Nostalgia - Which Twins players do you miss the most?

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Reading some articles lately about previous Twins players got me thinking... which Twins players do I miss the most?

I am not talking stats or performance (who doesn't want a prime Mauer, Puckett, or Carew in the lineup), I am talking about the players themselves.  Guys that had an impact on the Twins and Minnesota in general.  For me, there are a couple of names that jump out:

Jim Thome - How can you not love this guy?  At the age he was playing for the Twins, the amount of hours he put into his body just to be able to swing the bat every day.  The calmness and leadership he brought to the team.  Leader in every sense of the word.

Mickey Hatcher - The Mick.  Trying to catch the dropped ball that went up through the Metrodome ceiling?  Seeing him climb up into the stands after the last game of the season, basically stripping down to his underwear, giving everything to the fans, then sitting down and having a beer with them.  Looked and acted like a total goofball.  Pretty par for MN.  The levity he would bring today would be fantastic.

Kent Hrbek - Easy choice here, but for me not as much for on field accomplishments.  A Minnesota Blue Blood, this guy once threatened to to quit baseball to become a masked wrestler under the name "Tyrannosaurus Rex".  Kirby Puckett once sponsored a slow pitch softball team, Puckett and Hrbek would just show up at the diamond unannounced to watch them play. Turning down a huge (at that time) contract from the Tigers to stay in Minnesota.   You don't see this type of player-fan relationships anymore...

I would be interested to hear about who you miss and why.  Let's have it!

[Squirrel]

Eddie and Eduardo! ❤️ them both, still!

[August J Gloop]

Yes to above. I also miss:

Jake Odorizzi's mild irritation at everything in interviews.  

Ervin Santana's sense of smell. 

Phil Hughes' k/bb ratio. 

That insane video when Hansel Robles would come into a game. 

and of course that I never got to see Sergio Romo's entrance live. 

[MABB1959]

• The whole 87 loveable team.
• Kirby and his personality
• Torii - Personality
• AJ - Fire
• All the Eddies - Loved playing the game and personality
• Berrios - Intensity
•  

[Nine of twelve]

Kirby, before his retinal vascular occlusion. That had a devastating effect on his life and who he was. So sad. An example I can think of: the Orioles were in town, and Kirby walks up to Cal Ripken, Jr. and asks, "Hey, man, you playing today?"

[CRF]

"Bombo" Rivera. 

[I wish the twins were good]

[Vanimal46]

Was he the most talented? Nope. But he gave it his all every game. Punto was a meme at times for sliding head first into first base. He was also one of the leading Phiranas in 2006 and was a plus defender at several positions. 

[Vanimal46]

13 minutes ago, I wish the twins were good said:

The best pitcher I’ve ever seen wear a Twins uniform. 

[wsnydes]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Was he the most talented? Nope. But he gave it his all every game. Punto was a meme at times for sliding head first into first base. He was also one of the leading Phiranas in 2006 and was a plus defender at several positions. 

I caught a foul ball off of his bat.  I always appreciated his effort and scrappiness.  And the foul ball.

[wsnydes]

I miss Kirby and Torii.  For me, as a former centerfielder, it's a beautiful thing to watch elite centerfielders roam their territory.  

[cjj td]

How about a Jacque Jones smile?...  And a lead off bomb.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

3 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Reading some articles lately about previous Twins players got me thinking... which Twins players do I miss the most?

I am not talking stats or performance (who doesn't want a prime Mauer, Puckett, or Carew in the lineup), I am talking about the players themselves.  Guys that had an impact on the Twins and Minnesota in general.  For me, there are a couple of names that jump out:

Jim Thome - How can you not love this guy?  At the age he was playing for the Twins, the amount of hours he put into his body just to be able to swing the bat every day.  The calmness and leadership he brought to the team.  Leader in every sense of the word.

Mickey Hatcher - The Mick.  Trying to catch the dropped ball that went up through the Metrodome ceiling?  Seeing him climb up into the stands after the last game of the season, basically stripping down to his underwear, giving everything to the fans, then sitting down and having a beer with them.  Looked and acted like a total goofball.  Pretty par for MN.  The levity he would bring today would be fantastic.

Kent Hrbek - Easy choice here, but for me not as much for on field accomplishments.  A Minnesota Blue Blood, this guy once threatened to to quit baseball to become a masked wrestler under the name "Tyrannosaurus Rex".  Kirby Puckett once sponsored a slow pitch softball team, Puckett and Hrbek would just show up at the diamond unannounced to watch them play. Turning down a huge (at that time) contract from the Tigers to stay in Minnesota.   You don't see this type of player-fan relationships anymore...

I would be interested to hear about who you miss and why.  Let's have it!

Hrbek is mine too, additional, his All Star boycott. Great reputation as a human, he was great at the Winter Meltdown, funny, goofy, opinionated, without being a jerk.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

40 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Was he the most talented? Nope. But he gave it his all every game. Punto was a meme at times for sliding head first into first base. He was also one of the leading Phiranas in 2006 and was a plus defender at several positions. 

And subject of maybe the single greatest piece of writing ever scrawled upon a screen.

https://www.twinkietown.com/2013/1/4/3833034/an-oral-history-of-nick-punto-sliding-headfirst-into-first-base

GET MONEY!

[big dog]

Gaetti was a real down-to-earth guy, I enjoyed him. Two great quotes:

late in 1985, bunch of young players who had a shot a the division but lost too many games late. He had a key error, someone asked about it, and he said "It's hard to throw to first with both hands around your throat."

I also remember his pre-arbitration days and reporters asking about salaries. He said something along the lines of it was hard to have a gym membership and come to spring training in shape when you had to spend the winter backing groceries to put food on the table. I'm sure Calvin loved that one.

[cjj td]

4 minutes ago, big dog said:

Gaetti was a real down-to-earth guy, I enjoyed him. Two great quotes:

late in 1985, bunch of young players who had a shot a the division but lost too many games late. He had a key error, someone asked about it, and he said "It's hard to throw to first with both hands around your throat."

I also remember his pre-arbitration days and reporters asking about salaries. He said something along the lines of it was hard to have a gym membership and come to spring training in shape when you had to spend the winter backing groceries to put food on the table. I'm sure Calvin loved that one.

The Gary Gaetti Cült of 514 Cottonwood, Grand Forks, ND, USA, Earth (angelfire.com)

 

Must visit site for any Gary Gaetti worshipers.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

2 hours ago, cjj td said:

How about a Jacque Jones smile?...  And a lead off bomb.

SOUL PATROL!  SOUL PATROL!

[lecroy24fan]

Joe Nathan

Randy Bush

Denny Hocking

Ron Coomer

Matthew LeCroy

Trevor Plouffe

[a-wan]

Shannon Stewart and his beyond statistical analysis leadership. Or Joe Mays and his super sinker. 

Honestly, pre-Tommy John surgery Liriano, in his prime Johan were awesome to watch.

[AZTwin]

Henry Blanco

[nclahammer]

Eddie...Eddie...Eddie Rosario.   Madening at times to watch, head-scratching at times on the base paths, but I enjoyed his zest for the game.

[big dog]

16 hours ago, cjj td said:

The Gary Gaetti Cült of 514 Cottonwood, Grand Forks, ND, USA, Earth (angelfire.com)

 

Must visit site for any Gary Gaetti worshipers.

Okay, that's a PFA way to start my day. Thanks.

[Doctor Wu]

20 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Reading some articles lately about previous Twins players got me thinking... which Twins players do I miss the most?

I am not talking stats or performance (who doesn't want a prime Mauer, Puckett, or Carew in the lineup), I am talking about the players themselves.  Guys that had an impact on the Twins and Minnesota in general.  For me, there are a couple of names that jump out:

Jim Thome - How can you not love this guy?  At the age he was playing for the Twins, the amount of hours he put into his body just to be able to swing the bat every day.  The calmness and leadership he brought to the team.  Leader in every sense of the word.

Mickey Hatcher - The Mick.  Trying to catch the dropped ball that went up through the Metrodome ceiling?  Seeing him climb up into the stands after the last game of the season, basically stripping down to his underwear, giving everything to the fans, then sitting down and having a beer with them.  Looked and acted like a total goofball.  Pretty par for MN.  The levity he would bring today would be fantastic.

Kent Hrbek - Easy choice here, but for me not as much for on field accomplishments.  A Minnesota Blue Blood, this guy once threatened to to quit baseball to become a masked wrestler under the name "Tyrannosaurus Rex".  Kirby Puckett once sponsored a slow pitch softball team, Puckett and Hrbek would just show up at the diamond unannounced to watch them play. Turning down a huge (at that time) contract from the Tigers to stay in Minnesota.   You don't see this type of player-fan relationships anymore...

I would be interested to hear about who you miss and why.  Let's have it!

Amen to Mickey Hatcher! He was one of my favorite Twins back in the day. 

[Brad.dahlen]

Being 26 years old I have some 2000s guys I miss. Lew Ford, Cuddyer, Dozier, Kubel, Thome, Denard Span, Luis Rivas, Alexi Casilla, Carlos Gomez. Ahhh, the under appreciated Twins of my youth.

[Joey Self]

Luis Arraez.  Seeing him the last couple of nights in a Marlins uniform has been painful. 

JcS

[Doctor Wu]

Going back to 1987, I really loved watching Juan Berenguer coming in to pitch in the late innings. 

I was also a Ron Washington fan. Very underrated utility player. And yes, he ended up being a darn good coach and manager too.

In recent years, I admit to being a Willians Astudillo fan. I loved his energy and enthusiasm, and the way he would chug around the bases. 

[GKuehl]

Michael Cuddyer tops my list. It’s also nice having Morneau on the broadcasts, one of my all-time favorite Twins. 

[Puckett34]

Liriano (pre-TJ)

Mauer

Morneau

Santana

Nathan

Thome

Sano (the good one, 2017 or 2019 versions)

Radke

Cuddyer

Punto

SPAN

Kubel

BOOF

Neshek

 

Why yes, I was in college in 2006-2010.  Why do you ask?

 

[Craig Arko]

Tony, the Killer, and Carew.

[TopGunn#22]

Tony Oliva.  I was always on high alert whenever he was hitting.  Coiled energy ready to explode.

Caesar Tovar.  Just loved the way he played.

Greg Gagne.  Loved watching him play SS and seeing him run the bases with his long strides.

Lyman Bostock.  A Twin for too short of a time.

Johan Santana.  He was a masterful pitcher.  In today's baseball of maximum effort and high velocity he would still thrive because he knew how to "pitch."

Harmon Killebrew.  For a man that was just 5:10 he looked 6:10 when he stepped in the batters box.

The 2019 version of Max Kepler.  

Joe Nathan.  "Game Over."  

Great topic!!