This off-season I decided to start a project and I will share part of it here, and this is the first installment. I have always been interested in the history of the Twins' franchise from the Western League Kansas City Blues (the late 19th Century Blues who moved to DC to form the American League, not the early 20th century American Association Blues) to the founding member of the American League, Washington Senators to the Minnesota Twins. And it is unfortunate that the current Twins' owners have never embraced the history of their franchise. And a lot of the current Twins' fans may have heard that Harmon Killebrew was a Senator once or that there was a great pitcher by the name of Walter Johnson who played for the Senators, but not much is known about the other greats who wore the Senators uniform. Add to this fact the realizations that a. the Twins moved to Minnesota a month more than 61 years ago and b. a decent part of the Twins' fan base was born after the Twins won their last World Series, and I think that a lot of the Twins greats are becoming somewhat obscured. When this series is finished here, I will be profiling (with pictures as well) about 275 players who wore the franchise uniform either as Senators or as Twins, from 1901 to the present. And I figured that an interesting way to do it, would be to create top 10 lists for the franchise in several hitting and pitching categories. This way, the picture of how a player fits in the big picture of the franchise might become more clear, esp. when considering players for things like the Twins' Hall of Fame, which is currently happening.
Now about the lists: There are two top ten lists for each category: Single Season Best and Career Best. Career Best takes into consideration cumulative performance for only the Twins' or Senators' years of a player's career. In other words, what Carew did with the Angels does not matter. And the top-10 lists are not a single top ten list. Because of the variations of the game through out the years, a Senators' top ten list is merged with a Twins' top ten list to give the franchise's best (usually 20-30) players in a category. So in the lists, we get the ranking in the franchise and the ranking of a particular player among Senators or Twins, depending what uniform that player won. Because the purpose of this is to be a history lesson and a celebration of the great players who played for our beloved franchise, and not a debate about who is better than whom, I am not adding commentary on performances.
The time travel starts with Batting Average:
Single Season Ranking:
Franchise 1, Min 1, Carew, R (1977) .388
Franchise 2, Was 1, Goslin, G (1928) .379
Franchise 3, Min 2, Mauer, J (2009) .365
Franchise 4, Min 3, Carew, R (1974) .364
Franchise 5, Min 4, Carew, R (1975) .359
Franchise 5, Was 2, Travis, C (1941) .359
Franchise 7, Min 5, Puckett, K (1988) .356
Franchise 8, Was 3, Goslin, G (1926) .354
Franchise 9, Was 4, Vernon, M (1946) .353
Franchise 10, Min 6, Carew, R (1973) .350
Franchise 10, Was 5, Rice, S (1925) .350
Franchise 12, Was 6, Rice, S (1930) .349
Franchise 12, Was 6, Myer, B (1935) .349
Franchise 12, Was 6, Manush, H (1934) .349
Franchise 15, Min 7, Mauer, J 2006 .347
Franchise 16, Was 9, Cronin, J (1930) .346
Franchise 17, Was 10 Travis, C (1937) .344
Franchise 17, Was 10 Goslin, G (1924) .344
Franchise 19, Was 12 Manush, H (1932) .342
Franchise 20, Was 13 Stone, J (1936) .341
Franchise 20, Min 8 Molitor, P (1996) .341
Franchise 20, Min 9 Knoblauch, C (1996) .341
Franchise 23, Min 10 Puckett, K (1989) .339
Franchise Career Ranking:
Franchise 1, Min 1 Carew, R .334
Franchise 2, Was 1 Manush, H .328
Franchise 3, Min 2 Mauer, J .323
Franchise 3, Was 2 Rice, S .323
Franchise 3, Was 2 Goslin, G .323
Franchise 6, Min 3 Puckett, K .318
Franchise 7, Was 4 Stone, J .317
Franchise 8, Was 5 Travis, C .314
Franchise 9, Min 4 Mack, S .309
Franchise 10, Min 5 Harper, B .306
Franchise 11, Was 6 Cronin, J .304
Franchise 11, Min 6 Oliva, T 304
Franchise 11, Min 6 Knoblauch, C .304
Franchise 14, Was 7 Myer, B .303
Franchise 15, Was 8 Judge, J .299
Franchise 16, Was 9 Lewis, B .297
Franchise 16, Was 9 West, S .297
Franchise 18, Was 11 Spence, S .296
Franchise 19, Was 12 Gandil, C .293
Franchise 20, Was 13 Ruel, M .290
Franchise 21, Was 14 Kuhel, J .288
Franchise 21 Was 14 Case, G .288
Franchise 21, Was 14 Vernon, M .288
Franchise 24, Min 8 Hisle, L .286
Franchise 25, Was 17 Milan, C .285
Franchise 26, Min 9 Braun, S .284
Franchise 26, Min 9 Hatcher, M .284
Who is who of the Senators Listed, with a bit of biographic information and a picture (alphabetically):
Case, G
-------
George Washington Case
Born: November 11, 1915 in Trenton, NJ
OF
1937-1945 Senators, 1946 Cleveland and ended career in 1947 with Senators
4 times all star: 1939, 1943, 1944 and 1945
Led the AL in stolen bases in 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1946
Cronin, J
---------
Joseph Edward Cronin
Born: October 12, 1906 in San Francisco, CA
Died: September 7, 1984, Osterville, MA
SS
1926-1927 Pittsburgh, 1928-1934 Senators, 1935-1945 Red Sox.
Career: .301/.390/.468, 170 HR, 1424 RBI, 1232 R, 2285 H, 87 SB
7 times All Star: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941
AL MVP 1930
Hall of Fame (elected 1956 as a Red Sox' Player)
His number 4 retired by Boston
Gandil, C
---------
Arnold (Chick) Gandil
Born: January 19, 1887 in St.Paul, MN
Died: December 13, 1970 in Calistoga, CA
1B
1010 White Sox, 1912-1915 Senators, 1916 Cleveland, 1917-1919 White Sox
Career: .277/.327/.362, 11 HR, 557 RBI, 449 R, 1176 H, 153 SB.
1917 World Series Winner (White Sox)
Goslin, G
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Leon Allen (Goose) Goslin
Born: October 16, 1900 in Salem, NJ
Died: May 15, 1971, Bridgeton, NJ
OF
1921-1930, 1933, 1938 Senators, 1930-1932 St. Louis, 1934-1938 Detroit
Career: .316/.387/.500, 248 HR, 1609 RBI, 1482 R, 2735 H, 175 SB
All Star 1936
World Series Winner 1924 (Senators) 1935 (Detroit)
Hall of Fame (Elected 1968 as a
Minnesota Twin not as a Senator)
Judge, J
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Joseph Ignatius (Joe) Judge
Born: May 25, 1894 in Brooklyn, NY
Died: March 11, 1963 in Washington DC
1B
1915-1933 Senators, 1933-1934 Red Sox
Career: .298/.378/.420, 71 HR, 1034 RBI, 1185 R, 2352 H, 213 SB
World Series Winner 1924 (Senators)
Kuhel, J
----------
Joseph Anthony (Joe) Kuhel
Born: June 25, 1906 in Cleveland, OH
Died: February 26, 1984 in Kansas City, KS
1B
1930-1937, 1944-1946 Senators, 1938-1943, 1946, 1947 White Sox
Career: .277/.359/.406, 131 HR, 1049 RBI, 1236 R, 2212H, 178 SB
Lewis, B
----------
John Kelly (Buddy) Lewis
Born: August 10, 1916 in Gastonia, NC
Died: February 18, 2011 in Gastonia, NC
3B
1935-1941, 1945-1947 Senators; in the US Air Force from 1942-1944 flew more than 350 missions in WWII
Career: .297/.368/.420, 71 HR, 607 RBI, 830 R, 1563 H, 83 SB
All Star: 1938, 1947
Manush, H
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Henry Emmett (Heinie) Manush
Born: July 20, 1901 in Tuscumbia, AL
Died: May 21, 1971 in Sarasota, FL
OF
1923-1927 Detroit, 1928-1930 St Louis, 1930-1935 Senators, 1936 Boston, 1937-1938 Brooklyn, 1938-1939 Pittsburgh
Career: .330/.377/.479, 110 HR, 1183 RBI, 1288 R, 2524 H, 114 SB
Led AL in Batting Average in 1926 and in Hits in 1928 and 1933
All Star (1934, Senators)
Hall of Fame (Elected 1964, Detroit Tigers)
Milan, C
---------
Jesse "Deerfoot" Clyde Milan
Born: March 25, 1887 in Linden, TN
Died: March 3, 1953 in Orlando, FL
OF
1907-1922 Senators
Career: .285/.353/.353, 17 HR, 617 RBI, 1004 R, 2100 H, 495 SB
Led AL in Stolen Bases 1912 and 1913
Myer, B
---------
Charles Solomon (Buddy) Myer
Born: March 16, 1904 in Ellisville, MS
Died: October 31, 1974 in Baton Rouge, LA
2B
1925-1927, 1929-1941 Senators, 1927-1928 Red Sox
Career: .303/.389/.406 38 HR, 850 RBI, 1174 R, 2131 H, 156 SB
Led the AL in Batting Average in 1935 and Stolen Bases in 1928
Two times All Star: 1935, 1937
Rice, S
---------
Edgar Charles (Sam) Rice
Born: February 20, 1890 in Morocco, IN
Died: October 13, 1974 in Rossmoor, MD
OF
1915-1933 Senators, 1934 Cleveland
Career: .322/.374/.427, 34 HR, 1078 RBI, 1513 R, 2987 H, 351 SB
Led the AL in Hits 1924, 1926 and Stolen Bases in 1920
World Series Champion 1924 (Senators)
Hall of Fame (elected 1963, Minnesota Twins)
Ruel, M
--------
Herold Dominic (Muddy) Ruel
Born: February 20, 1896 in St. Louis, MO
Died: November 13, 1963 in Palo Alto, California
C
1915, 1933 St Louis, 1917-1920 Yankees, 1921-1922 Red Sox, 1923-1931 Senators, 1931-1932 Detroit, 1934 White Sox
Career: .275/.365/.332 4 HR, 534 RBI, 493 R, 1242 H, 61 SB
World Series Champion 1924 (Senators)
Spence, S
----------
Stanley (Stan) Orville Spence
Born: March 20, 1915 in S.Portsmouth, KY
Died: January 9, 1983 in Kinston, NC
OF
1940-1941, 1948-1949, Red Sox, 1942-1947 Senators, 1949 St Louis
Career: .282/.369/.437 95 HR, 575 RBI, 541 R, 1090 H, 21 SB
All Star: 1942, 1944, 1946, 1947 (all with Senators)
Stone, J
--------
John "Rocky" Thomas Stone
Born: October 10, 1905 in Mulberry, TN
Died: November 30, 1955 in Shelbyville, TN
OF
1928-1933 Detroit, 1934-1938 Senators
Career: .310/.376/.467 77 HR, 707 RBI, 739 R, 1391 H, 45 SB
Travis, C
----------
Cecil Howell Travis
Born: August 8, 1913 in Riverdale, GA
Died: December 16, 2006 in Riverdale, GA
SS
1933-1941, 1945-1947 Senators; 1941-1944 US Army, received Bronze Star for injuries
Career: .314/.370/.416 27 HR, 657 RBI, 665 R, 1544 H, 23 SB
Led the AL in Hits, 1941
All Star: 1938, 1940, 1941
Vernon, M
-----------
James Barton (Mickey) Vernon
Born: April 22, 1918 in Marcus Hook, PA
Died: September 24, 2008 in Media, PA
1B
1939-1943, 1946-1947, 1950-1955 Senators, 1949-1950, 1958 Cleveland, 1956-1957 Boston, 1959 Milwaukee, 1960 Pittsburgh; US Army 1944-1945
Career: .286/.359/.428 172 HR, 1311 RBI, 1196 R, 2495 H, 137 SB
Led the AL in Batting Average in 1946 and 1953
All Star: 1946, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1955 (Senators) 1956 (Boston) 1958 (Cleveland)
World Series Champion 1960
West, S
---------
Samuel (Sam) Filmore West
Born: October 5, 1904 in Longview, TX
Died: November 23, 1985 in Lubbock, TX
OF
1927-1932, 1938-1941 Senators, 1933-1938 St Louis, 1942 White Sox
Career: .299/.371/.425 75 HR, 838 RBI, 934 R, 1838 H, 53 SB
All Star: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937 (all with St Louis)
Who is who of the Twins listed, with a bit of biographic information and a picture (alphabetically):
Braun, S
---------
Stephen (Steve) Russell Braun
Born: May 8, 1948 in Trenton, NJ
OF
1971-1976 Twins, 1977-1978 Seattle, 1978-1980 Kansas City, 1980 Toronto, 1981-1985 St Louis
Career: .271/.371/.367 52 HR, 388 RBI, 466 R, 969 H, 45 SB
World Series Champion 1982 (St Louis)
Carew, R
----------
Rodney (Rod) Cline Carew
Born: October 1, 1945 in Gatun, Canal Zone
IF
1967-1978 Twins, 1979-1985 Angels
Career: .328/.393/.429 82 HR, 1015 RBI, 1424 R, 3053 H, 353 SB
Led AL in Batting Average: 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978; in OBP 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978 in OPS 1977 in Runs 1977, Hits 1973, 1974, 1977
All Star: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 (Twins), 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 (Angels)
MVP 1977
Rookie of the year 1967
Roberto Clemente Award 1977
Uniform number 29 Retired by the Twins (1987) and Angels (1991)
Hall of Fame (elected 1991, Minnesota Twins)
Harper, B
---------
Brian David Harper
Born: October 16, 1959 in Los Angeles, CA
C
1979, 1981 Angels, 1982-1984 Pittsburgh, 1985 St Louis, 1986 Detroit, 1987, 1985 Oakland, 1998-1993 Twins, 1994 Milwaukee
Career: .295/.329/.419 63 HR, 428 RBI, 339 R, 931 H, 8 SB
World Series Champion 1991, Twins
Hatcher, M
----------
Michael Vaughn (Mickey) Hatcher
Born: March 15, 1955 in Cleveland, OH
OF
1979-1980, 1987-1990 Dodgers, 1981-1986 Twins
Career: .280/.313/.377 38 HR, 375 RBI, 348 R, 946 H, 11 SB
World Series Champion 1988, Dodgers
Hisle, L
---------
Larry Eugene Hisle
Born: May 5, 1947 in Portsmouth, OH
OF
1968-1971 Philadelphia, 1973-1977 Twins, 1978-1982 Milwaukee
Career: .273/.347./.452 166 HR, 674 RBI, 652 R, 1146 H, 128 SB
Led the AL in RBI in 1977
All Star 1977 (Twins), 1978 (Milwaukee)
Knoblauch, C
------------
Edward Charles (Chuck) Knoblauch
Born: July 7, 1968 in Houston, TX
2B
1991-1997 Twins, 1998-2001 Yankees, 2002 Kansas City
Career: .289/.378/.406 98 HR, 615 RBI, 1132 R, 1839 H, 407 SB
All Star 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 (all with Twins)
Gold Glove 1997
Silver Slugger 1995, 1997
World Series Champion: 1991 (Twins), 1994, 1996, 1997 (Yankees)
Rookie of the Year 1991 (Twins)
Mack, S
---------
Shane Lee Mack
Born: December 7, 1963 in Los Angeles, CA
OF
1987-1988 San Diego, 1990-1994 Twins, 1997 Boston, 1998 Kansas City, 1998 Oakland
Career: .299/.364/.456 80 HR, 398 RBI, 436 R, 853 H, 90 SB
World Series Champion 1991 (Twins)
Mauer, J .
----------
Joseph (Joe) Patrick Mauer
Born: April 19, 1983 in St. Paul, MN
C
2004- Twins
Career: .323/.403/.471 84 HR, 502 RBI, 545 R, 1096 H, 35 SB
Led the AL in Batting Average 2006, 2008, 2009, in OBP in 2009, in Slugging percentage in 2009 and in OPS in 2009
All Star: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
Silver Slugger: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010,
Gold Glove: 2008, 2009, 2010
AL MVP 2009
Molitor, P.
-----------
Paul Leo Molitor
Born: August 22, 1956 in St. Paul, MN
IF/DH
1978-1992 Milwaukee, 1993-1995 Toronto 1996-1998 Twins
Career: .306/.369/.448 234 HR, 1307 RBI, 1782 R, 3319 H, 504 SB
All Star: 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992 (Milwaukee) 1993, 1994 (Toronto)
Silver Slugger 1987, 1988 (Milwaukee) 1993 (Toronto) 1996 (Twins)
World Series Champion 1993 (Toronto)
World Series MVP 1993
Hall of Fame (elected 2004, Milwaukee)
Uniform number 4 retired (Milwaukee 1999)
Oliva, T
---------
Pedro (Tony) Oliva
Born: July 20, 1940 in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba
OF
1962-1976 Twins
Career: .304/.353/.476 220 HR, 947 RBI, 870 R, 1917 H, 86 SB
All Star: 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 (Twins)
Gold Glove: 1966
Rookie of the year 1964
Uniform number 6 retired (Twins, 1991)
Puckett, K
-----------
Kirby Puckett
Born: March 14, 1961 in Chicago, IL
Died: March 6, 2006 in Phoenix, AZ
OF
1984-1995 Twins
Career: .318/.360/.477 207 HR, 1085 RBI, 1071 R, 2304 H, 134 SB
Led the AL in Batting Average 1989, in RBI 1994 and in Hits in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
All Star: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
All Star MVP: 1993
Silver Slugger 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994
World Series Champion: 1987, 1991
ALCS MVP: 1991
Roberto Clemente Award: 1996
Hall of Fame (Elected 2001; Minnesota Twins)
Next: On Base Percentage Ranking
