Twins Hall of Fame?

[VivaBomboRivera!]

No shade on Corey Koskie, but why is he being inducted ahead of Roy Smalley?

For that matter, why hasn't Smalley been inducted long before now?

[Road trip]

Well, after a couple of decades of voting most of the obvious candidates are in.  Now it'll be a bit contentious, choosing players like Koskie and Gladden (even more questionable vs Smalley in my mind) vs guys such as Smalley, Wynegar, Goltz, and Perkins.  You can make a case for or against any of them being Twins HOF worthy, just like in the big hall in Cooperstown.   Having said that, it does seem like the 70s to mid 80s era is a bit under-represented.

[nicksaviking]

8 minutes ago, Road trip said:

Well, after a couple of decades of voting most of the obvious candidates are in.  Now it'll be a bit contentious, choosing players like Koskie and Gladden (even more questionable vs Smalley in my mind) vs guys such as Smalley, Wynegar, Goltz, and Perkins.  You can make a case for or against any of them being Twins HOF worthy, just like in the big hall in Cooperstown.   Having said that, it does seem like the 70s to mid 80s era is a bit under-represented.

Yeah, my dark side has always assumed that the players chosen are largely done so to appeal to the most people who actually buy a ticket to attend the ceremony and game. At this point, I'm sure Gen X and Millennials are the target demographic. So players from the 1987 World Series team is probably about as far back as they'd ideally like to stretch that. 

Still, with this being an organizational honor, I have no problem with Gladden and Smalley and Perkins getting in even if it's largely based on their broadcasting contributions. Even if some of them annoy me or if their on-field stats are underwhelming, it's still pretty endearing that these guys played and then stayed with the club for 20, 30 or 40 years. I'm not holding my Twins HOF spots so sacred guys like that can't get in.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

4 hours ago, Road trip said:

Goltz

Yes, to this guy.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

And a posthumous nomination. This guy kept us watching through some very dark days.

[Road trip]

13 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Yes, to this guy.

Yeah, Goltz seems kind of an obvious next pick.  Minnesota native... possibly still living in MN? Had a great run with the late 70's Twins.  Might want to get it done before he gets any older.

[USAFChief]

13 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

And a posthumous nomination. This guy kept us watching through some very dark days.

Marshall only spent 3 years as a Twin. And those were at the end of his career.

Not a Twin HOFer.

[ziggy]

Is there some sort of 'rule' that someone has to get in every year?

 

Sometimes the Hall of Fame mirrors the all star game in that every team must be represented. May I present Ron Coomer.

[USAFChief]

22 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

No shade on Corey Koskie, but why is he being inducted ahead of Roy Smalley?

For that matter, why hasn't Smalley been inducted long before now?

I'd say one could make reasonable arguments for both.

Personally, I'd take Koskie over Smalley. But it's close and probably both should be in the Twins HOF.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

22 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Marshall only spent 3 years as a Twin. And those were at the end of his career.

Not a Twin HOFer.

Three years out of a 14-year career, to be sure, and yet his performance in two of of them were in the same class as his Cy Young and All Star years. Goltz, Zahn and Koosman wouldn't have had the seasons they had without him.

 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Non-enshrined top Twins players by WAR*:

Chuck Knoblauch, 38.0; Johan Santana, 36.1; Roy Smalley, 23.7

Note also a number of Senators: Walter Johnson, 167.8 (!); Sam Rice, 53.8; Joe Judge, 47.8; Goose Goslin, 43.5; Buddy Meyer, 42.4; Clyde Milan, 40.1; Joe Cronin, 37.0; Cecil Travis, 30.5; Buddy Lewis, 29.4; Ossie Bluege, 28.7

Given that he asked to be traded, Knoblauch is unlikely to get a plaque. Since he earned two Cy Young awards during his time with the club, we can be certain that Santana's time will come.  Johnson and Goslin ought to at least get a display somewhere on the concourse.

* WAR earned while with the ball club, not career WAR

[Musk21]

25 minutes ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Non-enshrined top Twins players by WAR*:

Chuck Knoblauch, 38.0; Johan Santana, 36.1; Roy Smalley, 23.7

Note also a number of Senators: Walter Johnson, 167.8 (!); Sam Rice, 53.8; Joe Judge, 47.8; Goose Goslin, 43.5; Buddy Meyer, 42.4; Clyde Milan, 40.1; Joe Cronin, 37.0; Cecil Travis, 30.5; Buddy Lewis, 29.4; Ossie Bluege, 28.7

Given that he asked to be traded, Knoblauch is unlikely to get a plaque. Since he earned two Cy Young awards during his time with the club, we can be certain that Santana's time will come.  Johnson and Goslin ought to at least get a display somewhere on the concourse.

* WAR earned while with the ball club, not career WAR

Knoblauch was to be inducted in 2014, but the ceremony was canceled due to his arrest for assault of a family member.

"In light of recent news reports surrounding Chuck Knoblauch, as well as direct communication with the former Twins second baseman, the Minnesota Twins have decided to cancel the team's 2014 Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled for August 23 at Target Field.

In January of this year, Knoblauch was elected by a 62-member committee consisting of local and national media, club officials, fans and past elected members, using rules similar to those necessary for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. 

Founded in 2000, the Twins Hall of Fame has 26 current inductees including players, managers, broadcasters, owners and members of the ballclub's front office."

[DJL44]

43 minutes ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Johan Santana, 36.1

I am actually baffled Koskie was elected instead of Santana.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

16 minutes ago, Musk21 said:

Knoblauch was to be inducted in 2014, but the ceremony was canceled due to his arrest for assault of a family member.

Crikey!  This one completely slipped my mind. Thanks!

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Manager nomination:

Better W-L record than Tom Kelly.

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Non-enshrined top Twins players by WAR*:

Johan Santana, 36.1; 

 

He's in.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Laudner, not for his WAR, but for his ring, his eight-year career, all with the club, and his broadcasting work? 

[strumdatjag]

On 8/13/2025 at 10:28 AM, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Non-enshrined top Twins players by WAR*:

Chuck Knoblauch, 38.0; Johan Santana, 36.1; Roy Smalley, 23.7

Note also a number of Senators: Walter Johnson, 167.8 (!); Sam Rice, 53.8; Joe Judge, 47.8; Goose Goslin, 43.5; Buddy Meyer, 42.4; Clyde Milan, 40.1; Joe Cronin, 37.0; Cecil Travis, 30.5; Buddy Lewis, 29.4; Ossie Bluege, 28.7

Given that he asked to be traded, Knoblauch is unlikely to get a plaque. Since he earned two Cy Young awards during his time with the club, we can be certain that Santana's time will come.  Johnson and Goslin ought to at least get a display somewhere on the concourse.

* WAR earned while with the ball club, not career WAR

100 years ago the Washington Senators made it to the World Series and lost.  101 years ago, they won it all.  The Twins have flown their flags above the right field stands and dedicated a very small case of memorabilia to this team’s history in DC. The time has long past to have a concourse wall dedicated  to the greatest stars from the Washington Senators.  
Furthermore, the Twins should induct at least their five greatest stars into the team’s Hall of Fame.  
They had a perfect opportunity this year when the Nats visited Tf.  

[VivaBomboRivera!]

On 8/13/2025 at 11:28 PM, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Non-enshrined top Twins players by WAR*:

Chuck Knoblauch, 38.0; Johan Santana, 36.1; Roy Smalley, 23.7

ERRATUM - Johan Santana is IN

Apologies.

[SoDakTwinsFan]

He was a key player on those early 2000s teams but is he really worthy of being in the Twins HOF??  He never made an all-star team.  Never won a world series.  He was a key player on the early 2000s teams that would get bounced in the playoffs.  But that's pretty much it.

[Longdistancetwins]

On 8/27/2025 at 4:10 AM, VivaBomboRivera! said:

ERRATUM - Johan Santana is IN

Apologies.

Thanks.  I was feeling gaslighted.  

[VivaBomboRivera!]

3 hours ago, Longdistancetwins said:

Thanks.  I was feeling gaslighted.  

We wouldn't want that!

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Another glaring omission:

 Tom Brunansky (16.1 WAR over 6+ seasons)

[The Great Hambino]

Thought experiment:

How many future Twins HOFers are currently on the roster?

There’s only two locks in Buxton and Keaschall*.  If you put the over/under at 3.5, what would you take?

 

*Kidding.  Kind of

[notoriousgod71]

On 8/17/2025 at 6:14 AM, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Laudner, not for his WAR, but for his ring, his eight-year career, all with the club, and his broadcasting work? 

His broadcasting career should prevent him from being elected even if he had produced babe Ruth stats.

 

How about Shane Mack?

[VivaBomboRivera!]

Brian Harper also needs to be brought forward - 13.4 WAR and a ring in 6 seasons