History of the Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins, like several other major league baseball teams, did not start out in Minnesota or as the Twins. From 1901 to 1960, they were known as the Washington Senators. They moved to Minneapolis in 1961 and became the Minnesota Twins. They had their most postseasons from 2000 to 2009, and their best season was in 1965, when they had 102 wins and 60 losses.

1901-1909

The Minnesota Twins team was established in 1901, the same year the American League began. The team originated in Washington, D.C., and was named the Senators after a previous Washington team. The Senators started as a terrible team, losing many games every season. Their best season was 1908, when they had 67 wins and 85 losses. The only shining moment in the Senators' first decade was the acquisition in 1907 of young, star pitcher and future Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

The Senators played home games at American League Park from 1901 through 1903. They moved their games to National Park in 1904.

The Senators had five managers in their first ten years. Jim Manning led the team in 1901, followed by Tom Loftus in 1902 and 1903. Patsy Donovan managed for just one season (1904). He was replaced by Jake Stahl who managed in 1905 and 1906. The decade ended with Joe Cantillon managing the team from 1907 through 1909.

1910-1919

The Senators moved to Griffith Stadium in 1911. The move seemed to help the team in 1912, when they finally finished with a strong winning season (91 wins and 61 losses). Clark Griffith was the manager who led them to their first winning season. He continued to manage the Senators through 1920, leading them to additional winning seasons in 1913, 1914, and 1915. Future Hall of Famer Sam Rice joined the team in 1915, and he continued to play with them through 1933.

1920-1929

The Senators had a winning season in 1921, under new manager George McBride. For the next two years, they had a new manager each year (Clyde Milan in 1922 and Donie Bush in 1923) and losing seasons. In 1924, the team had a new owner, former manager Clark Griffith, a new player-manager, Bucky Harris, some good hitters, including future Hall of Famer Goose Goslin, and the 36 year-old Walter Johnson leading the pitching rotation. That year, they defeated the New York Yankees and Babe Ruth to win the American League pennant. They went on to defeat the New York Giants in the World Series.

The Senators again won the American League pennant in 1925 with 96 wins and 55 losses, but they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. Harris continued to manage the team to winning seasons in 1926 and 1927.

After a losing season in 1928, Harris was replaced as manager by Walter Johnson. The Senators had another losing season in 1929.

1930-1939

Walter Johnson led the Senators to winning seasons from 1930-1932. He was replaced as player-manager by future Hall of Famer Joe Cronin, who led the team to 99 wins and 53 losses in 1933. They won the AL pennant but lost the World Series again to the Giants. Another future Hall of Famer, Heinie Manush, was added to the team's roster in 1930.

The Senators had a lossing season in 1934, and the following year, Bucky Harris returned to again manage the team. He led them to a winning season in 1936, but then they went into a downslide and had only losing seasons from 1937 through 1939.

1940-1949

The Senators struggled in the 1940s. They had just two winning seasons (1943 and 1945) and no postseason play. They had three managers - Bucky Harris from 1940 through 1942, Ossie Bluege from 1943 through 1947, and Joe Kuhel in 1948 and 1949.

1950-1959

The 1950s were terrible years for the Senators. Their only winning season was 1952, when they had 78 wins and 76 losses. They brought Harris back to manage the team from 1950 through 1954, but it didn't help the team. Even bringing up rookie Harmon Killebrew in 1954 didn't result in a winning season.

In 1955, Clark Griffith died and his nephew and son took over ownership of the team. For the next five years, the new owners worked on moving the team out of Washington.

1960-1969

In 1960, the Senators' owners finally had the American League's approval to move the team to Minneaopolis-St. Paul, and the Minnesota Twins were born in 1961. The new Twins played their home games at Metropolitan Stadium.

The Twins had a new manager, Sam Mele, in 1962, and he led them to winning seasons in 1962 and 1963. In 1965, after winning 102 games, they won the American League pennant, their first pennant win in 33 years. They lost the World Series, however, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mele led the Twins to another winning season in 1966, and in 1967, he was replaced by Cal Ermer. They again had a winning season in 1967.

In 1969, the Twins became part of the AL West division. That season, under the leadership of new manager Billy Martin and the hitting of Rod Carew, Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew, they had 97 wins and 65 losses. They faced the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Championship series and lost it in three games.

1970-1979

The Twins started the 1970s with a strong season. In 1970, they had 98 wins and 64 losses. They went to the postseason and lost the ALCS to the Orioles. Future Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven was added to the team's roster in 1970.

The Twins' manager in 1970 was Bill Rigney, who led them until 1972, when he was replaced by Frank Quilici. They had losing seasons from 1971 through 1973, but in 1974, Quilici led them to 82 wins and 80 losses. They had another losing season in 1975.

Gene Mauch took over the managerial position in 1976, and he led the Twins to winning seasons in 1976, 1977, and 1979. However, they didn't make it to the postseason in any of those years.

1980-1989

The Twins had a dismal record in the strike shortened 1981 season, finishing with 41 wins to 68 losses. The following year, their home games were moved to the Metrodome. The move didn't help the team and they finished the 1982 season with 60 wins to 102 losses. Their managers during these years were Johnny Goryl (1980-1981) and Billy Gardner (1981-1985).

The owner of the Twins, Calvin Griffith, sold the team to Carl Pohlad in 1984. Before selling the team, however, Griffith had acquired players, including future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, who blossomed under the new ownership. Ray Miller became the new manager of the Twins in 1985, but he was replaced the following year by Tom Kelly.

By 1987, the Twins were on top again, winning the AL West division title and the AL pennant with 85 wins and 77 losses. They defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS and then won their second World Series title by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals. Pitcher Frank Viola was named the World Series MVP in 1987.

The Twins had another good season in 1988, but they didn't advance to the playoffs. That year, Frank Viola won the Cy Young award and he led all major league pitchers in wins.

1990-1999

The Twins finished the 1990 season at the bottom of the AL West division. The following year, they did a surprising turn around and went from last in their division to winning their division title with 95 wins and 67 losses. Manager Tom Kelly was named the AL Manager of the Year in 1991. The Twins won the AL pennant by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS. They then went on to the World Series and won their third title by defeating the Atlanta Braves.

The Twins had a winning season again in 1992, but they didn't make the playoffs. Two years later, in 1994, they were moved to the AL Central division. The move wasn't a good one for the team - they had no winning seasons from 1994 through 2000.

2000-2009

The Twins finally had a winning season in 2001, under the leadership of Tom Kelly. The following year, they hired Ron Gardenhire to manage the team. Under Gardenhire's leadership and new players Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, the Twins had winning seasons from 2001 through 2006, and in 2008 and 2009.

From 2002 through 2009, the Twins dominated the AL Central division. They went to the postseason in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2009. They won the ALDS over the Oakland Athletics in 2002, but they lost the ALCS to the Los Angeles Angels. In the other postseasons, they lost the ALDS each time, losing it three times to the New York Yankees (2003, 2004, 2009) and once to the Athletics (2006).

In addition to Mauer and Morneau having an impact on the Twins, they had a top pitcher in Johan Santana from 2000 through 2007. He won the AL Cy Young award in 2004 and 2006, and the AL Triple Crown in 2006. He led all major league pitchers in wins, ERA, and strikeouts in 2006.

2010-2018

The Twins moved their home games to Target Field in 2010. The new ballpark had a good effect on the team that year. They finished the season with 94 wins and 68 losses, and Gardenhire was named the AL Manager of the Year. They went to the postseason and once again lost the ALDS to the Yankees.

The Twins went in a downslide from 2011 through 2014, finishing in fourth place in the AL Central division in 2013, and in fifth place in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Gardenhire was fired on September 29, 2014, and he was replaced by Paul Molitor.

In his first year as manager, Molitor led the Twins to 83 wins and 79 losses in 2015. They finished in second place in the AL Central division. The following year was another dismal one for the team and their fans. They finished the 2016 season with 59 wins and 103 losses.

The Twins bounced back in 2017, finishing with 85 wins and 77 losses. They finished in second place in their division but they won a Wild Card spot. They lost the Wild Card game to the Yankees.

Molitor led the Twins to 78 wins and 84 losses and a second place finish in the AL Central division in 2018. Even though he had a contract through 2020, he was fired as manager on October 2, 2018, and offered a position in baseball operations for the team. Rocco Baldelli was hired to manage the team in 2019.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Minnesota Twins
Baseball Reference - Minnesota Twins