Article: My Twins Mt. Rushmore

[biggentleben]

I'm not going to dog the writer of the post for his choices or anything, but I equate "Mount Rushmore" lists with YOLO or planking - fads that should just stop. Baseball's played with 9 players, so a fun exercise would be the best starting nine for the team in its history. Football definitely doesn't work, but there's plenty on Twitter on that as well. Basketball is the one where a lot of this mess started, but it also has 5 players on the court, so really, the argument should be whether Russell or Chaimberlain is best, or if a modern center like David Robinson or Shaq could lay claim to the title. These things are Bleacher Report quality discussions, which is fodder for the KFAN and STrib boards, hopefully not here!

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Maybe instead of retiring numbers they could just carve faces into the limestone?

 

... Maybe not.

 

I think the people worth consideration for a Twins Mt. Rushmore have to be:

 

Killebrew

Puckett

Carew

Tony O

Walter Johnson

Tom Kelly

The Metrodome's Right Field Baggy (kidding ?)

 

The only thing keeping Mauer from my personal list is that he is still active. The not-quite-there guys would be all the Twins' own hall of famers like Hrbek, Blyleven, etc. etc.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Here is my Mount Leathermore:

 

Greg Gagne, Torii Hunter, Dougie Mientkiewicz, and... wait for it.. little Nickie P..

[macmic]

Yep. Mauer HAS to be on this list. He has a slightly higher WAR than Oliva in 4-5 less seasons. He played catcher and did it at a high level. Their adjusted OPS+ is almost identical (133 to 135).

 

It's unfortunate that Oliva's career was derailed by injury but Mauer is the better player, period.

 

Mauer has a long way to go. His lifetime BA is good, but he's one of the worst clutch hitters around.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Mauer has a long way to go. His lifetime BA is good, but he's one of the worst clutch hitters around.

 

Second verse, same as the first. 188th verse... same as the first.

 

Joe Mauer has a career .933 OPS with runners in scoring position. Joe's overall career OPS is .870.

[tobi0040]

The tough thing is only 4... and I agree with Brandon wholeheartedly. Go figure!

 

I'd say Carew and Oliva were similar-type players, so you might have to make a tough choice there. I'd go with Sir Rodney. Opens up a spot for a pitcher, and I'm partial to a guy named Walter. Otherwise, Kitty Kaat comes to mind, Mudcat, Bert, Sweet Music, Reardon, Radke (?) Johan, The Gambler (just checkin'), Eddie (?), Rick Reed (checkin' again), Nathan...

 

With the All-Star game coming, I think you're ahead of the curve... I expect all-time Sens/Twins lists to start popping up around then- hope so, anyway.

With a full roster to play with, you'd have a chance to really flesh things out... 25 or 40-man rosters... could be fun.

 

Sam Rice!

 

If Mudcat, Bert, or Viola were here longer than they would have a shot. Same with Johan (he would have needed more longevity anyway). I think you go Puck, Carew, Killebrew, and Mauer.

[SwainZag]

Mauer has a long way to go. His lifetime BA is good, but he's one of the worst clutch hitters around.

 

This urban legend just won't die.

[Brock Beauchamp]

If Mudcat, Bert, or Viola were here longer than they would have a shot. Same with Johan (he would have needed more longevity anyway). I think you go Puck, Carew, Killebrew, and Mauer.

 

This would be my group as well. If we're including Senators, I'd bump Mauer for Johnson with the expectation that Mauer might someday replace Carew.

[Steven Buhr]

For me, if you don't have Killebrew, Oliva and Puckett, don't bother with the monument at all.

 

I'd say, start chiseling their likenesses in to the mountain and we'll decide on the 4th face when you have those three done. I'd imagine that face would eventually be Mauer, but I wouldn't commit until he's much closer to the end of his career.

 

Guys like Carew and Blyleven are certainly worthy, but my preference would be to limit the list to those who spent pretty much their entire careers (or at least entire productive careers) with the Twins. That's also a reason I would hold off on Mauer, for a bit.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Guys like Carew and Blyleven are certainly worthy, but my preference would be to limit the list to those who spent pretty much their entire careers (or at least entire productive careers) with the Twins. That's also a reason I would hold off on Mauer, for a bit.

 

Mauer is signed through his age 36 season and has a no-trade clause. I think it's a given that he's going to spend the vast majority of his career playing for the Twins.

 

Besides, Oliva only really spent 13 seasons with the Twins. Mauer is already in his 11th season with the team.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

If Mudcat, Bert, or Viola were here longer than they would have a shot. Same with Johan (he would have needed more longevity anyway). I think you go Puck, Carew, Killebrew, and Mauer.

 

This is why we also need a Mound Rushmore.. mine would have Kaat, Viola, Radke, Nathan. No substitutions, sorry Johan, sorry Aggie.

[Halsey Hall]

I too would go with the original four.