The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball team located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the American League Central Division. The team's name, the Twins, comes from the "Twin Cities" nickname for the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. They were founded in 1901 as the Washington Senators (or Nationals) and played in Washington D.C. until 1960 before relocating to Minnesota for the 1961 season. Their current home stadium is Target Field, which opened in 2010. The team has won three World Series Championships in 1924 (as the Washington Senators), 1987, and 1991.
1901: Franchise Founded
In 1901, the franchise that would eventually become the Minnesota Twins was founded in Washington, D.C., as the Washington Senators.
1901: Team Founded
The Washington Senators were founded in 1901 as one of the American League's original teams.
1904: Name Change
The team's official name changed from Washington Senators to Washington Nationals in 1904
1905: Name Change
The Washington Nationals was the official name beginning in 1905.
1907: Walter Johnson Arrives
Nineteen-year-old pitcher Walter Johnson joined the Washington Senators in 1907.
1911: Johnson's Breakout Season
Walter Johnson had a breakout season in 1911, securing 25 victories.
1912: Senators Improve, Griffith Joins
The Senators significantly improved in 1912, finishing second in the league. Clark Griffith also joined the team that year and would later become the team's owner.
1913: Johnson's Career-High Wins
Walter Johnson achieved a career-high of 35 victories in 1913.
1920: Griffith Becomes Owner
Clark Griffith became the owner of the Washington Senators in 1920.
1924: World Series Victory
In 1924, the Senators won their first and only World Series title while in Washington, D.C., defeating the New York Giants in a dramatic seven-game series.
1924: First World Series Championship
The franchise won its first World Series title in 1924 as the Washington Senators.
1925: World Series Loss
The Washington Senators lost the 1925 World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1927: Johnson Retires and Becomes Manager
Walter Johnson retired from playing and became manager of the Senators in 1927.
1930: Return to Contention
The Senators returned to contention status in 1930 after some losing seasons.
1933: American League Pennant and World Series Loss
The Senators won the American League pennant in 1933 under player-manager Joe Cronin but lost the World Series to the New York Giants.
1934: Decline and Falling Attendance
The Senators finished seventh in 1934, leading to a decline in attendance.
1935: Harris Returns as Manager
Bucky Harris returned as manager of the Senators in 1935.
1942: Harris's First Stint as Manager Ends
Bucky Harris's first tenure as Senators manager ended in 1942.
1946: Vernon's Batting Title
Mickey Vernon won the American League batting title in 1946 while playing for the Senators.
1950: Harris Returns as Manager Again
Bucky Harris came back for a second stint as manager of the Senators in 1950.
1953: Vernon's Second Batting Title
Mickey Vernon won his second American League batting title in 1953.
1954: Killebrew Joins Senators
Harmon Killebrew signed with the Washington Senators in 1954.
1955: Griffith's Death and Stadium Sale
Following Clark Griffith's death in 1955, his nephew Calvin inherited the team and sold Griffith Stadium to the city of Washington while leasing it back, fueling relocation rumors.
1955: Damn Yankees Musical
In 1955, the Broadway musical "Damn Yankees" premiered, which highlighted the Washington Senators' history of mediocrity.
1955: Name Change
The team officially became known as the Washington Senators again in 1955.
1957: Relocation Talks Begin
Calvin Griffith began exploring relocation options for the Senators in 1957, initially considering San Francisco before focusing on Minneapolis-St. Paul.
1958: Increased Attendance
Home attendance in Washington D.C. continued to rise in 1958, reaching 475,288.
1959: Attendance Jump
Attendance for the Senators significantly increased to 615,372 in 1959.
1959: Killebrew's Breakout Season
Harmon Killebrew led the league with 42 home runs in 1959, earning him a spot on the American League All-Star team.
1960: Relocation Approved
In 1960, Major League Baseball approved the relocation of the Washington Senators to Minneapolis-St. Paul, paving the way for a new Senators team to be established in Washington.
1960: Minnesota Twins Naming and Insignia
In 1960, the Minnesota Twins baseball team name and insignia were chosen. Team owner Calvin Griffith opted for "Twins" to represent both Minneapolis and St. Paul, avoiding favoritism. The logo depicted two players shaking hands across the Mississippi River. The "TC" insignia for Twin Cities appeared on their caps.
1960: End of Washington Senators Era
The original Washington Senators era came to a close in 1960.
1961: Move to Minnesota and New Senators Team
The Washington Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, becoming the Minnesota Twins. A new Washington Senators team was also created.
1961: Minnesota Twins Debut
The Minnesota Twins made their debut in 1961 with a strong roster of players, including Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Camilo Pascual, Zoilo Versalles, Jim Kaat, Earl Battey, and Lenny Green.
1961: Twins Move to Minnesota
The Twins moved from Washington to Minnesota in 1961.
1961: Twins Broadcasting Begins
The Twins' initial radio broadcast team in 1961 consisted of Ray Scott, Halsey Hall, and Bob Wolff, with Herb Carneal replacing Wolff after the first season. WCCO was the original flagship station and Hamm's Brewing Company sponsored the broadcasts.
1961: Move to Minnesota
In 1961, the Washington Senators moved to Minnesota and were renamed the Minnesota Twins.
1961: Original "Minnie and Paul" Uniforms Debut
From 1961 to 1971, the Twins wore uniforms with the "Minnie and Paul" logo, featuring a classic "Twins" script and navy caps with an interlocking "TC" logo.
1961: Bob Casey Becomes PA Announcer
Bob Casey became the Twins' first public address announcer in 1961.
1961: New Washington Senators
A new Washington Senators team was formed in 1961, after the original team moved to Minnesota.
1962: Discrimination Complaint
In 1962, the Minnesota State Commission on Discrimination filed a complaint against the Twins for segregating players during spring training and Southern U.S. travel. They were the only MLB team still doing this at the time.
1962: Tony Oliva Debut and Team's Improvement
Tony Oliva debuted in the major leagues in 1962. The Twins won 91 games that year, the most since 1933.
1964: Oliva's Batting Championship
Tony Oliva won his first American League batting championship in 1964.
1965: Twins Win AL Pennant
In 1965, the Twins won 102 games and the American League Pennant, led by Mudcat Grant, Zoilo Versalles (AL MVP), and Tony Oliva (batting title). However, they lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1965: American League Pennant
The Minnesota Twins won the American League pennant in 1965.
1967: Close Pennant Race and Carew's Rookie of the Year Award
The 1967 season ended with a close pennant race between the Twins, Red Sox, White Sox, and Tigers. The Red Sox won, while Rod Carew was named AL Rookie of the Year.
August 1969: Martin's Aggressive Style and Fight
In August 1969, manager Billy Martin encouraged aggressive base running, with Rod Carew stealing home seven times. However, Martin was later fired, partly due to a fight with Dave Boswell and Bob Allison.
1970: Start of a Dry Spell
After winning the division in 1970, the Twins began an eight-year period without a division title, hovering around .500.
1970: Twins Win AL West, Lose ALCS
Bill Rigney managed the Twins to the AL West title in 1970, led by Jim Perry (AL Cy Young Award winner). However, they were swept by the Orioles in the ALCS.
1971: Oliva's Third Batting Championship
Tony Oliva won his third American League batting championship in 1971.
1972: Twins Update Uniforms
The Twins updated their uniforms in 1972, reversing the color scheme and removing pinstripes from the home uniform. An updated "Minnie and Paul" roundel was also introduced.
1973: Twins Switch to Pullover Uniforms
In 1973, the Twins adopted polyester pullover uniforms, including a powder blue road uniform and a navy-brimmed red cap.
1974: Killebrew's Departure
Harmon Killebrew left the Twins after the 1974 season.
1975: Carew's Batting Title Streak
In 1975, Rod Carew won his fourth straight AL batting title, matching Ty Cobb's record of three consecutive major league batting titles.
1976: Thurman Munson Wins AL MVP
Thurman Munson won the AL MVP Award for the New York Yankees in 1976.
1977: Carew's MVP Season and High Batting Average
Rod Carew achieved a .388 batting average in 1977, the highest since Ted Williams' .406 in 1941, and won the AL MVP Award.
1978: Carew's Final Batting Title with the Twins
Rod Carew won his final batting title with the Twins in 1978, hitting .333, before being traded.
1981: End of Metropolitan Stadium Era
The Minnesota Twins played their last season in Metropolitan Stadium in 1981.
1982: Move to the Metrodome and a Difficult Season
In 1982, the Twins moved to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. They had a challenging season, finishing with a 102–60 record, the second-worst in Twins history at the time.
1982: Start of Metrodome Era
The Twins began playing their games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in 1982.
1984: Twins Sold to Carl Pohlad
In 1984, Calvin Griffith sold the Twins to Carl Pohlad, who outbid Donald Trump and promised to keep the team in Minnesota.
1984: End of Griffith Family Ownership
The Griffith family's ownership of the Senators franchise ended in 1984.
1985: All-Star Game at the Metrodome
The Metrodome hosted the 1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
1987: World Series Victory
The Twins, led by players like Hrbek, Gaetti, Viola, Blyleven, Reardon, Brunansky, Gladden, and Puckett, won the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987.
1987: Second World Series Championship
The Minnesota Twins won their first World Series championship in 1987.
1987: 1987 World Series
The Minnesota Twins won the 1987 World Series, winning all four of their home games in the series.
1987: Carew's Number Retired
Rod Carew's number 29 was retired by the Twins in 1987.
1987: Homer Hanky Introduced
The Homer Hanky, a fan tradition, was introduced in 1987 by Terrie Robbins of the Star Tribune.
1987: Twins World Series Victory
In 1987, the Twins won the World Series, leveraging the unique features of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to their advantage. They were one of the first teams to sweep all four home games of a World Series.
1987: Twins Update Uniform
In 1987, the Twins updated their uniforms, bringing back pinstripes for their home uniforms and featuring a stylized "M" on their caps.
1987: Twins Cap Insignia Change
In 1987, feeling sufficiently established, the Twins replaced the "TC" on their caps with an "M". The "TC" was moved to the jersey sleeve, sometimes used as an alternate cap design.
1988: High Attendance Record
The 1988 Twins were the first AL team to draw over 3 million fans. Frank Viola also won the AL Cy Young Award.
1989: Puckett's Batting Title
Kirby Puckett won the American League batting title in 1989.
July 17, 1990: Two Triple Plays in One Game
On July 17, 1990, the Twins became the only MLB team to turn two triple plays in a single game.
1991: Oliva's Number Retired
Tony Oliva's number 6 was retired by the Twins in 1991.
1991: Third World Series Championship
The Twins won their second World Series title in Minnesota in 1991.
1991: 1991 World Series
The Minnesota Twins won the 1991 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, a series known for its dramatic finishes. Four games were won in the final at-bat, three of which went into extra innings.
1991: Second World Series Championship at the Metrodome
The Twins won their second World Series title in 1991, again sweeping all four home games at the Metrodome.
1991: World Series Victory and Last-to-First Feat
In 1991, the Twins won the World Series against the Atlanta Braves. Both teams achieved the rare feat of going from last place to the World Series in consecutive seasons.
1991: Morris's World Series Performance
Jack Morris pitched a complete-game shutout for the Twins in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.
1992: Twins Fall Short
In 1992, the Twins had a winning season but did not win their division, beginning a streak of losing seasons.
1993: Losing Streak Begins
The Twins began a streak of losing seasons in 1993, finishing with a 71-91 record.
1994: Losing Streak Continues
The Twins continued their losing streak in 1994, impacted by retirements and injuries, finishing 50-63.
1995: Hrbek's Number Retired
Kent Hrbek's number 14 was retired by the Twins in 1995.
1995: Losing Streak Continues
The Twins losing streak extended into 1995, finishing 56-88.
1996: Losing Streak Continues
The Twins losing streak persisted in 1996, with a 78-84 record.
April 15, 1997: Jackie Robinson's Number Retired by MLB
Jackie Robinson's number 42 was retired by Major League Baseball on April 15, 1997.
May 23, 1997: Twins Honor Jackie Robinson
The Twins formally honored Jackie Robinson's retired number 42 on May 23, 1997.
1997: Losing Streak Continues, Near Relocation
In 1997, the Twins continued their losing streak (68-94) and nearly relocated to North Carolina.
1997: Twins Introduce Alternate Uniforms
The Twins introduced red and navy alternate uniforms for a few games during the 1997 season.
1997: Puckett's Number Retired
Kirby Puckett's number 34 was retired in 1997.
1997: Player Names Added to Home Uniform
In 1997, player names were added to the Twins' home uniforms.
1998: Losing Streak Continues
The Twins continued their string of losing seasons in 1998, finishing 70-92.
1999: Ivan Rodriguez Wins AL MVP
Ivan Rodriguez won the AL MVP award in 1999, playing for the Texas Rangers.
1999: Losing Streak Continues
The Twins had a losing record again in 1999, finishing 63-97.
April 3, 2000: T.C. Bear Introduced
The Twins introduced their mascot, T.C. Bear, on April 3, 2000.
2000: End of Losing Streak
The Twins ended their streak of losing seasons in 2000 with a 69-93 record.
2001: Puckett's Hall of Fame Induction
Kirby Puckett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.
2001: Twins Winning Streak Begins
The Twins started their longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota in 2001.
2002: Near Disbandment of the Twins
In 2002, Major League Baseball considered disbanding the Twins and the Montreal Expos due to financial difficulties.
2002: Twins Bring Back "TC" Cap
In 2002, the Twins reintroduced the "TC" cap as their home cap and moved the "M" cap to road games. They also replaced the "TC" insignia on the left sleeve with the "Minnie and Paul" logo.
2002: Twins ALCS Appearance
The Minnesota Twins reached the American League Championship Series in 2002 but lost to the Anaheim Angels.
2004: Twins Break Playoff Losing Streak
In 2023, the Twins broke their 18-game playoff losing streak, the longest in North American sports history, which dated back to 2004.
2005: Bob Casey's Death
Bob Casey, the Twins' first PA announcer, passed away in 2005.
2005: Hazing Rituals
In 2005, the Twins' hazing tradition involved the junior relief pitcher carrying supplies in a Barbie backpack.
2005: Nationals Name Revived
The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington, D.C., and adopted the name "Nationals" in 2005.
2006: Hazing Rituals
The junior relief pitcher carried a SpongeBob SquarePants backpack as part of the hazing tradition in 2006.
2006: Twins Winning Streak Ends
The Twins ended their longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota in 2006.
2006: Twins Introduce Sleeveless Uniforms
The Twins wore a sleeveless variation of their regular home uniforms with navy undershirts in 2006.
2006: Twins Win Division, "Little Piranhas" Era
In 2006, the Twins won the AL Central division on the last day of the regular season, earning the nickname "Little Piranhas." They also had the AL MVP (Justin Morneau), batting champion (Joe Mauer), and Cy Young Award winner (Johan Santana).
April 1, 2007: Herb Carneal's Death
Herb Carneal, the longtime voice of the Twins, passed away on April 1, 2007, after a period of illness.
2007: Hazing Rituals
A Hello Kitty backpack was used in the hazing ritual in 2007.
2007: Twins Radio Network Creation
In 2007, the Twins established their own radio network, TRN, and partnered with KSTP (AM 1500) as the flagship station, replacing WCCO.
2008: One-Game Playoff Loss
The Twins finished the 2008 season tied with the White Sox, losing a one-game playoff to determine the division champion.
December 2009: Target Field Completed
Target Field was completed in December 2009, paving the way for the Twins' 2010 season.
2009: Hazing Rituals
The hazing ritual in 2009 featured Disney Princess and Tinkerbell backpacks.
2009: Tiebreaker Rule Change
The rule for tiebreaker game locations was changed in 2009.
2009: End of Metrodome Era
In 2009, the Twins played their final season at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
2009: Road Navy Alternate Uniform Retired
The Twins retired their road navy alternate uniform in 2009.
2009: Twins wear throwback 1973-1986 home uniform.
In 2009, the Twins wore a buttoned version of their 1973–86 home uniforms.
2009: Treasure Island Sponsorship
In 2009, Treasure Island Resort & Casino became the first naming rights partner for the Twins Radio Network.
April 12, 2010: First Game at Target Field
The Twins played their first regular season game at Target Field on April 12, 2010, defeating the Boston Red Sox, 5-2.
2010: Hazing Rituals
Chewbacca and Darth Vader backpacks were part of the hazing tradition in 2010.
2010: Twins Inaugural Season at Target Field
In 2010, the Twins played their first season at Target Field, winning the AL Central but losing to the Yankees in the ALDS. Ron Gardenhire won AL Manager of the Year.
2010: Reinstatement of the "TC" Logo
In 2010, the Twins reinstated the "TC" logo as the primary cap insignia, alongside the "Minnie & Paul" logo.
2010: Twins Modify Road Uniforms
In 2010, upon moving to Target Field, the Twins updated their road uniforms with a new "Minnesota" script and updated their navy alternate road uniforms. The pinstriped home uniforms remained unchanged.
2010: Target Field Opens
The Minnesota Twins began playing their home games at Target Field in 2010.
2010: "M" Cap Retired
The Twins retired the "M" cap after the 2010 season, though it continued to be worn as a throwback on special occasions.
2010: Sleeveless Uniform Retired and Throwback Introduced
The Twins retired their sleeveless home uniforms in 2010 and introduced throwback off-white uniforms from 1961-1971.
May 18, 2011: Target Field Accolades
Target Field received accolades on May 18, 2011, being named "The Best Place To Shop" by SportsBusiness Journal and "The Best Sports Stadium in North America" by ESPN The Magazine.
2011: John Gordon's Retirement
Longtime Twins announcer John Gordon retired in 2011.
2012: Cory Provus Becomes Play-by-Play Announcer
Cory Provus took over as the Twins' radio play-by-play announcer in 2012, succeeding John Gordon.
2013: Twins Move to FM Radio
In 2013, the Twins transitioned to FM radio, broadcasting on KTWN-FM 96.3 K-Twin, owned by the Pohlad family.
2013: Home Navy Alternate Uniform Retired
The Twins retired their home navy alternate uniform after the 2013 season.
2014: All-Star Game at Target Field
Target Field hosted the 85th Major League Baseball All-Star Game and Home Run Derby in 2014.
2014: Knoblauch's Hall of Fame Induction Cancelled
Chuck Knoblauch's induction into the Twins Hall of Fame was cancelled in 2014 due to his legal troubles.
2015: Twins Change Home Uniform
The Twins updated their home uniform in 2015 with a modern "Twins" script, Kasota gold drop shadows, and an updated "Minnie and Paul" logo on the left sleeve.
2016: Worst Season in Twins History
In 2016, the Twins lost 103 games which was the most lost of all seasons in Twins history.
2017: Return to WCCO
The Twins announced in 2017 that they would return to WCCO as their flagship radio station in 2018, after an 11-year hiatus.
2017: Playoff Appearance After 100-Loss Season
The Twins made the playoffs in 2017 after losing 100 games the previous year, becoming the first team to do so. They lost to the Yankees in the Wild Card round.
2018: Joe Mauer's Final Game
In 2018, the Twins missed the postseason. Joe Mauer played his final game, returning to his original position of catcher. Paul Molitor was fired as manager after the season.
2018: Throwback Uniform Retired
The Twins retired their throwback off-white 1961-71 uniforms after the 2018 season.
2018: Return to WCCO
The Twins' broadcasting returned to its original flagship station, WCCO, in 2018.
September 17, 2019: Miguel Sanó's Record Home Run
On September 17, 2019, Miguel Sanó hit a 482-foot home run, a feat that made the Twins the first team in MLB history to have five players with at least 30 home runs each in a single season.
2019: New Home Navy Alternate Uniform Released
In 2019, the Twins released a new home navy alternate uniform featuring the classic "Twins" script and gold-trimmed details.
2020: Removal of Calvin Griffith Statue
In 2020, a statue of former owner Calvin Griffith was removed from Target Plaza due to his history of racist comments.
2023: Twins Uniform Overhaul
The Minnesota Twins drastically overhauled their uniforms in 2023, adding a Minnesota state map with a red star on the left sleeve.
October 2024: MLB Takes Over Broadcasts
In October 2024, MLB announced it would assume control of the Twins' game broadcasts starting in 2025 due to Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy.
November 19, 2024: Roster Update
On November 19, 2024, the Twins updated their roster, coaches, and NRIs.
2024: Broadcasting Changes
In 2024, Cory Provus transitioned to TV play-by-play following Dick Bremer's retirement, and Atteberry replaced Provus on the radio.
2024: City Connect Uniform Introduced
In 2024, the Twins introduced a City Connect uniform inspired by Minnesota's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes," featuring a predominantly blue design with yellow accents and a loon on the sleeve patch.
2025: Bally Sports North Loses Rights
Bally Sports North, with Dick Bremer as play-by-play and analysts including Roy Smalley, Justin Morneau, Glen Perkins, and LaTroy Hawkins, ceased broadcasting Twins games before the 2025 season.
2025: MLB Takes Over Broadcasts
MLB began producing and distributing Twins games in 2025.