent most of his 22-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Minnesota Twins. A prolific power hitter,Killebrew had the fifth-most home runs in major league history at the time of his retirement. He was second only to Babe Ruth in American League (AL) home runs,and was the AL career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter. Killebrew was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.
Frank Edward Thomas Jr.,nicknamed "the Big Hurt," is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for three American League (AL) teams from 1990 to 2008,all but the last three years with the Chicago White Sox. A five-time All-Star,he is the only player in major league history to have seven consecutive seasons (1991–1997) with at least a .300 batting average,100 runs batted in (RBI),100 runs scored,100 walks,and 20 home runs. Thomas also won the AL batting title in 1997 with a .347 mark. Thomas is a two-time AL MVP and won a World Series in 2005 although he was injured during the regular season and World Series. Thomas is widely considered one of the greatest right handed hitters in MLB history.
Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1976 to 1989. He is the father of pitcher Tony Armas Jr. and the older brother of outfielder Marcos Armas.
Saturnino Orestes "Minnie" Armas Arrieta Miñoso,nicknamed "the Cuban Comet",was a Cuban professional baseball player. He began his baseball career in the Negro leagues in 1946 and became an All-Star third baseman with the New York Cubans. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB) after the 1948 season as baseball's color line fell. Miñoso went on to become an All-Star left fielder with the Indians and Chicago White Sox. The first Afro-Latino in the major leagues and the first black player in White Sox history,as a 1951 rookie he was one of the first Latin Americans to play in an MLB All-Star Game.
Aloysius Harry Simmons was an American professional baseball outfielder who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Bucketfoot Al",he had his best years with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the late 1920s and early 1930s,winning two World Series with the team. Simmons also played for the Chicago White Sox,Detroit Tigers,Washington Senators,Boston Bees,Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. After his playing career ended,Simmons served as a coach for the Athletics and Cleveland Indians. A career .334 hitter,Simmons was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953.
César Leonardo Tovar,nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility",was a Venezuelan professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 to 1976,most notably as the leadoff hitter for the Minnesota Twins teams that won two consecutive American League Western Division titles in 1969 and 1970. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies,Texas Rangers,Oakland Athletics,and New York Yankees.
Dwight Michael "Dewey" Evans is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox (1972–1990) and Baltimore Orioles (1991) in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a three-time All-Star,won eight Gold Glove Awards,and won two Silver Slugger Awards. Evans played the second-most career games for the Red Sox of any player,surpassed only by Carl Yastrzemski.
Jimmie Randolph Hall is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played eight seasons in the big leagues. A two-time All-Star,Hall made his debut with the Minnesota Twins (1963–66),followed by stints with the California Angels (1967–68),Cleveland Indians (1968–69),New York Yankees (1969),Chicago Cubs (1969–70) and Atlanta Braves (1970).
Kent Alan Hrbek,nicknamed "Herbie",is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 14-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins (1981–1994). Hrbek batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He hit the first home run in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on April 3,1982,in an exhibition game against the Phillies. Fans knew Hrbek as an outstanding defensive player,perennial slugger,and charismatic hometown favorite. Former Twins pitcher Jim Kaat considered Hrbek to be the best defensive first baseman he had ever seen,despite him never winning a Gold Glove at the position.
James Evan Perry Jr. is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1959 to 1975 for the Cleveland Indians,Minnesota Twins,Detroit Tigers,and Oakland Athletics. During a 17-year baseball career,Perry compiled 215 wins,1,576 strikeouts,and a 3.45 earned run average. He won the Cy Young Award in 1970 and was a three-time MLB All-Star. He and his younger brother Gaylord Perry,who were Cleveland teammates in 1974–1975,became the first brothers to both win 200 games in the major leagues,and remain the only brothers to both win Cy Young Awards.
Zoilo Casanova Versalles Rodriguez,nicknamed "Zorro",was a Cuban professional baseball player. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball,most notably for the Minnesota Twins/Washington Senators. He was the catalyst who led the 1965 Twins to their first World Series after moving from Washington to Minnesota. The same year he also won the American League Most Valuable Player award.
Larry Eugene Hisle is an American former professional baseball player and hitting coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies (1968–71),Minnesota Twins (1973–77),and Milwaukee Brewers (1978–82). A two-time All-Star,he was the 1977 American League (AL) RBI champion. As a coach,Hisle was a member of two World Series-winning teams for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Smead Powell Jolley was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played from 1922 to 1941,including four seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1930 to 1933. Jolley was considered a good hitter. His poor fielding kept him from having a longer major league career,but he spent eight seasons in the Pacific Coast League (PCL),the top minor league of that era. In 1928,he won the PCL Triple Crown. He was inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2003.
After winning 91 games the previous two seasons,the 1964 Minnesota Twins slumped to 79–83,a disappointing tie for sixth with the Cleveland Indians in the American League,20 games behind the AL champion New York Yankees.
The 1971 Minnesota Twins finished 74–86,fifth in the American League West. 940,858 fans attended Twins games,the fifth-highest total in the American League,the first time the Twins failed to attract over one million fans since moving to Minnesota.
