Wetmore: Twins Retired Numbers

[Seth Stohs]

1500espn's Derek Wetmore saw that the Yankees are going to be adding four plaques to their monuments, retiring four more numbers. It got him to wondering who the next Twins number to be retired. He wrote an article asking who will be the next member of the Twins to have their uniform retired? There are currently six retired numbers with the Twins. Their numbers alone likely remind you of who they are: 3, 6, 10, 14, 28, 29, 34 and 42.

 

So, he discusses 48 (Hunter), 57 (Santana), 36 (Kaat... and also Nathan), and of course, #7 (Mauer). 

 

So, a couple of questions to discuss:

 

1.) Which Twins uniform numbers do you think will be retired in time?

2.) How do you feel about retiring a number? Do the Yankees do too many? Do some teams do too few? 

 

What do you think?

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 48 (Hunter)

 

 

You mean "48 (Hunter and Pavano)"

[jimmer]

I'd want Mauer's number retired, I think he easily deserves it.  I'd want Morneau's as well. I think Mauer will and maybe Morneau.

 

I think the Yankees probably retire too many numbers, but they've had a lot of stars there too.  They will run out of numbers with less than 3 digits at some point :-)

[SweetOne69]

If you look at the list of retired #'s, other than Hrbek (hometown hero) and Kelly (Manager) all the rest are either in the HOF or had HOF worthy careers and played most of their career in MN.  If they stick with that methodology, Mauer will be the next retired number.  Hunter, Santana and Morneau may make the Twin's HOF, but didn't have careers significant enough to warrant having their numbers retired.

[teekz]

I think Mauer's number will be the next to be retired. Looking at the other numbers retired by the Twins, I think he is the only one who deserves it. I could make an argument for Morneau. I don't think Hunter or Santana did enough to get their number retired by the Twins. I think Radke had a better full career in a Twins uniform than those two.

 

I do think the Yankees retire too many numbers.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

22 Radke

 

If I recall, Pavano was hurt in a snow shoveling accident, so I think that dings his value a little bit.

[Squirrel]

Yeah, I'd go with Radke and/or Mauer.  Lifers in a Twins uniform.  Not that that is the only criteria, but in context of discussion with the others mentioned so far.

[Thrylos]

They have enough numbers retired already.  

Hunter left the team for more $ and then signed with a division rival.  Retire his number?  Ha

 

If Mauer has a HOF career, he should be part of the discussion.   If I were to retire one more number, it would be #4 for Hall of Famer Joe Cronin (They started wearing numbers in 1931, so earlier players like Walter Johnston did not have numbers.)

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Radke gave the Twins his right arm - they should retire his number.

I wrote an e-mail to Dave St. Peter when I read that Carlos Gomez was going to wear #22 following the Santana trade. I thought then and think now that Gomez is awesome, and it's not to take away from his skill or what he brought to the Twins, but I thought giving Radke's number to another player the year after he retired was insulting in a way.

 

Mauer, sure. He's done more than enough already to cement a retired number.

 

I think the Twins have done well in terms of honoring the best players in their history. I think Kaat (and Blyleven, too, for that matter) spent a lot of time away from the Twins. If Kaat's number is never retired by the Twins, I wouldn't consider it a slight, even if Kaat is voted into the Hall of Fame at some point.  

 

Killer, Oliva, Hrbek, Carew, Blyleven, Puck - I think adding Radke to the list would be appropriate. Hopefully in 20 years we'll be talking about adding Sano, Buxton, Meyer, May, Gordon, Kohl Stewart and/or some of the other young prospects.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My vote goes to Mauer and Radke.

[James]

I think that the next one will be Mauer.  Hometown hero, possible HOF'er, will probably stick with the team his entire career.  Hard to argue with retiring that number.

 

I wouldn't be against retiring Radke's number, but I can understand the argument against doing that as well.  He really did give everything to the team though.   

[Jeremy Nygaard]

It won't be a popular opinion, but I think that Hunter's #48 is hanging up the year after he retires. I don't think I would have felt that way a month ago, but after being at the Diamond Awards and TwinsFest and seeing the reception that he got, I think that will be the way it goes.

 

I think Morneau has a 50/50 shot. 

 

Mauer is a lock.

[Thrylos]

It won't be a popular opinion, but I think that Hunter's #48 is hanging up the year after he retires. I don't think I would have felt that way a month ago, but after being at the Diamond Awards and TwinsFest and seeing the reception that he got, I think that will be the way it goes.

 

I think Morneau has a 50/50 shot. 

 

Mauer is a lock.

 

You do realize that they retired Blyleven's only AFTER he was elected to the Hall of Fame and at least he helped the Twins win a World Series...   Maybe they will vote Hunter to the Twins HOF, but retiring his number?   I just don't see how.

[maxisagod]

Hunter is the one I don't want, that I could see the team doing for PR reasons. Radke, Santana I wouldn't vote for but would understand if they did. Mauer will be a lock, might even get a gate too. Morneau reminded me of Hrbek only Justin would have stayed his whole career if the team had room for him.  

[nicksaviking]

I loved Radke, but he just seems like the quality of player that other teams would look at and roll their eyes.  To be fair, I feel somewhat the same about Hrbek and he was one of my favorite players. 

 

Mauer will clearly get his number retired.  Kaat missed out on getting into the HOF by two veteran committee votes, if he had gotten them, his number almost certainly would have been retired.  Agree with it or not, I'll bet Hunter and Nathan get considerable HOF attention.  At this point neither are likely to get voted in, but I'll bet their names stay on the ballot for quite a while.  That will force the team to consider retiring their numbers, if only for the PR to remind folks of the glory days. Hunter's status as far as getting his number retired may hinge on quite a bit on how he performs in his reunion tour.  If he Jim Thome's his age 39 season, he'll be remembered as a legend, like it or not.

[Halsey Hall]

Mauer is a lock.  I''m on the side of to few rather than to many.  Keep it tight.

[Steven Buhr]

Hrbek's number is up there for two reasons: hometown hero AND two World Championships. If either factor wasn't there, we'd very possibly have seen several more #14's with the Twins. If Radke had been a part of a couple of WS championships, it's quite possible his number would be up there with the others by now. Without the rings, however, I don't think he ever makes it.

 

Kaat's number will go up there if/when he's elected to the HOF. I don't think that's an unfair standard for any player that spent several, excellent years as a Twin, but also spent significant time elsewhere. I would apply the same standard to Hunter, in fact. If he's eventually inducted (which I'd say is highly unlikely, but you never know), then honor him by retiring his number. Otherwise, nope.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Interestingly enough, Kaat and Radke has really similar numbers in Twins uniforms.

 

Kaat: ~2800 IP, 114 ERA+

Radke: ~2500 IP, 113 ERA+

 

Kaat had about 25 more wins but I don't really care much about that.

[D. Hocking]

I think it is pretty clear #7 will be retired, but not because of Mauer.http://www.macmaroon.com/baseball/mlb/hocking_denny.jpg

[iTwins]

I'd think the next numbers to be retired will be:

 

7 - Mauer

33 - Morneau

48 - Hunter

 

I originally didn't think Torii would get his number retired, but I'll echo the sentiments expressed above - he's absolutely beloved here.

[Squirrel]

I think it is pretty clear #7 will be retired, but not because of Mauer.http://www.macmaroon.com/baseball/mlb/hocking_denny.jpg

Of course you'd say that!

[TheLeviathan]

I think the Twins have done a nice job keeping their retired numbers to a very elite class of player and found more appropriate honors for guys like Radke and Morneau in the future.

 

To me, Mauer is the only guy that has played the last 20 years that warrants that spot.

[Jerr]

I'm for less numbers being retired. Only Mauer has a shot in my eyes. 

Twins Hall of Fame for Hunter, Radke, Kaat, fine. Not retired numbers.

[Twins33]

Mauer. That's it. I am also part of the group that believes that you either have to be a HOF or have a HOF worthy career in order to have your number retired. It's one of the greatest honors in sports and it shouldn't be just about retiring someone who was good/great as a Twin. To me it's for the elite.

 

I'd only put Mauer on that. His catching career was one of the greatest of all time. I hope he bounces back as a first baseman too, but the catching greatness was good enough for me.

 

Hunter is my favorite Twin ever and Morneau is my 2nd favorite Twin ever, but in no way are they elite players. They can go in the Twins HOF, but no number retirement. That should be for the truly special only.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

And when the Twins sign David Price next year, I'd love it if they give Price his #14. 

[jimmer]

And when the Twins sign David Price next year, I'd love it if they give Price his #14. 

I just spit soda out my mouth and it's fizzing in my nose as well.  HILARIOUS!

[Pius Jefferson]

Honor the man to the left of this post in some way before you retire anymore numbers. There is no Twins without the Senators. No Killebrew, Pascual, Allison or Kaat. No 1965 AL Pennant. Just because the teams name changed doesn't mean the franchises history did. 

[ashbury]

Honor the man to the left of this post in some way before you retire anymore numbers. There is no Twins without the Senators. No Killebrew, Pascual, Allison or Kaat. No 1965 AL Pennant. Just because the teams name changed doesn't mean the franchises history did. 

That ship sailed some time ago; I wish they had, but they didn't.  And with the advent of the Nationals, who I believe have taken over the territorial custodianship of baseball history, it won't happen.

[Brandon]

If Hunter can get to 1500 career RBIs (need at least this season and next one to get there) He will have a solid case for the Hall of Fame.  Whether he gets voted in is a different story.  But he'll have over 2500-2600 Hits, 550 2bs, 350 HRs, 200 SBs and 9 OF Gold Gloves, plus several All star appearances.  He would be a borderline candidate. I can see his number getting retired. 

[jimmer]

If Hunter can get to 1500 career RBIs (need at least this season and next one to get there) He will have a solid case for the Hall of Fame.  Whether he gets voted in is a different story.  But he'll have over 2500-2600 Hits, 550 2bs, 350 HRs, 200 SBs and 9 OF Gold Gloves, plus several All star appearances.  He would be a borderline candidate. I can see his number getting retired. 

Let's not forget he's loved by the media and the media votes. If Mussina had played up to the media, he'd be in the HOF.