Your Vote Counts: Choose the 2025 Twins Hall of Fame Hitters

[Matthew Lenz]

The Minnesota Twins recently announced their Hall of Fame ballot for the 2025 class, and fans have until December 17th at 11:59 pm CDT to vote for up to five of the candidates. Let’s take a look at the hitting candidates on the ballot to help in your decision making!

Image courtesy of Left: © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images; Middle: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images; Right: © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

It’s been 25 years since the first Twins Hall of Fame class and recognizes “uniform personnel who have made significant contributions to the franchise and game of baseball across the Upper Midwest.” A 70-member committee conducts the vote and is made up of local and national baseball writers, Twins broadcasters, living members of the Twins Hall of Fame, local broadcasting affiliates, select Twins front office personnel, and the fans. 

The ballot consists of 15 players (eight pitchers and seven hitters) ranging from the 1960’s to the 2010’s. This article will provide a glimpse into the statistics and accomplishments each hitter made as a member of the Twins. Yesterday, we similarly covered the pitchers on the ballot. Without further ado, let’s get to know the hitting nominees for the 2025 Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame class.

Tom Brunansky (1982 - 1988)
Tom Brunansky had a very good seven year career with the Twins that saw him earn an All-Star nod in 1985, and he was a key contributor to the 1987 World Series team. He also is the only Twins player to hit an inside-the-park Grand Slam. Following his playing career, he spent six seasons in the organization as a hitting coach, including four at the big-league level.

Cristian Guzmán (1999 - 2004)
You’ll find the late 90s - early 2000s Twins represented very well on this ballot. Cristian Guzmán, the bionic speedster, was one of the most important players responsible for keeping the Twins in Minnesota. The Twins first winning season in nearly a decade, Guzmán earned an All-Star nod and garnered MVP votes in 2001. Moreover, he was the starting shortstop in each of the back-to-back-to-back AL Central Division championship teams from 2002-2004. He also has the Twins record for most career triples with 20. Lastly, his “Get To Know ‘Em” commercial is one of the best Twins commercials ever.

Brian Harper (1988 - 1993)
After spending the first five years of his career bouncing around with eight teams, Brian Harper found a home with the Minnesota Twins. Harper was a very good catcher for the Twins and was a member of the 1991 World Series team.

Jacque Jones (1999 - 2005)
Another key player to keeping the Twins in Minnesota, Jacque Jones was a sweet swinging lefty that also helped the Twins win those three consecutive division titles. While he never made an All-Star team, he was particularly great in 2002 hitting 27 home runs, driving in 85 runs, and scoring 96 runs with an .852 OPS. 

Corey Koskie (1998 - 2004)
Sticking with the same team, Corey Koskie was maybe the most important player in 2001. His .850 OPS, 26 HRs, 103 RBIs, and phenomenal defense garnered him a single MVP vote. He also added 27 stolen bases and is the only Twins player in history to have more than 25 home runs and stolen bases in a single season. After his career was shortened by concussions, he's stayed around the Twin Cities coaching his kids, helping with Minnesota MASH, and playing a little town ball.

Shane Mack (1990 - 1994)
Shane Mack might be the most underrated player in Twins' history and is arguably the best left fielder the organization has had. That might speak to the history of the position more than the contributions of Mack, but he had a very good five years with the Twins. He was a key contributor to the 1991 World Series team and had an even better season in 1992, finishing fifth in the American League in batting average (.315) and seventh in runs scored (101).

Roy Smalley (1967 - 1982, 1985 - 1987)
Roy Smalley spent 10 seasons with the Twins across two different stints, including his final season where he helped the team win the 1987 World Series. He was a very good contributor for the Twins, but his banner year was 1979 where he earned an All-Star nod and MVP votes. He played in all 162 games that year and produced a .794 OPS, 24 home runs, 94 runs scored, and 95 runs batted in. After his playing career, he's spent 22 years in the Twins broadcast booth and serves as President on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit organization Pitch In For Basebal

So who have you got? You're encouraged to vote for up to five players by December 17th at 11:59pm CDT. I’ve re-linked the resources below:
2025 Twins Hall of Fame Ballot: Pitchers
2025 Twins Hall of Fame Ballot

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Which players will be getting your vote? Join the conversation in the comments!

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[jmlease1]

1. Mack
2. Koskie
3. Smalley
4. Brunansky

I wouldn't add any of the others to the Twins Hall. All were fine players and did some good things for the Twins, but they're not Twins Hall of Fame worthy, IMHO. But if I had to rank the remainder:

1. Harper
2. Guzman
3. Jones

People forget just how great Mack was. And it certainly wasn't his fault the '94 season got cut short by greed. Because he was a late breakout, also can't blame him for going to Japan to get paid. But he was pretty great as a Twin.

[TopGunn#22]

Mack is my only "hitter" vote.  I'm adding Boswell, Chance, Reardon and Worthington for pitchers.  

[DocBauer]

Smaller should have already been in, IMO.

I've got to say yes to Bruno.

I think Koskie's 6 years and some great numbers should be in as well.

Mack was phenomenal with the Twins. Did he do it long enough to warrant HOF status is my question?

I'd probably stop there, but there are arguements to be made for the rest.

[Doctor Gast]

For me hitter is much more difficult to choose. 1st I'd limit it to WS winners, still that list would be Harper, Mack, Brunasky, & Smalley. Brunasky sticks out more, Harper to hit like that as a catcher. Mack was the best pure hitter but it's between Brunasky & Smalley who I think they'll choose being linked to the Twins longer.

[bean5302]

20 WAR in a Twins uniform. That's my bar for HoF. Smalley and Coskie are the only ones who make the list here. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

Hard choices. Who do you leave out? But I will go with Mack and Harper as top choices. Both gave us nothing but positives as Twins. But I will also add Smalley. He was solid for us on some mediocre to poor Twins teams. But lastly he got us Gagne in trade. Granted that is off the field but it's a plus for him. Tough to leave Bruno out.

[Seth Stohs]

It's inexplicable to me that Roy Smalley isn't in there already... since he's the best SS in team history. 

Without the stats for each player it's really hard to make a case for them. 

Koskie was about OBP/OPS. 
Brunansky had a ton of homers. 
Guzman had the one All-Star season. 
Mack put up crazy numbers for 5 years. 
Harper wasn't good defensively, but he hit .300 a ton and rarely struck out (or walked). 

[Russ]

Almost need decade categories.  A lot of players are over looked or forgotten for what they brought to the Twins.

[Rufus]

Halsey Hall

[CoachDW]

Chuck Knoblauch deserves to be in the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the field. After leaving the Twins he used HGH and was arrested for assault, two terrible black marks on his character and career, but these occurred well after he left Minnesota. In a Twins uniform he was a dynamic player whose Twins career deserves induction. He was actually elected to the Twins Hall back in 2014 but after the arrest for assault his enshrinement was cancelled. Chuck Knoblauch was not a Hall of Fame human being after leaving Minnesota, but he was a Hall of Fame Minnesota Twin baseball player. It is sad his accomplishments will never get the official recognition they deserve.    

[Met Stadium Usher]

Holy Cow, I find it incomprehensible that Halsey Hall isn't in.

If it were up to me, I'd have a statue of him at the ballpark, holding a microphone in one hand and a cheroot in the other. He should have been inducted in the inaugural year. 

A famous quote about him is from the time he accidentally set his sports coat on fire with a cigar during a broadcast. Afterwards it was said, "Halsey's the only man I know who can turn a sports coat into a blazer." The source of that quip has been disputed over the years.

For those that came a little too late to enjoy his broadcasts, he was the grandfatherly/favorite uncle personality to enjoy being with at a game. He had decades of sports writing in the Twin Cities and had announced many Millers and Saints games, the minor league predecessors to the Twins. He fostered a genuine interest in baseball throughout the area, and was an integral part of Twins broadcasting when they arrived. He was an authentic and beloved personality, so Minnesotan. Incidentally, he is believed to be the first baseball announcer to say Holy Cow! after a play, long before Harry Caray or Phil Rizzuto. 

He was a Twins announcer from the first year, 1961, until 1972, when he became an "Ambassador of Twins Baseball," or some other grand title. I know he came to the ballpark nearly every game since I saw him there numerous times in the mid-1970s.

For many fans, he was the face or voice of the Twins.

 

 

[ashbury]

On 12/15/2024 at 12:01 PM, Seth Stohs said:

Harper wasn't good defensively,

He might not have been "good" defensively, but if an important game is on the line and an opposing runner is rounding third while the center fielder is getting ready to fire the ball home, there is no one else I'd rather have behind the plate. 😀