History of Minnesota Twins in Timeline

The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, competing in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League (AL) Central Division. Their name is derived from the "Twin Cities" of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

1901: Team founded as Washington Senators

In 1901, the team was founded in Washington, D.C., as one of the eight original teams of the American League and was named the Washington Senators.

1904: Team name: Washington Senators

From 1901 to 1904, the team was named the Washington Senators.

1905: Team name: Washington Nationals

From 1905 to 1955, the team was named the Washington Nationals.

1907: Walter Johnson arrived

In 1907, 19-year-old pitcher Walter Johnson arrived, marking the beginning of an improvement in the team's fortunes.

1911: Walter Johnson's 25 victories

In 1911, Walter Johnson blossomed with 25 victories, although the team still finished the season in seventh place.

1912: Improved season and Griffith joined the team

In 1912, the Senators improved dramatically, with their pitching staff leading the league in team earned run average and strikeouts. Johnson won 33 games and Bob Groom added 24 wins. Clark Griffith joined the team.

1913: Johnson posted a career-high 35 victories

In 1913, Walter Johnson posted a career-high 35 victories, and the team finished in second place again.

1920: Griffith became the team's owner

In 1920, Clark Griffith became the owner of the team.

1924: Senators won the American League pennant and the World Series

In 1924, Walter Johnson won 23 games, and the Senators won the American League pennant for the first time. They then faced the New York Giants in the 1924 World Series, winning in the 7th game after multiple errors and a bad hop.

1924: Won World Series as the Senators

In 1924, the Washington Senators won the World Series.

1925: Lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates

In 1925, the Washington Senators repeated as American League champions but lost the World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1927: Walter Johnson retired and became manager

In 1927, Walter Johnson retired as a player and was hired as manager of the Senators.

1930: Team returned to contention

In 1930, after enduring a few losing seasons, the Washington Senators returned to contention.

1933: Senators won the pennant but lost the World Series

In 1933, Senators owner Griffith appointed 26-year-old Joe Cronin as player-manager. The Senators posted a 99–53 record and cruised to the pennant, but lost the World Series to the New York Giants in five games.

1933: Most games won since 1962

The Minnesota Twins won the most games in 1962 since 1933, winning 91 games.

1934: Senators sank to seventh place

In 1934, following the World Series loss, the Washington Senators sank all the way to seventh place and attendance began to fall.

1935: Harris returned as manager

In 1935, Bucky Harris returned as manager of the Washington Senators.

1941: Ted Williams hit .406

In 1977, Carew batted .388, which was the highest in baseball since Boston's Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.

1942: Harris managerial tenure ended

Bucky Harris' first stint as the Washington Senators' manager ended in 1942.

1946: Red Sox won the pennant

In 1967, the Red Sox won both games, seizing their first pennant since 1946.

1946: Mickey Vernon batting champion

Mickey Vernon was batting champion in 1946 while playing for the Washington Senators.

1950: Harris returns as manager

In 1950, Bucky Harris returned for his second stint as manager for Washington.

1953: Mickey Vernon batting champion

Mickey Vernon was batting champion in 1953 while playing for the Washington Senators.

1954: Harris managerial tenure ended, Killebrew signed

In 1954, Bucky Harris' managerial tenure ended, and the Senators signed future Hall of Fame member Harmon Killebrew.

1955: Team name: Washington Nationals

From 1905 to 1955, the team was named the Washington Nationals.

1955: Calvin Griffith took over team presidency

In 1955, after Clark Griffith's death, his nephew and adopted son Calvin took over the team presidency.

1955: Immortalized in Damn Yankees

The Washington Senators' long bouts of mediocrity were immortalized in the 1955 Broadway musical Damn Yankees.

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1956: Team name: Washington Senators

From 1956 to 1960, the team was again named the Washington Senators.

1957: Griffith began courting Minneapolis–St. Paul

By 1957, after flirting with San Francisco, Calvin Griffith began courting Minneapolis–St. Paul, considering a move for the team.

1958: Home attendance increased

In 1958, home attendance in Washington, D.C., steadily increased to 475,288.

1959: Harmon Killebrew led the league with 42 home runs

In 1959, Harmon Killebrew led the league with 42 home runs and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team as the Senators' regular third baseman.

1959: Home attendance jumped

In 1959, home attendance in Washington, D.C., jumped to 615,372.

1960: Team name: Washington Senators

From 1956 to 1960, the team was again named the Washington Senators.

1960: Deal reached for team move and new Senators team

In 1960, a deal was reached allowing Calvin Griffith to move his team to Minneapolis-St. Paul, and a new Senators team to be formed in Washington.

1960: Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles

In 1960, the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles due to poor attendance.

1961: New Senators team formed

In 1960, a deal was reached allowing a new Senators team to be formed in Washington for the 1961 season.

1961: Bob Casey becomes the Twins first public-address announcer

In 1961, Bob Casey became the first public-address announcer for the Minnesota Twins.

1961: Twins arrived in Minnesota

In 1961, the Minnesota Twins arrived in Minnesota with a nucleus of talented players, including Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Camilo Pascual, Zoilo Versalles, Jim Kaat, Earl Battey, and Lenny Green.

1961: Team renamed Minnesota Twins and began playing at Metropolitan Stadium

In 1961, the Washington Senators moved to Minnesota and were renamed the Minnesota Twins. The team began playing at Metropolitan Stadium.

1961: Media nickname for expansion team: Nats

The media often shortened the nickname to "Nats" for the 1961 expansion team.

1962: Discrimination complaint filed against the Twins

In 1962, the Minnesota State Commission on Discrimination filed a complaint against the Twins, due to segregating players during spring training and while traveling in the southern United States.

1962: Twins won 91 games

In 1962, the Minnesota Twins won 91 games, the most by the franchise since 1933.

1964: Tony Oliva won American League batting title

In 1964, Tony Oliva won his first American League batting championship.

1965: Twins won the American League Pennant

In 1965, behind Mudcat Grant, Zoilo Versalles and Tony Oliva, the Twins won 102 games and the American League Pennant, but were defeated in the World Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

1965: Franchise Record Wins

In 1965, the Twins had their franchise record wins

1967: Twins had a shot at the American League championship

Heading into the final weekend of the 1967 season, the Twins, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers all had a shot at clinching the American League championship. The Red Sox won both games, seizing their first pennant since 1946.

August 1969: Billy Martin fight

In August 1969 Billy Martin got into a fight in Detroit with 20-game winner Dave Boswell and outfielder Bob Allison, in an alley outside the Lindell A.C. bar.

1970: Twins won the division again

After winning the division again in 1970, the team entered an eight-year dry spell, finishing around the .500 mark.

1970: Begin dry spell

After winning the division in 1970, the team entered an eight-year dry spell, finishing around the .500 mark.

1971: Tony Oliva won American League batting title

In 1971, Tony Oliva won an American League batting championship.

1974: Killebrew departed

In 1974, Harmon Killebrew departed from the Twins.

1975: Carew won his fourth consecutive AL batting title

In 1975, Rod Carew won his fourth consecutive AL batting title, joining Ty Cobb as the only players to lead the major leagues in batting average for three consecutive seasons.

1976: Munson Wins AL MVP

In 1976, Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees was the last catcher to win an AL MVP award before Iván Rodríguez in 1999.

1977: Carew batted .388 and won AL MVP Award

In 1977, Rod Carew batted .388, the highest in baseball since 1941, and won the AL MVP Award.

1978: Carew won another batting title

In 1978, Rod Carew won another batting title, hitting .333.

1981: Last season at Metropolitan Stadium

In 1981, the Minnesota Twins played their last season at Metropolitan Stadium.

1982: Began playing at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

In 1982, the Minnesota Twins began playing at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

1982: Twins' Struggles and "Twinkies" Nickname Solidified

In 1982, the Twins moved into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and had a poor start, almost becoming the worst team in MLB history, ultimately losing 102 games. During the 1982 season, the Twins' nickname "Twinkies" became well-established.

1984: Griffith Sells Twins to Carl Pohlad

In 1984, Griffith sold the Twins to Carl Pohlad, who promised to keep the club in Minnesota, beating out an offer from Donald Trump.

1985: Metrodome Hosts MLB All-Star Game

In 1985, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

1987: Homer Hanky creation and distribution

In 1987, Terrie Robbins of the Star Tribune created the Homer Hanky, which became a rallying symbol for Twins fans during play-offs and other important games. Over 2.3 million Homer Hankies were distributed that year after an initial giveaway of 60,000.

1987: Twins Win World Series

In 1987, managed by Tom Kelly and led by players like Hrbek and Puckett, the Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and went on to win the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

1987: Won World Series as the Twins

In 1987, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.

1987: New uniforms adopted

In 1987, the Twins adopted new uniforms and replaced the "TC" insignia on their caps with an "M".

1987: World Series Win with Home Field Advantage

In 1987, the Twins won the World Series, aided by the quirks of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and achieving a perfect postseason home record.

1988: Twins Draw Over 3 Million Fans

In 1988, the Twins became the first team in American League history to draw more than 3 million fans.

1989: Puckett Wins Batting Title

In 1989, Kirby Puckett was the A.L. batting champion.

July 17, 1990: Twins Execute Two Triple Plays in One Game

On July 17, 1990, the Minnesota Twins became the only team in major league history to execute two triple plays in the same game.

1991: Won World Series as the Twins

In 1991, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.

1991: World Series Win with Home Field Advantage

In 1991, the Twins won the World Series with strong home-field advantage.

1991: Twins Win World Series After Last Place Finish

In 1991, the Twins, managed by Tom Kelly and with Jack Morris as a key player, won the World Series, marking the first time a team that finished in last place the previous season advanced to the World Series. Chuck Knoblauch was also named A.L. Rookie of the Year in 1991.

1991: Twins Win Memorable 1991 World Series

The 1991 World Series, regarded as a classic, featured multiple games won in the final at-bat and extra innings. The Twins won all home games, mirroring their 1987 performance. Game 6 highlighted Puckett's heroics, while Game 7 was a tense, extra-inning victory for the Twins. Jack Morris pitched ten shutout innings.

1992: Twins Miss Playoffs After Winning Season

In 1992, the Twins had a winning season but failed to reach the playoffs, falling short of Oakland in the division.

1993: Twins Post Losing Record

In 1993, the Twins posted a losing record of 71-91.

1994: Twins Post Losing Record

In 1994, the Twins posted a losing record of 50-63.

1995: Twins Post Losing Record

In 1995, the Twins posted a losing record of 56-88.

1996: Twins Post Losing Record

In 1996, the Twins posted a losing record of 78-84.

1997: Twins Post Losing Record and Potential Sale

In 1997, the Twins posted a losing record of 68-94. Owner Carl Pohlad also considered selling the team to Don Beaver, who planned to move them.

1998: Twins Post Losing Record

In 1998, the Twins posted a losing record of 70-92.

1999: Rodriguez Wins AL MVP

In 1999, Iván Rodríguez won the AL MVP award for the Texas Rangers.

1999: Twins Post Losing Record

In 1999, the Twins posted a losing record of 63-97.

April 3, 2000: Introduction of T.C. Bear

On April 3, 2000, the Minnesota Twins introduced T.C. Bear as their costumed mascot.

2000: Twins Post Losing Record

In 2000, the Twins posted a losing record of 69-93.

2001: Puckett Elected to Hall of Fame

In 2001, Kirby Puckett was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

2001: Diamondbacks Repeat Home Sweep in World Series

In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks repeated the feat of sweeping all four home games in the World Series, previously achieved by the Twins in 1987 and 1991.

2001: Twins Begin Streak of Winning Seasons

In 2001, the Twins started the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota.

2002: Threat of Contraction for Twins

In 2002, the Twins faced potential disbandment due to financial weakness, along with the Montreal Expos, as part of MLB's contraction plans.

2002: Twins Reach ALCS

In 2002, the Twins reached the American League Championship Series but were eliminated by the Anaheim Angels.

2002: ALDS Victory

In 2002, the Twins won the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics

2004: Postseason Losing Streak

In 2004, the Twins extended their postseason losing streak to 16 games.

2004: Playoff Game Losing Streak Ended

In 2004, the Twins longest losing streak in North American sports history began.

2005: Bob Casey passes away

In 2005, Bob Casey, the Twins' first public-address announcer since 1961, passed away.

2005: Nationals name revived

In 2005, the names "Nationals" and "Nats" were revived when the Montreal Expos moved to Washington to become the Nationals.

2005: Barbie Backpack hazing ritual

In 2005, the team's hazing ritual involved the most junior relief pitcher carrying water and snacks to the bullpen in a brightly colored small child's Barbie backpack.

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2006: Legal Battle over Metrodome Lease

In 2006, Twins owner Carl Pohlad pursued litigation and obtained a ruling that the team was not obligated to play in the Metrodome after the 2006 season.

2006: Twins Conclude Streak of Winning Seasons

In 2006, the Twins concluded the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota.

2006: Twins Win Division and Embrace "Little Piranhas" Nickname

In 2006, the Twins won the division on the last day of the season but lost to the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS. The team embraced the nickname "little piranhas," and the front office organized a "Piranha Night". Justin Morneau won the AL MVP, Joe Mauer won the AL batting title, and Johan Santana won the AL Cy Young Award in 2006.

2006: SpongeBob SquarePants Backpack hazing ritual

In 2006, the team's hazing ritual involved the most junior relief pitcher carrying water and snacks to the bullpen in a brightly colored small child's SpongeBob SquarePants backpack.

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April 1, 2007: Death of Herb Carneal

On April 1, 2007, Herb Carneal, the radio voice of the Twins for nearly their entire existence, passed away at his home in Minnetonka after battling several illnesses. He was inducted into the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2007: Potential Move or Disbandment

In 2007, the Twins had the option to move or disband before the season if a new deal was not reached due to the legal ruling regarding their Metrodome lease.

2007: Twins create Twins Radio Network

In 2007, the Twins took the rights to the broadcasts in-house and created the Twins Radio Network (TRN).

2007: Hello Kitty Backpack hazing ritual

In 2007, the team's hazing ritual involved the most junior relief pitcher carrying water and snacks to the bullpen in a brightly colored small child's Hello Kitty backpack.

2008: Twins Lose Tiebreaker Game for AL Central

In 2008, the Twins finished the regular season tied with the White Sox, leading to a one-game playoff in Chicago, which the Twins lost, missing the playoffs.

December 2009: Completion of Target Field Construction

In December 2009, the construction of Target Field was completed, in time for the 2010 season.

2009: Last season at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

In 2009, the Minnesota Twins played their last season at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

2009: Tiebreaker Game Rule Change

In 2009, the rule for determining the location of a tiebreaker game was changed to be based on the head-to-head record instead of a coin flip.

2009: Disney Princess and Tinkerbell Backpack hazing ritual

In 2009, the team's hazing ritual involved the most junior relief pitcher carrying water and snacks to the bullpen in a brightly colored small child's Disney Princess and Tinkerbell backpack.

April 12, 2010: First regular-season game in Target Field

On April 12, 2010, the first regular-season game was played in Target Field against the Boston Red Sox, with Joe Mauer driving in two runs and going 3-for-5 to help the Twins defeat the Red Sox, 5–2.

2010: Inaugural Season at Target Field and Division Title

In 2010, Minnesota played their inaugural season at Target Field, finishing with a 94-68 record and clinching the AL Central Division title. Justin Morneau sustained a season-ending concussion on July 7, 2010. Ron Gardenhire received AL Manager of the Year honors after the season.

2010: "TC" logo reinstated as the main cap logo

In 2010, the "TC" logo was reinstated as the main cap logo for the Minnesota Twins.

2010: Began playing at Target Field

In 2010, the Minnesota Twins began playing at Target Field.

2010: Twins Clinch AL Central Division

In 2010, the Twins clinched the AL Central Division.

2010: Chewbacca and Darth Vader Backpack hazing ritual

In 2010, the team's hazing ritual involved the most junior relief pitcher carrying water and snacks to the bullpen in a brightly colored small child's Chewbacca and Darth Vader backpack.

May 18, 2011: Target Field named "The Best Place To Shop"

On May 18, 2011, Target Field was named "The Best Place To Shop" by Street and Smith's SportsBusiness Journal at the magazine's 2011 Sports Business Awards Ceremony in New York City.

2011: John Gordon retires

Following the 2011 season, John Gordon, the longtime voice of the Minnesota Twins, retired from his role as radio play-by-play announcer.

2012: Cory Provus takes over as radio play-by-play announcer

In 2012, Cory Provus became the radio play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Twins, succeeding John Gordon.

2016: Twins Record Worst Season Since 1982

In 2016, the Twins had their worst season since 1982, losing 103 games.

2017: Twins Make Playoffs After Losing 100 Games Previous Season

In 2017, the Twins finished 85-77, making the playoffs after losing 100 games the previous year, a historic turnaround. They lost to the Yankees in the wild card round.

2018: Twins Season Struggles and Mauer's Return to Catcher

The 2018 season was difficult for the Twins, with injuries to key players and a failure to reach the postseason. Joe Mauer returned to catcher for his final game, ending his career with a double. The team also played a two-game series against the Cleveland Indians in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2018.

September 17, 2019: Twins Set Home Run Record

On September 17, 2019, Miguel Sanó hit a 482-foot home run, making the Twins the first team in major league history to have five players with at least 30 home runs in a season.

2023: Senators/Twins franchise's overall regular-season win–loss–tie record.

From 1901 to 2023, the Senators/Twins franchise's overall regular-season win–loss–tie record is 9,259–9,955–109 (.482).

2023: Twins End Playoff Drought in 2023

In 2023, the Minnesota Twins surged late in the season to take control of the AL Central, ultimately winning their first playoff game since 2004 and their first playoff series since 2002.

August 11, 2024: Permanent display of "W" erected

On August 11, 2024, the Twins elected to erect a permanent display of a "W" as a "reminder of our franchise's legacy as a charter member of the American League", referring to the Washington Senators and their World Series victory in 1924.

October 2024: MLB takes over Twins game production

In October 2024, due to bankruptcy proceedings involving Diamond Sports Group, Major League Baseball's local media division announced it would assume production and distribution of Twins games starting in 2025. The Twins also announced a deal to simulcast ten regular season games on KMSP-TV and Gray Media stations.

2024: City Connect uniform addition

In 2024, the Twins added a City Connect uniform, visually representing the state's nickname of "Land of 10,000 Lakes". The uniform is predominantly sublimated blue with yellow accents and featured the "MN" abbreviation on the left chest, with the yellow four-point star representing the north star.

2024: Cory Provus moves to TV play-by-play

In 2024, the Twins announced that Cory Provus would transition to TV play-by-play after Dick Bremer's retirement, who moved to an advisory role. Atteberry replaced Provus on the radio side.

2024: Twins' regular-season win-loss-tie record.

Through 2024, the Twins' regular-season win-loss-tie record is 5,036–5,091–8 (.497).

2025: Tweaking of City Connect uniform

In 2025, the City Connect uniform was tweaked, replacing the royal blue pants with white pants that featured blue and yellow piping.

2025: Bally Sports North holds television rights

Prior to 2025, Bally Sports North (now FanDuel Sports Network North) held the television rights for the Twins games, with Dick Bremer as the play-by-play announcer and former players Roy Smalley, Justin Morneau, Glen Perkins and LaTroy Hawkins as analysts.

2025: MLB to take over Twins game production and distribution

Starting with the 2025 season, Major League Baseball's local media division would take over the production and distribution of Twins games. The Twins would also announce a deal to simulcast ten regular season games on KMSP-TV and Gray Media stations.