BrentMpls

Download attachment: CP.jpg A week ago today, on July 14th 2012, the Twins honored Camilo Pascual by inducting him into the Twins Hall of Fame. Known for his curve ball, Camilo Pascual played for the Washing Senators in 1954 until they moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Twins. Hew stayed with the Twins, including playing in the '65 World Series, until 1969 when he went to the Reds. I'm a big fan of Twins HOF day each years since 2000 - and like to get there early to collect one of the 5,000 pins that you can obtain after entering the park each year. To my surprise, during a Twins game two days before, I heard about how Camilo would be signing autographs before the game at the pro shop. I thought that would be a pretty fun thing to attend, as he isn't here in Minnesota often, and who knows if he'll ever be back again. Download attachment: line.jpg After waiting at gate 34 for a while, a Twins gate guard announced that if we were there for Camilo we better get over to gate 29, which had a line already. As we were making our way to the back of the line, up walks Mr. Pascual. A Twins handler approached him and told him "all these people are here for you" to which he smiled and walked on to the front of the line. Curiously, it was outside Target Field - so you didn't need a ticket to meet him, which many people seemed aware of. That also caused concern for pin collectors such as myself as we were worried we couldn't exit the ballpark and be re-admitted). The gentlemen in line behind us was talking with Camilo on the way up, telling him about how he remembered watching him pitch against Whitey Ford as a kid, and Camilo told him about striking out Mickey Mantle numerous times. Download attachment: Clyde.jpg As the line progressed Clyde Doepner (the curator for the Minnesota Twins) was patrolling the line, checking out what people had and giving tips to let the ink dry. Eventually we made it up to Camilo, he was fun to briefly talk to with his thick accent and seemed generally happy to be there. Clyde was right - he does have a real "Harmon-eque" signature - beautiful and legible. Download attachment: Camilo.jpg The induction ceremony was fun, even if after all these years its hard to understand much of what Tony Oliva says. Also in attendance was former Twins player (and later Dayton's employee) Julio Becquer - along with Tom Kelly and Rod Carew. Later during the 7th inning stretch Camilo sang take me out to the ballgame with his wife and a bunch of kids, which was fun to see. He seemed to be having a good time. It was a fun day, and great to see Pascual finally admitted to the Twins Hall Of Fame. According to Twins President Dave St. Peterm the "top player candidates for '13 inductions" are Mudcat Grant, Chuck Knoblauch and Eddie Guardado. (For a full list, check out: http://en.wikipedia....ns_Hall_of_Fame ). Click here to view the article

Any info from the guest speakers? Those pint glasses looked cool !

It will be interesting to see if he shows up and what he says. I heard on Saturday Morning Sports Talk today that he was surprised, grateful, and plans to attend. There is a recent interview with him about how he wants nothing to do with his baseball days and has everything stores in a separate apartment he doesn't visit, and seemed quite happy distancing himself from baseball. I have fond memories of watching him play, but his personal life is negative and strange to say the least. Fan reaction might be interesting too, although I'm not sure how much of Target Field's crowd remember him.

$20+handling fees, +$15, +transportation/parking is a steal, just not in the direction I'm assuming you mean (for the fan). Mudcat is there every year, sans the kitties.

Just like how they don't need to sell 60k seats to sell out anymore, nor do they have to sell a bunch to sell out twins fest, which did "sell out" today. So from the Twins point of view, I'm sure this will be seen as a huge success. I just find it a shame that with each passing year of Target Field more and more little things that used to make being a Twins fan fun and affordable are going away in favor or targeting a different crowd of people who are willing to spend, spend, spend - even for trivial things.

Normally Dave St Peter will respond to tweets, especially if you ask more than once. I never got a response back on if the 'on the farm' with minor leaguers will still be free at the new more costly twinsfest, and now I see why: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/downloads/y2014/tfest_auto_schedule_0122.jpg Every year little things like this make it tougher to be a fan :/

It's a sad thing that Black Jack is not in the Hall of Fame.

Not only Zubaz, but official MN Twins Logo Embroidered Zubaz

other stuff?

Not too fired up about this design, the emphasis that the presenters highlighted in its unveiling was puzzling and disappointing, football seemed to be the far from the main interest. It will be interesting to see what new developments/life it will bring to that end of downtown, if any. Design process is completed.

Agreed Not sure if serious....

How are those blog links coming?

Really!

He made some great plays yesterday and got the ball in play. Highlight of the game for me, was his performance.

Ploufee there it is and now Mauer, who's next?

Neshek was great

Its been pretty subpar, especially in the two instances I mention above. On top of that, many (all?) of the alterations the show makes in the story aren't creative choices to keep things fresh, rather done for budget reasons.

Where did you see this information?

Both

Hi there! What do you do in your work with baseball?

Yeah I don't get that comment either. The move prior to charging for what was once part of the game day experience before Target Field was deliberate to use it as a 'perk' to STHs (which also was pretty poor treatment to fans)

This is truly sad. I used to love watching bp as a kid. The Twins finish before the gates open so it could be used as a 'sweet spot' reward for randomly selected low tier season ticket holders, and now this. Pretty sad, I think it comes to $900 total if they sell all 60 spots? Talk about milking every last dollar out of people. They want to take all the joy out.

I think another poster said the area is 'for rent' to groups, sorta like a suite or the bud deck. I imagine that brings in some big bucks.

1, 2, 3 two nights in a row. Woo!

Yup it was agreed!