Who is your favorite Twins player of all time?

[TwinsFanz]

Let’s hear your thoughts.

I’ll go first: Torii Hunter

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, TwinsFanz said:

Let’s hear your thoughts.

I’ll go first: Torii Hunter

Welcome to TD!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Kent Hrbek. I acknowledge that in other threads of this nature, I held my Puckett stance. Puckett did fan my flames of Twins-fandom, but Hrbek lit them. After our last meltdown event, getting to hear him in person, and his legacy only being strengthened with time, Hrbek was, and is, awesome!

[In My La Z boy]

Rod Carew. We all tried to get in the Rodney batting stance in 3rd grade, which was my banner year in baseball. Our little league in St. Paul, circa 1973 featured Joe Magrane on the mound (former Cardinal) - of course I was at 2B. We had one other pitcher who rotated with Magrane. When one pitched the other caught. Joe caught with his own glove because our catching mitts were right-handed. I remember my finest play of the season was catching a flamethrower from Magrane behind the plate to throw out a runner at 2nd. My Dad ended up following his career after sitting in the stands with Joe's parents all year. He still talks about it to this day. It wasn't hard to tell at 9 years old Magrane was going pro someday. Easily 3 times as good as any kid in our little league. I don't remember him ever giving up a hit. 

[gman]

Killebrew

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just like everyone else my age, Kirby. 

[Squirrel]

I can't choose just one ... I really can't ... Killebrew ... but there is always a place in my heart for Eddie Rosario ❤️

[tony&rodney]

Tony O

 

[Nine of twelve]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Just like everyone else my age, Kirby. 

I'm significantly older than you; even so it's Kirby for me as well. And this also makes him my favorite baseball player of all time.

[Brock Beauchamp]

31 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

I'm significantly older than you; even so it's Kirby for me as well. And this also makes him my favorite baseball player of all time.

Kirby is probably my favorite baseball player of all time but honestly, I’m not positive he beats Rickey out for that top honor. Damn, I loved watching that guy. Just unbelievable. 

[USAFChief]

There have been many, but if forced to name just one, Kirby. 

[cHawk]

Kirby Puckett

[GNess]

Kirby Puckett w/ honorable mention to Tony Olivia and Harmon KIllebrew

[dxpavelka]

3

[Linus]

3.
Honorable mention to 6, 34 and 7. 

[DocBauer]

I want to say Puckett. I loved what he did on the field and his smile and love for the game and the energy he played with. I listened to his debut on the radio and have loved Kirby since day one.

But there is just something about Hrbek, the local kid who did good, the outstanding 1B who never got the love he deserved for his defense, or his consistency, who ALWAYS produced in a quiet way that makes him my all time favorite. 

FWIW, Puckett is a super close #2 with Hunter and Cuddyer tied for #3.

[Mai.K]

Brad Radke

[Greglw3]

Easily Rod Carew, who in my opinion is one of the few greatest pure hitters of all time. His 1970s run had him dominating his peers with the .350, .359, .333, .364 and .388 batting averages. He won the 1977 batting title over his teammate Lyman Bostock by 52 points. Stole as many as 49 bases in a season and stole home 7 times in one season. He was IMO also the best bunter in Twins history. He might be the only player since divisional play started to win the MVP award on a 4th place team.

[theBOMisthebomb]

The greatest Twins player is also my favorite - Kirby Puckett. Closely followed by Kent Hrbek and then Brian Dozier. 

[nclahammer]

Since it said "player" as in singular, I would go with #29 Rod Carew.   I imitated his batting stance as a kid, complete with a big ole cheek full of bazooka bubble gum.  I think, like a lot of baseball fans, your "favorite" Twins players tends to shift or go in cycles as the team roster does.   I later became a huge Tom Brunansky fan, Herbie & Puckett, and most recently Eddie Rosario.    Of those on the current team, Byron Buxton is exciting to watch and probably my fave, although I have a good feeling about Alex Kirilloff.

[Major League Ready]

No love for Johan?  He was not around as long but he was fun to watch.  Puck and Hunter for me among position players.

[Longdistancetwins]

Too many (as been named), but since Tony-O was my first love, and is still very much with us, I’ll stick with that.  

[big dog]

There was a brief moment in time when my favorite Twins player currently on the team was Bobby Randall. Those were dark, dark times. All-time, Kirby, Carew, Hrbek, with Buxton closing fast.

I remember standing screaming in my apartment in California after Herbie took Ken Dayley deep in '87, What an incredible moment. Definitely topped by "And we'll see you tomorrow night!" four years later.

I too did the Carew batting stance. Didn't work as well for me, but I felt pretty cool.

[ashbury]

Hrbek's a guilty pleasure, and is my first instinctive answer as he was emblematic of the spirit of his teams, but the big goofy galoot is difficult to justify to anyone outside of the circle of Twins fans who read this.

Kirby would be an easy choice for me, above Kent, except for what came out after his career ended.  For me, that counts, for a ranking so lofty.  I ... just... can't.

The big stars who predated my arrival in the Twin Cities in 1978 just aren't eligible for my personal vote.

I think, so far, Byron Buxton's career has been easy to root for, and I don't hold his injuries against him, so I think he's my answer.

[Longdistancetwins]

21 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Hrbek's a guilty pleasure, and is my first instinctive answer as he was emblematic of the spirit of his teams, but the big goofy galoot is difficult to justify to anyone outside of the circle of Twins fans who read this.

Perfect.  Who can say this any better?

[Longdistancetwins]

2 hours ago, big dog said:

There was a brief moment in time when my favorite Twins player currently on the team was Bobby Randall. Those were dark, dark times. All-time, Kirby, Carew, Hrbek, with Buxton closing fast.

I remember standing screaming in my apartment in California after Herbie took Ken Dayley deep in '87,

Glad to know someone else appreciated Bobby Randall…

I saw Hrbie’s grand slam in a NYC bar while waving a greasy paper napkin as my homer hanky.  It left me speechless.  As I walked home to my apartment after the game, I was listening to Jim Kaat on a national radio broadcast.  He called it “the greatest moment in the history of the Minnesota Twins.”  I had to agree, and thought, “Who better to comment on that than Kitty?”

[flpmagikat]

Santana and Rosario. I got into the Twins when my family moved here in the early 2000's, and Santana was a big part of the reason why. 

Then following the team and system pretty regularly for years after that, Rosario was the prospect I was most excited by. His first pitch HR ?‍? *chefs kiss*

[lecroy24fan]

Easily Kent Hrbek for me. Grew up wanting to follow in his footsteps as a left handed power hitting 1B growing up close to the stadium. Too bad I had the athleticism of a sloth.

[TheLeviathan]

It's Kirby, Radke, Johan, and Knobby.  Probably in that order and pretty close together.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

My favorite Twin is Mark Davidson, since he was from my hometown in Statesville, NC and we worked out at a gym at the same time early in the mornings during the winter of 1986-87.  I was thrilled when Mark made the team that spring as the 4th outfielder. In July or August I flew to Minneapolis to visit Mark and to watch the Twins. I sat with beautiful Linda Davidson, who was then Mark's fiancé. One night I ate the best steak I had ever eaten, but I don't remember where we were. Things had gotten a little fuzzy for me due to my new best friend, Wally the Beer Man, who kept coming to my seat at the Metrodome to visit with me and give me another cold frosty beer. After one of the games Mark introduced me to Harmon, who later that night autographed my baseball glove in a hotel hall way as he and I and some other Twins fans were sitting on the hallway floor eating pizza. If I'm lying, I'm dying. Mark also introduced me to Tony O, who Mark called "Chico".   It was the weekend of the Equitable Old Timers Game. I got to see a lot of my  favorite retired Twins players in the game.   Later  Mark introduced me to some of his Twins friends. If all of this that I had told you weres not enough, the mighty Oakland A's came to town that weekend, tied with the Twins for first place. The Metrodome was jam packed for all 4 games with the A's and the Dome was  rocking. The noise was deafening and my ears were ringing.  I Seem to remember a "noise meter" which the crowd loved to see the noise level rise on the noise meter. Every time Jose Canseco would swing and miss or take a strike, I would yell at the top of my voice: "Jose can you see?" I thought it was funny, but my buddy who had flown from North Carolina with me. told me to stop yelling that because I was embarrassing him. Mrs. Greg Gagne sat beside us and Mrs. Kirby Puckett was in the row in front of us.  The mighty Oakland A's left Minneapolis  4 days later, 4 games behind the first place Minnesota Twins.  The Twins had won every game. This probably will qualify as the best weekend of my life. Thank you, Mark Davidson.