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  • Twins Playoff Tradition Revived: Homer Hankies Return with a 'We Believe' Message

    Melissa Berman

    By Melissa Berman

    The Twins are back in the playoffs, and that means one thing: so are Homer Hankies! Besides Prince and tater tot hot dish, Minnesotans love almost nothing more than these beloved squares of cloth that Twins fans have proudly waved during every playoff run since 1987. 

    Image courtesy of Melissa Berman

    Twins Video

    Immediately after clinching the AL Central title on Friday night, the Twins announced the return of the iconic hankies, this year emblazoned with "We Believe," a clubhouse mantra, according to Twins President Dave St. Peter. Twins fans can purchase the hankies at the Target Field team store (open during games and from 10-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday on non-game days) and fans who attend a playoff game will receive one, too. The Hankies are $4 a piece. 

    Are you cheering on the Twins from afar? No problem, you can buy them online, too.

    Just like in 2019, this year's Homer Hankies are red, but fans will be excited to learn that the hankies have returned to the same original, thin material that debuted in 1987, the first year of the Homer Hanky (the 2019 and 2020 renditions of the Homer Hanky were terrycloth towels). In 2016, MLB added a rule (aptly nicknamed the "Homer Hanky Rule") specifying that "in-stadium rally towels" could no longer be white because it can make it difficult for the batter to see the ball. 

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    Fans lined up on Saturday morning before the stadium gates even opened to buy the hankies from the team store as soon as they went on sale at 10 a.m. During the game, long lines for the checkout counter also stretched inside the Twins team stores. But a pro tip from me: I noticed during Sunday's game that the merchandise stands in the concourse were also selling hankies, so I walked right up and bought four with no line. 

     

    Even though local grocery store chain Cub Foods is listed as a sponsor of the hankies, it does not appear that they will be for sale in-store as they have in past years. 

    Fans will go to all ends of the earth to secure a much-coveted hanky, and many make a point to collect every single one. I'm one of them. In 2019, I remember driving around to every Cub Foods store within 30 minutes of me in search of hankies and running into other fans doing the same. 

    Homer Hankies are special to my family, too. I wasn't around yet to see the 1987 and 1991 Twins championship runs, but my parents were. Recognizing how historic these championships were, they bought extra Homer Hankies so each of their future kids could have one. Homer Hankies are one of the special, unique things associated with being a Twins fan. Lots of other teams across sports have rally towels, but who else has a hanky? I will be proud to wave mine again at Target Field during the upcoming wildcard round, just like the generations before me. 

    _ _ _
    Are you going to buy a 2023 Homer Hanky? Which past hankies do you have? Let us know with a COMMENT below. 

    Melissa Berman is a licensed attorney, high school ski coach, competitive skier and runner, former softball player, and lifelong Twins and Minnesota sports fan. You can find her at sporting events most days of the week, and she never misses a Dollar Dog Night.
    Follow Melissa Berman on Twitter: Melissa_Berman

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    Melissa Berman

    Melissa Berman 634

  • Twins Daily Contributor

    • Posted

    17 minutes ago, BA Papi said:

    Thinking about getting a few to wave around down in southwest Missouri! 

    You gotta! It seems like the online ordering has been a bit finicky, so hopefully they get that fixed soon for our fans all across the country!

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    Johnny Ringo

    Johnny Ringo 399

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    • Posted

    I was around for the 1987 and 1991 World Series. I was with my then 5 year son and caught a foul ball in game 2 of 1991.  Kevin Tapani was pitching.

    In the spring of 1992, I was driving to the hockey rink in Eden Prairie and who is standing out in front of his house ? Kevin Tapani. I hustled to the house and got the ball.  I went back and Kevin is still there, doing some yard work. I got out of the car, told him the story and politely asked him to sign the ball, which he did. He was so nice about it that it was like I was doing him a favor. It was a different time then, I guess.  Different pay for sure. Different sense of pretentiousness perhaps.

    Ps. We still proudly have the ball. 

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    Melissa Berman

    Melissa Berman 634

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    • Posted

    1 hour ago, Johnny Ringo said:

    I was around for the 1987 and 1991 World Series. I was with my then 5 year son and caught a foul ball in game 2 of 1991.  Kevin Tapani was pitching.

    In the spring of 1992, I was driving to the hockey rink in Eden Prairie and who is standing out in front of his house ? Kevin Tapani. I hustled to the house and got the ball.  I went back and Kevin is still there, doing some yard work. I got out of the car, told him the story and politely asked him to sign the ball, which he did. He was so nice about it that it was like I was doing him a favor. It was a different time then, I guess.  Different pay for sure. Different sense of pretentiousness perhaps.

    Ps. We still proudly have the ball. 

    This is such a fun and happy story. I can't believe you caught a foul ball in the '91 series- that's incredible! And amazing that Tapani signed it- bet that ball is in a special place!

    I've noticed that even when I was a kid, early 2000s, players were a lot more accessible. My parents would take us to all the free autograph signings at the now-defunct Twins pro shops and Cub Foods stores. We got to meet everyone- Johan Santana, Morneau, Mauer, Joe Nathan, Torii Hunter etc. It was a different time

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    theBOMisthebomb

    theBOMisthebomb 2,113

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    • Posted

    Melissa, thank you for having your finger on the pulse of what is happening at Target Field. While many writers in today's sports world don't even operate from the stadium (which is fine, I don't want to open that debate), I really appreciate the vantage point you offer from Target Field. 

    As for the hankies, I'm going to stock up as always and pray for a deep postseason run. I'll be waving my Homer Hanky at game one. Win Twins! 

    I also remember the original song about my baby waving the Homer Hanky. 

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    Johnny Ringo

    Johnny Ringo 399

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    • Posted

    5 hours ago, Melissa Berman said:

    This is such a fun and happy story. I can't believe you caught a foul ball in the '91 series- that's incredible! And amazing that Tapani signed it- bet that ball is in a special place!

    I've noticed that even when I was a kid, early 2000s, players were a lot more accessible. My parents would take us to all the free autograph signings at the now-defunct Twins pro shops and Cub Foods stores. We got to meet everyone- Johan Santana, Morneau, Mauer, Joe Nathan, Torii Hunter etc. It was a different time

    Thanks Melissa! I enjoy your stories. They are always bright and optimistic. 

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    Melissa Berman

    Melissa Berman 634

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    • Posted

    9 hours ago, oregontwin said:

    Still have my '87. Never let that one go. Also have the '19 version. White was better.

    The white hankies are definitely better. MLB and their rules, sigh

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    Melissa Berman

    Melissa Berman 634

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    • Posted

    14 hours ago, theBOMisthebomb said:

    Melissa, thank you for having your finger on the pulse of what is happening at Target Field. While many writers in today's sports world don't even operate from the stadium (which is fine, I don't want to open that debate), I really appreciate the vantage point you offer from Target Field. 

    As for the hankies, I'm going to stock up as always and pray for a deep postseason run. I'll be waving my Homer Hanky at game one. Win Twins! 

    I also remember the original song about my baby waving the Homer Hanky. 

    Thanks so much for reading and your very kind words! Writing about the fan experience side of things is definitely what interests me most- I like writing about baseball and the people who love it 😄

    I'm also stocking up. I bought 4 the other day and will get a hanky and all the playoff games I go to, but I'm have had "order requests" from my mom to get some extras for her, the baby niece etc. 

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    Johnny Ringo

    Johnny Ringo 399

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    16 hours ago, oregontwin said:

    Still have my '87. Never let that one go. Also have the '19 version. White was better.

    I just had a friend visit from Bend, Oregon and he brought some chocolate-covered hazelnuts from your state as a present. I am reluctant to say that things are the best but those bad boys are like Johan Santana 2004-2006 good.  

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    Nine of twelve

    Nine of twelve 9,424

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    My wife and I celebrate our 32nd Anniversary this week. (You can do the math.) Our families and attendants waved homer hankies at the conclusion of our wedding. We were on our honeymoon during the ALCS but we attended all four home games of that year's World Series. It was a pretty special time, I must say.

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