TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
Andy “Pudge” Kosco, a powerful right-handed hitter who broke into the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins during one of the franchise’s most formative eras, passed away on December 19, 2025. He was 84.
Born October 5, 1941, in Struthers, Ohio, Kosco was a gifted multi-sport athlete who turned down dozens of football and basketball scholarship offers to pursue professional baseball at age 17 signing as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 1959 season. One scout who spent a lot of time tracking Kosco’s progress was Edwin “Cy” Williams of the Detroit Tigers.3 Williams began watching Kosco play baseball, football, and basketball around the Youngstown area when Andy was a high-school sophomore and followed him for the next couple of years. Eventually, Williams signed him right out of high school in June 1959 for what at that time was an enormous bonus of $62,500.
The Tigers assigned him to class D ball to start 1959 and he worked his way up to AAA briefly in 1963 where he struggled mightily. Then unexpectedly in June of 1964 the Tigers released him and the Twins quickly signed him and send him to class A ball for the remainder of 1964 . In 1965 the Twins assigned him to AAA Denver and started hitting like a man possessed, hitting .312 with 27 home runs and 116 RBI in 119 games leaving the Twins with no choice but to call him up in mid-August to join a club in the midst of its first great pennant chase. Kosco made his major league debut in Cleveland Stadium as a pinch-hitter and grounded out to second base in a Twins 3 to 1 loss. Kosco went on to play in 23 games but did not make the World Series roster.
The Twins Didn’t Just Lose Games — They Lost Their Fanbase Another 70–92 season. Another fourth place finish. Another October spent watching other teams play meaningful baseball. For a franchise that keeps insisting it’s “competitive,” the results say otherwise — loudly.
Derek Falvey
Someone had to take the fall, and it wasn’t Derek Falvey. He survived — somehow — but Rocco Baldelli didn’t. After seven seasons, he’s out, and the Twins replaced him with former bench coach Derek Shelton, a move that feels more like rearranging furniture than fixing the foundation. Seven of twelve coaches were swept out with him. A purge looks dramatic on paper, but fans have seen this movie before: new voices, same script.
On the roster side, the big splash so far… Josh Bell. A 33-year-old first baseman with a bat that comes and goes and a glove that never really arrived. Seven million dollars for a placeholder. The rest of the offseason has been bargain bin depth pieces. It’s hard to sell “we’re trying” when the front office shops like a team terrified of its own payroll.
Then came the ownership news — the part that was supposed to restore confidence. Instead, it poured gasoline on the frustration. The Twins introduced new minority owners, but the Pohlad family kept control after months of signaling the team was headed for a sale. Fans were told one thing, then handed another. And the surprise twist? Tom Pohlad quietly taking over as control person from his brother Joe, who reportedly didn’t agree with the move at first. If the goal was stability, the execution felt anything but.
Fans were told the team was for sale. Then the story changed.”
So yes, a few questions have been answered. But they’re not the answers fans were hoping for. And the questions that matter most — payroll, direction, accountability, transparency — remain untouched. Will Derek Shelton actually manage, or will the front office script every inning? Will the new minority owners have any real influence? Will Tom Pohlad be visible, engaged, and honest with the fanbase? Will Falvey continue running both the baseball and business sides with no checks and balances?
Meanwhile, the fans have spoken with their wallets. Season ticket renewals are dropping. TV subscriptions are being canceled. Many fans feel misled — told the team was for sale, only to watch the Pohlad’s reverse course and bring in minority partners instead. A growing segment of the fanbase believes the only way forward is for the Pohlad’s to sell entirely. Until then, they’re choosing not to show up.
The Twins enter 2026 not just at a crossroads, but on the edge of losing an entire generation of goodwill. The front office can talk about “process” and “sustainability” all it wants, but fans are tired of buzzwords. They want honesty. They want investment. They want a team that acts like winning matters.
Right now, the burden is on the Twins — not the fans — to prove they deserve their support.
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I also hope that you remember all the troops that are out there serving and protecting our country.
Greg Thayer, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in 20 games for the Minnesota Twins during the 1978 season, passed away on December 12, 2025 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He was 76.
Born October 23, 1949, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Thayer’s baseball journey began in earnest at St. Cloud Tech High School and continued at St. Cloud State University. Thayer attended St. Cloud State on a football scholarship, where he played quarterback and helped the Huskies win a conference championship in 1970. He also played three seasons on the baseball team, leading the Huskies to a conference championship in each of his three seasons on the diamond. He was named all-conference honors in 1971 as a pitcher and outfielder. He was inducted into the St. Cloud State Hall of Fame in 1994 in football and baseball.
His professional career started when the San Francisco Giants selected him in the 32nd round of the 1971 June Amateur Draft. It was a modest draft position, but it opened the door to a steady climb through the minor leagues.
A Long Road Through the Minors
Thayer spent his early professional years in the Giants’ farm system, pitching for several affiliates as he worked to refine his command and durability. After his release by San Francisco in April 1973, he signed with the Minnesota Twins later that year, beginning a second chapter in his minor league career. Over the next several seasons, he pitched at multiple levels of the Twins’ system, earning a reputation as a reliable organizational arm who took the ball whenever needed.
Reaching the Major Leagues
Thayer’s persistence paid off on April 7, 1978, when he made his major league debut for the Twins at the Kingdome against the Seattle Mariners. In that first outing, he threw three innings, allowing two hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking four. It was the kind of gritty, workman-like appearance that would define his brief time in the majors. He earned his only major league victory on May 6, 1978, in Baltimore, when he pitched 5.2 innings of shutout relief as the Twins scored seven runs in the ninth to rally for a 8-7 victory.
During his time with the Twins during the 1978 season, Thayer appeared exclusively in relief, logging 45 innings across 20 games. He finished the year with a 3.80 ERA, 30 strikeouts, and a 1–1 record — solid numbers for a bullpen arm on a team searching for stability.
After the Twins
Thayer’s final major league appearance came on June 26, 1978, against the Milwaukee Brewers. He was sent back to the minors at the end of June and he never returned to the big leagues. His partial season with Minnesota represented the culmination of years of determination and quiet professionalism. Thayer spent the 1979 season in the Twins minor league system and then he turned up in the Toronto organization in 1980. There is no transaction in B-R documenting the move.
Following his playing career, he contributed to the Sauk Rapids, Minnesota sports community as a baseball coach for many years. He also loved spending time with his friends and enjoyed being out in nature, often combining both as an avid fisherman and bird hunter.
A Place in Twins History
For fans and historians who value the full tapestry of Twins baseball, Greg Thayer’s story is a reminder of the countless players whose contributions may not have made headlines but still mattered. His journey — from Cedar Rapids to St. Cloud, from a 32nd round pick to the mound at Metropolitan Stadium — reflects the perseverance and pride shared by so many who have worn a Twins uniform.
Greg Thayer is survived by his son and daughter, Andy (RaeAnne) Thayer of Golden Valley; Stephanie (Paul) Schlangen of Sauk Rapids; grandsons, Frederick & Walter Schlangen; and brother, Jeff (Kathy) Thayer of Spring Lake Park.
He is preceded in death by his parents and wife Christine.
Greg Allen Thayer’s obituary as well as a beautiful video can be seen here.
Baseball history is full of myths about which franchises “hit the most home runs,” but raw totals rarely tell the real story. A far better measure of a team’s long-term power identity is this: how many players have hit 200 or more home runs for that franchise.
This stat strips away the noise. No career padding. No counting a guy who hit 12 homers for a team before becoming a star somewhere else. It reveals which organizations consistently developed, retained, and showcased true franchise sluggers.
When you sort the league this way, the results are surprising — and the Minnesota Twins land much higher than most fans would ever guess.
This places the Twins firmly among baseball’s most consistent power?producing franchises — not the deepest list, but a remarkably strong lineage of iconic sluggers. Byron Buxton is at 168 and if he remains a Twin and has another good year like he had in 2025 he too could join this list of Minnesota Twins legends.
The 200 Homer Lineage in Minnesota
For the Twins, the 200 home run club isn’t just a list of sluggers — it’s the backbone of the franchise’s identity. From Killebrew’s thunder to Hrbek’s swagger, from Mauer’s quiet permanence to Morneau’s peak brilliance, these are the players who shaped eras and carried summers on their shoulders. Their home runs weren’t just numbers; they were landmarks in the long story of Minnesota baseball, the moments fans still feel in their bones. As new names chase their place in that lineage, this list stands as a reminder of what lasting greatness looks like in Twins Territory.
Byron Buxton and Willi Castro Source: Canva Editor
If you step into the long, often unpredictable story of the Minnesota Twins, you find a franchise marked by bursts of triumphs and a loyal following that rarely wavers. For more than sixty years, the team has built a collection of unforgettable moments; some shaped the Twins’ future forever, others burned brightly for a season or two and stayed alive in memory.
From race-to-the-finish dramas and record-breaking streaks to total roster revamps, the seasons that really count have reflected all sides of the American baseball scene. A select few years, if you look back over the records, truly stand out. They help explain how the Twins have come to mean so much to fans in the stadium, and to a whole digital world where fandom is evolving in new ways.
The championship years that changed everything
Think of 1987 in Minnesota sports and one word comes to mind: breakthrough. The Twins, seen by many as underdogs, rattled the baseball world by winning their first World Series since the move from Washington. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, the outcome hung in the balance until Game 7, with the Metrodome packed wall-to-wall. The atmosphere that night, 68,000 strong indoors, still gets talked about by anyone who was there, much like fans today excitedly revisit classic moments through documentaries, memorabilia, or even themed online slots inspired by iconic seasons.
Frank Viola delivered on the mound while Kirby Puckett seemed to will his teammates onward. Fast-forward four years. It happened again, only louder, as the 1991 Twins clashed with the Atlanta Braves in a World Series that remains a favorite for sports historians and cable reruns alike. Jack Morris pitched his way into legend with a ten-inning shutout in the deciding game. Those two years, 1987 and 1991, gave Minnesota more than trophies; they shaped the team’s identity and left no doubt about its place in Major League Baseball’s larger story.
Before and after, early milestones and the rise of big bats
The roots go deeper than those World Series wins. Minnesota’s 1965 team, for example, led by names like Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva, stormed to their very first American League pennant. Those guys racked up 102 wins in a single season, a mark almost never threatened since, then battled the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-game World Series thriller. That series slipped away, but 1965 made it clear: the Twins had arrived. Decades later, in 2019, the “Bomba Squad” era brought a very different kind of headline.
Home runs flew out of Target Field as the club shattered Major League Baseball’s single-season record, smacking 307 in all and piling up 101 wins. Modern fans watched, and highlights spread quickly in this new digital scene where team spirit has even found a connection with the ballpark buzz. Even if the postseason run ended briefly, those power-driven months helped fuse Minnesota’s baseball tradition with a digital-age spotlight.
Keeping the fight alive in tough stretches
Some seasons slide under the radar but are no less significant. Take 1970: the Twins took the AL West with 98 victories, largely thanks to Jim Perry’s Cy Young performance and Bert Blyleven already throwing in the rotation. Although the Baltimore Orioles blocked a trip to the World Series, Minnesota showed 1965 was no fluke. Flick back another year. In 1969, under Billy Martin’s fierce leadership, the team again grabbed the AL West crown with 97 wins, boasting league leaders in both average and home runs.
Those years, if you sift through Baseball Reference or old broadcasts, tell the story of a ball club that didn’t just rely on star power. They combined smart player development with standout talent. The pattern repeats: periods of rebuilding lay the groundwork for renewed success, the sort not every team manages, especially when the competition is fierce.
Seasons defined by standout players and unforgettable moments
Of course, not all defining years end with a pennant; sometimes, it is a player’s season that echoes the loudest. Joe Mauer’s 2009 campaign stands tall in this respect. He posted a .365 batting average, the highest ever for an AL catcher on record, and captured the league’s MVP award for his efforts. There was also the thrill of the Twins clinching the AL Central with a nerve-wracking Game 163. These performances, individual or collective, do more than fill trophy cases.
They fuel devotion, grow the franchise myth, and keep old fans talking while new ones get hooked, even as the years and the games change. Minnesota’s franchise 18 postseason appearances and three World Series titles, according to reliable sources, outline a history filled with high points and heartbreak alike. Each meaningful season, whether it brought victory or near-miss, builds something lasting on the field and in digital spaces alive with highlight reels and community discussions.
Encouraging safe and balanced play
As supporting the Twins becomes increasingly digital, whether that involves team news, shared highlights, or other online interactions, the need for responsible habits grows too. Setting spending limits, staying clear about the odds, and noticing unhealthy patterns is essential for anyone drawn into online fandom or gaming.
Major League Baseball and the Twins both encourage fans to blend their passion for baseball with practical awareness when engaging online. In the end, looking after personal well-being makes both the thrill of the game and its digital offshoots more enjoyable for everyone involved.
I would like to wish all of you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving and I would like to thank all of you for stopping by Twinstrivia.com now and then. You are all appreciated. The weather here in Minnesota is about as cold as the Twins fan support is for their local baseball team thanks to the shenanigans of the Pohlad ownership. BUT, this too shall pass. Have a great day everyone and stay safe out there.
The 2025 Twins Turkey of the Year is a runaway: Joe Pohlad and the Pohlad family. A year that began with the club being listed for sale, saw a mid-season bullpen purge that precipitated a 19–35 finish and attendance lows not seen since 2000, included the early-2025 retirement of longtime president Dave St. Peter, and ended with ownership disclosing roughly $500 million in debt and announcing two unnamed minority partners reportedly committing about $250 million each. The consequence: ownership credibility is shaken, the roster was hollowed out, and fans are demanding a clear plan: spend to compete or sell.
The case for the winner
Team listed for sale then taken off the market The Pohlad family listed the club in October 2024 and removed it from the market in August 2025. That reversal — with few public details — left supporters and local media scrambling for clarity.
A deadline purge that broke the bullpen and the season The front office traded most of the bullpen and roughly a third of the roster at the 2025 trade deadline. The aftermath was brutal: the club finished the last two months 19–35 and fan attendance dropped to historic lows going back to 2000.
Debt disclosure with scarce detail Ownership disclosed roughly $500 million in debt and announced two new minority investor groups would join the ownership structure; the groups remain unnamed and the terms undisclosed.
Leadership churn and power consolidation President Dave St. Peter retired early in 2025. Derek Falvey was given responsibility for both baseball and business operations, an increasingly rare and risky structure in MLB. The team fired manager Rocco Baldelli the day after the season ended and hired former Twins coach Derek Shelton, who had been passed over when Baldelli was originally hired.
Erosion of trust The sequence — team for sale, mass trades, delisting, large undisclosed debt, unnamed partners, and consolidated executive power — produced a credibility gap between ownership and the fanbase.
Fan sentiment — blunt and urgent
Fans aren’t asking for sympathy; they’re issuing an ultimatum: the Pohlad’s should either spend what it takes to field a competitive team or sell to someone who will. After the payroll purge, the late-season collapse, and attendance plunging to levels not seen since 2000, protests at games have become common and chants demanding a sale are no longer fringe behavior. That anger is grounded in consequences: fewer wins, emptier stands, and a long list of unanswered questions about who the new investors are and what they actually committed to do.
The present reality for the franchise
On-field: a depleted roster, competitive collapse down the stretch, and a new manager in Derek Shelton.
Front office: Derek Falvey now oversees both baseball and business operations.
Financial: roughly $500 million in disclosed debt, with two minority partners reportedly committing about $250 million each.
Fan engagement: attendance at historic lows and a fanbase sharply skeptical of ownership’s commitment to winning.
Communication: ownership has offered high-level statements but few specifics on partner identities, capital structure, or a time-bound plan.
Two realistic paths forward assuming the Pohlad’s remain majority owners
Payroll-first
Core idea: trade more top payroll pieces to rapidly reduce payroll and service debt.
Short term: faster debt relief and lower payroll obligations.
Medium term: deeper competitive decline, longer rebuild, worsening fan trust and attendance.
Competitive-rebuild (recommended hybrid)
Core idea: protect the best, controllable starters; add low-cost controllable talent; rebuild around prospects.
Short term: slower debt reduction, but gives fans hope and preserves on-field credibility.
Medium term: faster restoration of attendance and franchise value if progress is visible and steady.
Can Derek Falvey handle both baseball and business?
The challenge Combining baseball and business leadership concentrates authority but splits focus; MLB’s modern norm separates those roles because each demands distinct expertise.
Why it might work Falvey understands roster construction and can move quickly with unified authority in a crisis.
Why it could fail The dual role risks neglecting revenue generation or player development unless strong deputies are immediately hired.
Practical recommendation Falvey should remain strategic integrator but promptly appoint a seasoned business COO/CFO and a GM-level deputy for day-to-day baseball operations.
What the new minority partners could mean if they each invest ~$250M
Best case — real, unrestricted capital pays down debt, stabilizes the balance sheet, preserves payroll flexibility, and funds a hybrid rebuild that protects controllable starters while accelerating prospect development.
Worst case — conditioned capital, loans, or investor demands for cost cutting could accelerate another sell-off and prolong competitive decline.
Governance matters — names, ownership percentages, board seats, and governance terms will determine whether these investors are stabilizers or drivers of further austerity.
Recommended three-year plan the Pohlad’s should announce now
Disclose the minority partners’ identities, commitments, ownership percentages, and governance roles within 60 days.
Publish a three-year roadmap with payroll bands, prospect milestones, and a timeline for returning to a competitive window.
Protect the best controllable starters this winter; trade truly expendable, high-cost veterans for multiple controllable assets.
Increase budgeted investment in player development, international scouting, and analytics.
Hire a COO/CFO and a GM-level deputy to support Falvey and ensure operational focus.
Launch visible fan engagement initiatives to arrest attendance declines while on-field progress begins.
What fans should watch next
Who the unnamed minority partners are and the legal terms of their investments.
Whether Falvey appoints senior deputies for business and baseball operations.
Which players the front office markets publicly: are deals aimed at payroll relief or prospect acquisition?
Early hires and budget allocations for player development and scouting.
Any clear, date-driven milestones from ownership about payroll and competitive targets.
“We were promised stewardship; instead we got sale signals, a payroll purge—and answers that never came.”
The Twins Turkey of the Year in 2025 is Joe Pohlad. This is the first time we have had a Twins Turkey of the Year take home the honors two years in a row.
The Twins first move early this off-season was on November 18th when they traded with Tampa Bay to acquire 6’4″ right-handed reliever Eric Orze and sent minor league pitcher Jacob Kisting a 6’5″ right-hander to Tampa in return. Kisting was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB June Amateur Draft from Bradley University (Peoria, IL). Trading Jacob Kisting shows the Twins are willing to move younger assets for immediate bullpen help. Tampa Bay acquired Orze from the Mets last winter in the trade that sent center fielder Jose Siri to New York. Tampa used Orze as an up-and-down middle innings arm. The former fifth-round pick tossed 41 2/3 innings of 3.02 ERA ball across 33 appearances. His 22.5% strikeout percentage and 10.7% walk rate weren’t as impressive, but he missed bats on a strong 13.2% of his offerings overall. Orze’s profile—solid ERA, decent bat-missing ability, but middling strikeout/walk rates—suggests he’s more of a depth stabilizer than a high-leverage arm. This is probably just the first of many moves the Twins will make to try to rebuild a bullpen they decimated when they traded off Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, and Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline this past season.
Additionally, the Twins acquired veteran catcher Alex Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league infielder Payton Eeles. Jackson presumably becomes part of the mix for the club’s backup catcher role, an opening that results from Christian Vazquez‘s free agency.
The Twins have cut payroll so there is no reason to think they will spend money now, but, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the payroll between $120 million-$130 million going into the 2026 season. The two early moves might be a sign the Twins are diving in the pool earlier this season to try to acquire players. Relievers without big league deals and something to prove should be standing in line to sign with Minnesota. If the Twins hit on some relievers and the team struggles they can flip these guys and get something in return.
The Twins still have a hole to fill at first and I would like to see them go after Lewin Diaz (who just turned 29) who was in the Twins minor league system before being traded Miami in 2019 at the trade deadline for Sergio Romo, Chris Vallimont and a PTBNL. Since then he was picked up by the Pirates, Orioles, Braves and Nationals but he has not played in he big leagues since he left Miami. After being cut lose by the Orioles he has played in Mexico and Korea. This past season in Korea in 629 PA’s he hit .314 with 50 home runs and 158 RBI while walking 60 times while striking out 100 times. He committed just 4 errors.
I am disappointed that the Twins have not yet named who their two new investor groups are. It will be interesting to learn who they are and what they have to say about the state of the Twins. It might be some time before we learn what impact these two new ownership groups have on how the Twins are run and if they are in this for the long haul or just in it to get a quick return on their investment when the Twins do get sold. Their intentions—long-term stewardship vs. short-term profit—could shape the franchise’s trajectory more than any single roster move.
William “Bill” Pleis III, the left-handed reliever who earned the Minnesota Twins’ first-ever win at Metropolitan Stadium and helped anchor the bullpen of the 1965 pennant-winning team, passed away on October 17, 2025. He was 88.
Pleis debuted with the Twins in 1961, the franchise’s inaugural season after relocating from Washington. On April 22 of that year, he recorded the first official win by a Twins pitcher at Metropolitan Stadium, a milestone that still resonates with longtime fans and marks a foundational moment in team history.
Over six seasons with the Twins (1961–1966), Pleis appeared in 190 games, nearly all in relief. He posted a career record of 21–16 with 13 saves and a 4.07 ERA. His steady presence was especially vital during the club’s historic 1965 campaign, when Minnesota captured its first American League pennant. Pleis pitched in 41 games that season and appeared in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, contributing to the franchise’s first Fall Classic appearance since its Washington Senators days.
Known affectionately as “Shorty” by teammates, Pleis embodied the grit and humility of the early Twins era. In 1967, the Twins reacquired him briefly to ensure he qualified for his pension—a gesture that reflected the respect he’d earned within the organization.
After retiring from playing in 1968, Pleis transitioned into scouting, beginning with the Houston Astros and later spending decades with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pleis did not win a World Series as a player. In fact, he made just one postseason appearance in his career and gave up a home run. However, the Dodgers won two World Series during his time as a scout. His eye for talent and deep love for the game extended the Twins’ legacy through the players he helped discover and mentor.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Susan Haddock Pleis, and their three children—Scott, Steve, and Stacey—each of whom carried forward his passion for sport. Scott followed in his footsteps as a professional scout and executive, Steve pursued a career in professional golf, and Stacey built a successful gymnastics business in Wentzville, Missouri. Bill and Sue were well known in the Lake St. Louis, MO community, where they raised their family. Bill, a founding member of the Lake Forest Country Club, was known to be a scratch golfer. Legend has it that Bill once shot even par right handed and followed up on a bet to prove a point the next day beating the same guy, but this time left handed.
For Minnesota Twins fans and historians, Pleis remains a symbol of the team’s earliest triumphs and enduring spirit. His contributions helped shape the identity of a franchise finding its footing in a new home, and his memory lives on in the stories of the 1965 Twins—a team that brought October baseball to the North Star State for the first time. A SABR BIO on Bill Pleis written by Joe Rippel is a fun and interesting read.
We at Twinstrivia.com would like to pass on our condolences to the Bill Pleis family, friends and fans of Minnesota Twins baseball. Thank you for the memories.
There are just five players still alive that managed, coached or played for the Minnesota Twins in 1961 and they are all pitchers, Jim Kaat, Don Lee, Camilo Pascual, Pedro Ramos, and Gerry Arrigo.
