Editing Minnesota Twins (section)

===Minnesota Twins: 1961–present===
[[File:1920 St. Paul Saints.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Minneapolis Millers]] (1884–1960) and [[St. Paul Saints (1901–1960)|St. Paul Saints]] (1901–1960; ''team photo of 1920 pictured'') of AAA played in Minnesota before the arrival of the Twins in 1961]]
Renamed the Minnesota Twins, the team set up shop in [[Metropolitan Stadium]] in [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], a suburb of Minneapolis. Success came quickly to the team in Minnesota. Sluggers [[Harmon Killebrew]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/killebrew-harmon |title=Killebrew, Harmon |work=Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012064253/http://baseballhall.org/hof/killebrew-harmon |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Bob Allison]], who had been stars in Washington, were joined by [[Tony Oliva]] and [[Zoilo Versalles]], and later [[second baseman]] [[Rod Carew]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/carew-rod |title=Carew, Rod |work=Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=July 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712015825/http://baseballhall.org/hof/carew-rod |url-status=live }}</ref> and pitchers [[Jim Kaat]] and [[Jim Perry (baseball)|Jim Perry]], winning the [[American League pennant]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1965.shtml |title=1965 Minnesota Twins Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809025052/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1965.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> A second wave of success came in the late 1980s and early 1990s under manager [[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]], led by [[Kent Hrbek]], [[Bert Blyleven]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/blyleven-bert |title=Blyleven, Bert |work=Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818031250/http://baseballhall.org/hof/blyleven-bert |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Frank Viola]], and [[Kirby Puckett]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/puckett-kirby |title=Puckett, Kirby |work=Baseball Hall of Fame |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717214416/http://baseballhall.org/hof/puckett-kirby |url-status=live }}</ref> winning the franchise's second and third World Series (and first and second in Minnesota).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/kirby-puckett-your-1987-and-1991-world-series-championship-winning-minnesota-twins/ |title=Kirby Puckett & Your 1987 And 1991 World Series Championship Winning Minnesota Twins {{pipe}} 30-Year Old Cardboard |publisher=Bapple2286.wordpress.com |date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809000950/https://bapple2286.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/kirby-puckett-your-1987-and-1991-world-series-championship-winning-minnesota-twins/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The name "Twins" was derived from "Twin Cities", a popular nickname for the two cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul and sometimes used in reference to the entire [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] metropolitan region. The [[NBA]]'s [[Minneapolis Lakers]] had moved to [[Los Angeles]] in 1960 due to poor attendance, blamed in part on a perceived reluctance of fans in Saint Paul to support the team.<ref name="twinstrivia.com">{{cite web |url=http://twinstrivia.com/today-in-twins-history/ |title=Today in Twins History |publisher=Twinstrivia.com |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630164350/http://twinstrivia.com/today-in-twins-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Griffith was determined not to alienate fans in either city by naming the team after one city or the other. He proposed to name the team the "Twin Cities Twins",<ref name="twinstrivia.com"/> but MLB objected and Griffith therefore named the team the Minnesota Twins. The team was allowed to keep its original "TC" (for Twin Cities) insignia for its caps. The team's logo shows two men, one in a [[Minneapolis Millers]] uniform and one in a [[St. Paul Saints]] uniform, shaking hands across the [[Mississippi River]] within an outline of the state of Minnesota. The "TC" remained on the Twins' caps until 1987, when they adopted new uniforms. By this time, the team felt it was established enough to put an "M" on its cap without having Saint Paul fans think it stood for Minneapolis. The "TC" logo was moved to a sleeve on the jerseys, occasionally appeared as an alternate cap design,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/uniforms_logos.jsp |title=Twins Uniforms and Logos {{pipe}} twinsbaseball.com: History |website=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927164609/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/uniforms_logos.jsp |url-status=dead }}</ref> and then was reinstated as the main cap logo in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 16, 2009|title=Twins Unveil New Logos, Uniforms for 2010 Season|url=http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3751:twins-unveil-new-logos-uniforms-for-2010-season&catid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42|access-date=August 14, 2012|publisher=Bizofbaseball.com|archive-date=April 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419092043/http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3751:twins-unveil-new-logos-uniforms-for-2010-season&catid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both the "TC" and "Minnie & Paul" logos remain the team's primary insignia.
[[File:Metropolitan Stadium 1965.jpg|thumb|[[Metropolitan Stadium]] in [[Bloomington, Minnesota]], 1964]]

====1960s====
The Twins were eagerly greeted in Minnesota when they arrived in [[1961 Minnesota Twins season|1961]]. They brought a nucleus of talented players: Harmon Killebrew,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kxrb.com/from-the-land-of-sky-blue-waters-its-hamms-beer/ |last=McDaniel |first=Randy |date=October 9, 2017 |title=A Cold Hamm's Beer and A Hot Game OF Snooker |work=[[KXRB-FM]] |access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref> [[Bob Allison]], [[Camilo Pascual]], [[Zoilo Versalles]], [[Jim Kaat]], [[Earl Battey]], and [[Lenny Green]]. [[Tony Oliva]], who would go on to win [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|American League batting championships]] in [[1964 Minnesota Twins season|1964]], [[1965 Minnesota Twins season|1965]] and [[1971 Minnesota Twins season|1971]], made his major league debut in [[1962 Minnesota Twins season|1962]].  That year, the Twins won 91 games, the most by the franchise since [[1933 Washington Senators season|1933]]. Behind [[Mudcat Grant]]'s 21 victories, Versalles' [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|A.L. MVP season]] and Oliva's batting title, the Twins won 102 games and the American League Pennant in [[1965 Minnesota Twins season|1965]], but they were defeated in the [[1965 World Series|World Series]] by the [[1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in seven games (behind the [[World Series Most Valuable Player|Series MVP]], [[Sandy Koufax]], who compiled a 2–1 record, including winning the seventh game).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1965_WS.shtml |title=1965 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers over Minnesota Twins (4–3) |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=October 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003034742/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1965_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1962, the Minnesota State Commission on Discrimination filed a complaint against the Twins, which was the only MLB team still [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregating]] players during [[spring training]] and when traveling in the southern United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=September 27, 2021|title=The short history of the Minnesota Twins' Calvin Griffith memorial {{!}} MinnPost|url=https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2021/09/the-short-history-of-the-minnesota-twins-calvin-griffith-memorial/|access-date=November 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927031212/https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2021/09/the-short-history-of-the-minnesota-twins-calvin-griffith-memorial/|archive-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref>

Heading into the final weekend of the [[1967 Minnesota Twins season|1967 season]], when [[Rod Carew]] was named the [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year|A.L. Rookie of the Year]], the Twins, [[1967 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]], [[1967 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]], and [[1967 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] all had a shot at clinching the American League championship. The Twins and the Red Sox started the weekend tied for 1st place and played against each other in Boston for the final two games of the season. The Red Sox won both games, seizing their first pennant since 1946 with a 92–70 record. The Twins and Tigers both finished one game back, with 91–71 records, while the White Sox finished three games back, at 89–73. In 1969, the new manager of the Twins, [[Billy Martin]], pushed aggressive base running all-around, with Carew stealing home seven times in the season (1 short of [[Ty Cobb]]'s Major League Record) in addition to winning the first of seven A.L. batting championships.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19991013104045/http://baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/carew_rod.htm Rod Carew] Baseball Hall of Fame</ref> With Killebrew slugging 49 homers and winning the [[AL MVP Award]], these [[1969 Minnesota Twins season|1969 Twins]] won the first [[American League Western Division]] Championship, but they lost three straight games to the [[1969 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]], winners of 109 games, in the first [[1969 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]]. The Orioles would go on to be upset by the [[1969 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] in the [[1969 World Series|World Series]]. Martin was fired after the season, in part due to an August {{Baseball year|1969}} fight in [[Detroit]] with 20-game winner [[Dave Boswell (baseball)|Dave Boswell]] and outfielder Bob Allison, in an alley outside the Lindell A.C. bar. [[Bill Rigney]] led the Twins to a repeat division title in [[1970 Minnesota Twins season|1970]], behind the star pitching of Jim Perry (24–12), the A.L. [[Cy Young Award]] winner, while the Orioles again won the Eastern Division Championship behind the star pitching of [[Jim Palmer]]. Once again, the Orioles won the [[1970 American League Championship Series|A.L. Championship Series]] in a three-game sweep,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1970.shtml |title=1970 Minnesota Twins Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=August 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819021112/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1970.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and this time they would win the [[1970 World Series|World Series]].

====1970s====
After winning the division again in 1970, the team entered an eight-year dry spell, finishing around the .500 mark. Killebrew departed after 1974. Owner Calvin Griffith faced financial difficulty with the start of [[free agency]], costing the Twins the services of [[Lyman Bostock]] and [[Larry Hisle]], who left as free agents after the 1977 season, and Carew, who was traded after the 1978 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carewro01.shtml |title=Rod Carew Statistics and History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015205910/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carewro01.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1975, Carew won his fourth consecutive AL batting title,<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Rod Carew Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carewro01.shtml |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015205910/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carewro01.shtml |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> having already joined [[Ty Cobb]] as the only players to lead the major leagues in batting average for three consecutive seasons. In {{baseball year|1977}}, Carew batted .388, which was the highest in baseball since [[Boston Red Sox|Boston's]] [[Ted Williams]] hit .406 in {{Baseball year|1941}}; he won the 1977 AL [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP Award]]. He won another batting title in 1978, hitting .333.<ref name=BR/>

====1980s–90s====
[[File:Minnesota Twins Armed Services Appreciation Day game 2009-07-05 3.JPG|thumb|250px|Interior of the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|Metrodome]]]]
In [[1982 Minnesota Twins season|1982]], the Twins moved into the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] in [[downtown Minneapolis]], which they shared with the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. After a 16–54 start, the Twins were on the verge on becoming the worst team in MLB history. They turned the season around somewhat, but still lost 102 games, finishing with what is currently the second-worst record in Twins history (beaten only by the 2016 team, which lost 103 games), despite the .301 average, 23 homers and 92 RBI from rookie [[Kent Hrbek]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hrbek-001ken |title=Kent Hrbek |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=April 22, 2011 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110222312/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA198108240.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> It was during the 1982 season that the Twins' nickname of "Twinkies" truly solidified, a nickname that would haunt them through their World Series years and sneak back into the conversation during the 1990s and 2010s slumps. In 1984, Griffith sold the Twins to multi-billionaire banker/financier [[Carl Pohlad]]. Pohlad beat a larger offer by New York businessman [[Donald Trump]] by promising to keep the club in Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump had the top bid on the Minnesota Twins in 1984 but lost| date=May 19, 2016 |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/donald-trump-had-the-top-bid-on-the-minnesota-twins-in-1984-but-lost/#:~:text=As%20noted%20on%20startribune.com,Pohlad%20for%20roughly%20%2436%20million.|access-date=February 27, 2021|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618131436/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/donald-trump-had-the-top-bid-on-the-minnesota-twins-in-1984-but-lost/#:~:text=As%20noted%20on%20startribune.com,Pohlad%20for%20roughly%20%2436%20million.|url-status=live}}</ref> The Metrodome hosted the [[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]. After several losing seasons, the [[1987 Minnesota Twins season|1987 team]], led by Hrbek, [[Gary Gaetti]], [[Frank Viola]] ([[Cy Young Award|A.L. Cy Young]] winner in [[1988 Minnesota Twins season|1988]]), [[Bert Blyleven]], [[Jeff Reardon]], [[Tom Brunansky]], [[Dan Gladden]], and rising star [[Kirby Puckett]], returned to the World Series after defeating the favored [[1987 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] in the [[1987 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], 4 games to 1. [[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]] managed the Twins to World Series victories over the [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals season|St. Louis Cardinals]] in [[1987 World Series|1987]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1987ws.shtml |title=1987 World Series by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-date=June 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615040904/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1987ws.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1987_WS.shtml |title=1987 World Series – Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals (4–3) |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217064254/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1987_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[1991 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] in [[1991 World Series|1991]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1991ws.shtml |title=1991 World Series by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=March 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312145319/https://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1991ws.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The 1988 Twins were the first team in American League history to draw more than 3&nbsp;million fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/timeline3.jsp|title=Twins Timeline|work=Minnesota Twins|access-date=April 24, 2016|archive-date=January 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120222341/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/history/timeline3.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 17, 1990, the Twins became the only team in major league history to pull off two triple plays in the same game.  Twins' pitcher and Minnesota native [[Jack Morris]] was the star of the series in 1991, going 2–0 in his three starts with a 1.17 ERA.<ref>{{cite news|last=Caple|first=Jim|title=1991 World Series had it all|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/1991_series_caple.html|newspaper=ESPN|date=November 19, 2003|access-date=February 1, 2007|archive-date=November 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111151410/http://espn.go.com/classic/s/1991_series_caple.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[1991 Minnesota Twins season|1991]] also marked the first time that any team that finished in last place in their division would advance to the World Series the following season; both the Twins and the Braves did this in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.braves101.com/2011/10/15/worst-to-first-looking-back-on-the-miracle-season-of-the-1991-atlanta-braves/ |title=Worst to First: Looking Back on the Miracle Season of the 1991 Atlanta Braves {{pipe}} Braves 101 {{pipe}} Sports Media 101 |publisher=Braves 101 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731203747/http://www.braves101.com/2011/10/15/worst-to-first-looking-back-on-the-miracle-season-of-the-1991-atlanta-braves/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Contributors to the 1991 Twins' improvement from 74 wins to 95 included [[Chuck Knoblauch]], the [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year|A.L. Rookie of the Year]]; [[Scott Erickson]], 20-game winner; new closer [[Rick Aguilera]] and new designated hitter [[Chili Davis]].
[[File:President Reagan and 1987 Twins.png|thumb|left|upright=1.15|President [[Ronald Reagan]] congratulates the Twins winning the [[1987 World Series]]]]
The World Series in 1991 is regarded by many as one of the classics of all time. In this Series, four games were won during the teams' final at-bat, and three of these were in extra innings. The Atlanta Braves won all three of their games in Atlanta, and the Twins won all four of their games in Minnesota. Up until then, it was the second time in MLB history when a team won all its home games on their way to winning the World Series. The Twins also did it in 1987. The sixth game was a legendary one for Puckett, who tripled in a run, made a sensational leaping catch against the wall, and finally in the 11th inning hit the game-winning home run. Before Puckett's home run, the Braves brought in Charlie Leibrandt to face him. Chili Davis was on-deck. Puckett told Davis he was going to bunt, and Davis was going to win the game. Davis told him he was going to sit on Leibrandt's change-up and send everyone home. The seventh game was tied 0–0 after the regulation nine innings, and marked only the second time that the seventh game of the World Series had ever gone into extra innings. The Twins won on a walk-off RBI single by [[Gene Larkin]] in the bottom of the 10th inning, after Morris had pitched ten shutout innings against the Braves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pitchinglogs.php?p=morrija02&y=1991 |title=Jack Morris 1991 Game by Game Pitching Logs |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=December 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230151112/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pitchinglogs.php?p=morrija02&y=1991 |url-status=live }}</ref> The seventh game of the [[1991 World Series]] is widely regarded as one of the greatest games in the history of professional baseball.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8067627/the-top-25-single-game-performances-mlb-postseason-history |title=The top 25 single-game performances in MLB postseason history – ESPN |publisher=ESPN |date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=August 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819143721/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8067627/the-top-25-single-game-performances-mlb-postseason-history |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/network/games_airdates/ |title=MLB's 20 Greatest Games {{pipe}} MLB Network: Network |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022518/http://mlb.mlb.com/network/games_airdates/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/sports/world-series-sports-of-the-times-game-7-was-a-gift-from-above.html | work=The New York Times | first=Ira | last=Berkow | title=WORLD SERIES: SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Game 7 Was a Gift From Above | date=October 28, 1991 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306143817/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/sports/world-series-sports-of-the-times-game-7-was-a-gift-from-above.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

After a winning season in [[1992 Minnesota Twins season|1992]] but falling short of [[1992 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland]] in the division, the Twins fell into a years-long stretch of mediocrity, posting a losing record each season for the next eight: 71–91 in 1993, 50–63 in 1994, 56–88 in 1995, 78–84 in 1996, 68–94 in 1997, 70–92 in 1998, 63–97 in 1999 and 69–93 in 2000. From 1994 to 1997, a long sequence of retirements and injuries hurt the team badly, and Tom Kelly spent the remainder of his managerial career attempting to rebuild the Twins. In 1997, owner Carl Pohlad almost sold the Twins to [[North Carolina]] businessman Don Beaver, who would have moved the team to the [[Piedmont Triad]] area.<ref>[http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/34814 Twins Meet Don Beaver: He Inks Letter of Intent to Buy Team] Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily</ref><ref>[https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/1999/05/03/tidbits.html Was baseball deal charade? 'Well, sort of'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526103654/https://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/1999/05/03/tidbits.html |date=May 26, 2019 }} – Justin Catanoso, Triad Business Journal, May 3, 1999</ref>

Puckett was forced to retire at age 35 due to loss of vision in one eye from a [[central retinal vein occlusion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/11692616.html?page=all&prepage=2&c=y |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017134645/http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/11692616.html?page=all&prepage=2&c=y |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |title=Kirby says goodbye |author=Jim Souhan |publisher=StarTribune |date=March 27, 1998 |access-date=July 17, 2011 }}</ref> The [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|1989 A.L. batting champion]], he retired as the Twins' all-time leader in career [[hit (baseball)|hits]], [[run (baseball)|runs]], [[double (baseball)|doubles]], and [[total bases]]. At the time of his retirement, his .318 career [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] was the highest by any right-handed [[American League]] batter since [[Joe DiMaggio]]. Puckett was the fourth baseball player during the 20th century to record 1,000 hits in his first five full calendar years in Major League Baseball, and was the second to record 2,000 hits during his first 10 full calendar years. He was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2001|2001]], his first year of eligibility.

====2000s====
[[File:Justin morneau2003.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Justin Morneau]], drafted in 1999 by the Twins, won the [[AL MVP]] award in 2006]]
The Twins dominated the Central Division in the first decade of the new century, winning the division in six of those ten years ('02, '03, '04, '06, '09 and '10), and nearly winning it in '08 as well.  From 2001 to 2006, the Twins compiled the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons since moving to Minnesota.

Threatened with closure by [[2001 Major League Baseball contraction plan|league contraction]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/spot/contraction1.html |title=Labor Pains: A guide to Major League Baseball's contraction issue |last=Gettings |first=John |publisher=Infoplease.com |year=2001 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-date=August 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812115615/http://www.infoplease.com/spot/contraction1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[2002 Minnesota Twins season|2002 team]] battled back to reach the [[2002 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] before being eliminated 4–1 by that year's World Series champion [[Anaheim Angels]].

In 2006, the Twins won the division on the last day of the regular season (the only day all season they held sole possession of first place) but lost to the Oakland Athletics in the [[2006 American League Division Series|ALDS]]. [[Ozzie Guillén]] coined a nickname for this squad, calling the Twins "[[Piranhas (baseball)|little piranhas]]".<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2609825 |title=Mauer wins AL batting title on final day – MLB – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=October 1, 2006 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108122032/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2609825 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Twins players embraced the label, and in response, the Twins Front office started a "Piranha Night", with piranha finger puppets given out to the first 10,000 fans. Scoreboard operators sometimes played an animated sequence of piranhas munching under that caption in situations where the Twins were scoring runs playing "[[small ball (baseball)|small ball]]", and the stadium vendors sold T-shirts and hats advertising "The Little Piranhas". The Twins also had the AL MVP in Justin Morneau,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2670876 |title=Morneau edges Jeter to win AL MVP – MLB – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=November 23, 2006 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403125648/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2670876 |url-status=live }}</ref> the AL batting champion in [[Joe Mauer]],<ref name="autogenerated1"/> and the AL Cy Young Award winner in [[Johan Santana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santajo02.shtml |title=Johan Santana Statistics and History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=January 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124025939/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santajo02.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, the Twins finished the regular season tied with the White Sox on top of the AL Central, forcing a [[2008 American League Central tie-breaker game|one-game playoff]] in Chicago to determine the division champion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080930&content_id=3576317&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |title=White Sox claim AL Central crown {{pipe}} whitesox.com: News |publisher=Chicago.whitesox.mlb.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122080012/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080930&content_id=3576317&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Twins lost that game and missed the playoffs. The game location was determined by rule of a coin flip that was conducted in mid-September. This rule was changed for the start of the 2009 season, making the site for any [[One-game playoff|tiebreaker game]] to be determined by the winner of the regular season head-to-head record between the teams involved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090917&content_id=7018116 |title=Coin flips no longer used as tiebreaker {{pipe}} MLB.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023123354/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090917&content_id=7018116 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Image:0923 493c Joe Nathan.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Joe Nathan]] won the [[Rolaids Relief Man Award]] in 2009]]
After a year where the Twins played .500 baseball for most of the season, the team won 17 of their last 21 games to tie the [[Detroit Tigers]] for the lead in the Central Division.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2009-schedule-scores.shtml |title=2009 Minnesota Twins Schedule, Box Scores and Splits |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027231052/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2009-schedule-scores.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The Twins were able to use the play-in game rule to their advantage when they won the [[AL Central]] at the end of the regular season by way of a 6–5 [[2009 American League Central tie-breaker game|tiebreaker game]] that concluded with a 12th-inning walk-off hit by [[Alexi Casilla]] to right field, that scored [[Carlos Gómez]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2009/10/06/29094_recap.html | work=CNN | title=Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins | access-date=June 21, 2012 | archive-date=January 7, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107025238/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2009/10/06/29094_recap.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> However, they failed to advance to the [[2009 American League Championship Series|American League Championship Series]] as they lost the [[2009 American League Division Series|American League Divisional Series]] in three straight games to the eventual World Series champion New York Yankees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=09 |title=2009 Postseason {{pipe}} MLB.com: Schedule |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723094556/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=09 |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, Joe Mauer became only the second catcher in 33 years to win the AL MVP award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091115&content_id=7669440&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Mauer handily catches AL MVP Award {{pipe}} MLB.com: News|website=Minnesota Twins|publisher=MLB|access-date=August 15, 2012|archive-date=November 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128192958/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091115&content_id=7669440&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Iván Rodríguez]] won for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in 1999, previous to that, the last catcher to win an AL MVP was the [[New York Yankees]] [[Thurman Munson]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courant.com/2009/11/24/tools-of-excellence-2/ |title=Tools Of Excellence |work=Hartford Courant |date=November 24, 2009 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731181059/http://articles.courant.com/2009-11-24/sports/flychart1124_1_joe-mauer-ernie-lombardi-thurman-munson |url-status=live }}</ref>

2010 marked Minnesota's inaugural season played at [[Target Field]], where the Twins finished the regular season with a record of 94–68, clinching the AL Central Division title for the 6th time in 9 years under manager [[Ron Gardenhire]]. New regular players included rookie [[Danny Valencia]] at third base, designated hitter [[Jim Thome]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=6866432 |title=Jim Thome, Twins – ESPN |publisher=ESPN |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731194403/http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=6866432 |url-status=dead }}</ref> closer [[Matt Capps]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7679 |title=Matt Capps – Minnesota Twins – MLB – Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=June 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612163913/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7679 |url-status=live }}</ref> infielder [[J. J. Hardy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4629260 |title=Milwaukee Brewers trade SS J. J. Hardy for Minnesota Twins' CF Carlos Gómez – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=November 6, 2009 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731203431/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4629260 |url-status=live }}</ref> and infielder [[Orlando Hudson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olney |first=Buster |date=February 5, 2010 |agency=Associated Press |title=Orlando Hudson gets one-year deal from Minnesota Twins |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4888089 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=December 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217153644/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4888089 |url-status=live }}</ref> In relief pitching roles were late additions [[Brian Fuentes]] and [[Randy Flores]]. On July 7, the team suffered a major blow when Justin Morneau sustained a concussion, which kept him out of the lineup for the rest of the season. In the [[2010 American League Division Series|divisional series]], the Twins lost to the Yankees in a three-game sweep for the second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=10 |title=2010 Postseason {{pipe}} MLB.com: Schedule |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003153022/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp?y=10 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the season, Ron Gardenhire received AL [[Manager of the Year Award|Manager of the Year]] honors after finishing as a runner up in several prior years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/manage.shtml |title=MLB Manager of the Year Award Winners |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 15, 2012 |archive-date=September 25, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000925060225/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/manage.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====2017–present=====
In 2017, the Twins went 85–77, finishing 2nd In the AL Central.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/2017/10/01/twins-dump-tigers-end-season-85-77/721840001/|title=Twins dump Tigers to end season at 85-77|website=St. Cloud Times}}</ref> Following [[Brian Dozier]]'s 34 [[home runs]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2017.shtml|title=2017 Minnesota Twins Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008142938/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2017.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Miguel Sanó]], [[Byron Buxton]], and [[Eddie Rosario]] all had breakout years, while [[Joe Mauer]] hit .305. They ended up making the playoffs,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2735289-minnesota-twins-clinch-playoff-berth-for-2017-mlb-postseason|title=Minnesota Twins Clinch Playoff Berth for 2017 MLB Postseason|first=Adam|last=Wells|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090845/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2735289-minnesota-twins-clinch-playoff-berth-for-2017-mlb-postseason|url-status=live}}</ref> which made them the first ever team to lose 100 games the previous year and make the playoffs the next season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2735666-twins-become-1st-team-to-make-playoffs-one-year-after-losing-100-plus-games|title=Twins Become 1st Team to Make Playoffs One Year After Losing 100-Plus Games|first=Daily|last=Facts|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090900/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2735666-twins-become-1st-team-to-make-playoffs-one-year-after-losing-100-plus-games|url-status=live}}</ref> They lost to the Yankees in the wild card round.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yanks-beat-twins-to-reach-alds-against-indians-c257321132|title=Wild start! Yanks' pop, 'pen erase Minn.|website=MLB.com|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721215914/https://www.mlb.com/news/yanks-beat-twins-to-reach-alds-against-indians-c257321132|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2018 season did not go as well. The Twins went 78–84, and did not return to the post-season. Sanó and Buxton were injured most of the year and eventually both sent down to the minors, while long-time Twin Brian Dozier was traded at the deadline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brian-dozier-traded-to-dodgers-c288181290|title=Dodgers add depth in trades for Dozier, Axford|website=MLB.com|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327085925/https://www.mlb.com/news/brian-dozier-traded-to-dodgers-c288181290|url-status=live}}</ref> One bright spot came at the end of the season, when hometown hero Joe Mauer returned to catcher (his original position) for his final game, ending his career with a signature double and standing ovation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joe Mauer Doubles, Catches In Finale |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-mauer-doubles-catches-in-twins-finale-c296709532 |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321232316/https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-mauer-doubles-catches-in-twins-finale-c296709532 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another highlight was the team's two-game series against the Cleveland Indians in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/indians-twins-to-play-in-puerto-rico-in-2018/c-237882428|title=Indians, Twins to play in Puerto Rico in 2018|website=MLB.com|language=en|access-date=April 18, 2018|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053425/https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/indians-twins-to-play-in-puerto-rico-in-2018/c-237882428|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717109-twins-indians-to-play-2-game-series-in-puerto-rico-in-2018|title=Twins, Indians to Play 2-Game Series in Puerto Rico in 2018|last=Wells|first=Adam|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=April 18, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=April 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053540/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717109-twins-indians-to-play-2-game-series-in-puerto-rico-in-2018|url-status=live}}</ref> After the season, manager Paul Molitor was fired.<ref>{{cite web |title=Twins fire manager Paul Molitor after 78–84 finish |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Twins-fire-manager-Paul-Molitor-78-84-record-13278300.php |website=Chron.com |date=October 2, 2018 |access-date=March 12, 2019 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321233159/https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Twins-fire-manager-Paul-Molitor-78-84-record-13278300.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Free agent signing [[Logan Morrison]] and long-time veteran [[Ervin Santana]] declared free agency.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Twins 2019 Off Season Transactions |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/MIN/minnesota-twins/transactions/ |website=CBS Sports |publisher=CBS |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321231843/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/MIN/minnesota-twins/transactions/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Miguel Sano (25968616510).jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|[[Miguel Sanó]], infielder (2015–2022)]]

In 2019, the Twins clinched the AL Central Division for the first time since 2010, finishing the season with the second-most wins in franchise history with 101, one short of the 1965 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1965.shtml|title=1965 Minnesota Twins Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809025052/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/1965.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=October 2019}} The team combined for a total of 307 home runs, the most in MLB history for a single season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_hr7.shtml|title=Home Run Records by MLB Teams During a Single Season {{pipe}} Baseball Almanac|website=www.baseball-almanac.com|access-date=September 30, 2019|archive-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101091115/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_hr7.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> The team's slugging prowess has earned them the nickname the ''Bomba Squad''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kare11.com/article/sports/mlb/twins/the-bomb-squad-behind-the-bomba-squad/89-e5a7dd06-899c-4d29-90d6-62f244f99cf0|title=The 'Bomb Squad' behind the Bomba Squad|website=kare11.com|date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> In the [[2019 ALDS]], the Twins opponents were the New York Yankees, who finished one home run behind at 306 and the second team to break the 300 home run mark. The Twins were swept again, and extend their postseason losing streak to 16, dating back to the 2004 ALDS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-eliminated-by-yankees-in-al-division-series-sweep|title=Twins' 'very special' season ends in DS sweep|website=MLB.com|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721215914/https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-eliminated-by-yankees-in-al-division-series-sweep|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 17, 2019, Miguel Sanó hit a 482-foot home run to make the Twins the first team in major league history to have five players with at least 30 home runs in a season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-sano-record-fifth-twins-player-30-homers|title=Sanó gives Twins record 5 players with 30 HRs|website=MLB.com|access-date=September 18, 2019|archive-date=September 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918065641/https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-sano-record-fifth-twins-player-30-homers|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023 the Minnesota Twins struggled through the first half, falling under .500 just before the All-Star break before beginning a late season surge that saw them take control of the AL Central. They finished as the third seed in the AL for the 2023 MLB Playoffs and faced the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] in the AL Wild Card round. Behind dominant pitching they won both of the first 2 games in the 3 game series, winning their first playoff game since 2004 (breaking an 0–18 postseason streak, the longest in North American sports history) and winning their first playoff series since the 2002 ALDS against the Oakland Athletics.