The Twins inducted a little-known maple syrup farmer into their team Hall of Fame on Saturday night. "It was hard for me to do that when I first came up, because I only thought of myself as a baseball player and not as a role model, not as someone who wanted to be in the spotlight," Morneau said. I sent him a congratulations and he sent one back. Morneau now 40 and living on a farm in Medina with wife. Over parts of five minor league campaigns, he developed into a top prospect, earning invitations to two MLB Futures Games (2002, 2004) before he was called up to make his major league debut with the Twins on June 10, 2003. A no-brainer right here, Joe Nathan said about his teammate Justin Morneau making it into the Twins Hall. Morneau enters the Twins Hall of Fame on Saturday after a career that was highlighted by winning the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player Award. "I think it was the right move. Justin Morneau came to Minnesota as a teenager 14 or 15 for a hockey tournament. At the time, he still thought he was going to be a hockey player. While his career ended without a coveted World Series ring, Morneau still has plenty of good memories to cherish, even joking the Twins "did win a playoff game" in his tenure. Not exactly a baseball hotbed, Morneau said of his hometown during the speech. First published on September 21, 2021 / 12:30 PM. Morneau ended up doing that and a whole lot more. " Obviously, I went from the best job in the world to the second-best job in the world. Great hitter, power hitter," Sano said, recalling how he watched Morneau win the 2008 Home Run Derby. Justin Morneau discussed his career with the Minnesota Twins Sideline To Stage 87 subscribers Subscribe Like Share 21 views 6 months ago Justin Morneau spoke about being inductees into. Morneau will be enjoying the company of his family (five kids,) friends, coaches and mentors Saturday, along with all of Twins territory. He actually hadnt seen his dad since December of 2019 because of Canadas strict COVID-19 travel restrictions, so with his parents being in town finally, this makes it even more special. #MNTwins Hall of Fame: pic.twitter.com/hXl885Bc9d. I guess a lot more people are more bored than that.". I imagine it will start around 5:45 p.m. Dick Bremer will be emcee, Joe Mauer will introduce Morneau. That was about as good as it gets for a mid-market franchise. Nor did Morneau fully grasp the history of the Twins, two-time World Series winners in 1987 and 1991. Sep. 25Justin Morneau came to Minnesota as a teenager 14 or 15 for a hockey tournament. And hes looking forward to sharing it all with friends, former teammates and mentors from throughout his life and playing career. Contact: Mackenzie Bongard, [emailprotected]. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a moment like this in a stadium full of people with so many people that helped you get there., One chance to say thank you to the people who helped. For most pitchers, Pineda included, both are a challenge. Justin Morneau came to Minnesota as a teenager 14 or 15 for a hockey tournament. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. "High school coaches are here, and the guy who owned the batting cage I used to go to, let me hit for free," Morneau said, adding the Twins told him his guest list was the longest they'd ever had. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN The Minnesota Twins today announced details for this weekends four-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field, which includes Fan Appreciation Weekend presented by Caribou Coffee on September 23 and 24, Kids Appreciation Day presented by Target on September 26 and the long-awaited Justin Morneau Twins Hall of Fame induction on September 25 in a game presented by Sheboygan Sausage Company. Justin Morneau came to Minnesota as a teenager 14 or 15 for a hockey tournament . "I played one game of junior hockey as a 16-year-old.". When I learned of fellow inductees, John Olerud, Duane Ward and Jacques Doucet, I was at a loss for words. He finished his Twins career hitting .278 (1,318-for-4,749) with 289 doubles, 16 triples, 221 home runs, 860 RBI, 669 runs scored and 501 walks in 1,278 games. The Twins were really, really good for a long time, and he was a big, big part of it.". Use another Justin Morneau remembered the first time he came to Minnesota at about 15 years old for a hockey tournament at the University of Minnesota. He could never have imagined then that he would one day play for the Twins, much less that he would one day be inducted into the teams hall of fame. This is, for me, wow. The 2006 American League Most Valuable Player hit 30-or-more home runs three times for the Twins and recorded 100-or-more RBI in four seasons. We all have so much respect for each other. Morneaus childhood field was named after Walker. Amazing. He was a dominant lefty who you couldnt not like. In fact, the Twins success drafting and developing players allowed them to surround Morneau with plenty of other all-stars, overcome their small-market status and contend year-in and year-out. Each year in Minneapolis, he spearheads a winter coat drive for the Salvation Army. Sixteen members of the Twins Hall of Fame, along with dozens of Morneaus former teammates and coaches, are scheduled to be in attendance to celebrate the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player. The three will officially be inaugurated during separate on-field pregame ceremonies at Target field on Aug. 20 and 21, when the Twins play the Texas Rangers. And he proved plenty good enough at that throughout a 14-year Major League career that he earned the honor of becoming the 34th member of the Twins Hall of Fame, as announced by the club on Friday. {* traditionalSignIn_signInButton *}, Comment and participate in our online community. The breakfast will include a program honoring Csar Tovar, Ron Gardenhire, and Dan Gladden. "The Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the election of Justin Morneau . And then you get to cap it all off in the end with something like this. At 4:15 p.m. there will be a plaque unveiling on Target Plaza. A pure hitter in every form, just like Walker was across 17 seasons for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals. I never would have imagined playing for the Minnesota Twins, Morneau recalled. To be honest, Im pretty impressed with how he does, Nathan said. The mission of the Twins Community Fund is to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball, and the Minnesota Twins. "The Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the election of Justin Morneau to the Twins Hall of Fame," said Twins president Dave St. Peter in a statement. rights reserved. Wow should I wear my Doumit shirt? It was Justin Morneau Day at Target Field on Saturday, as the four-time all-star was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. Confirming what we already knew, that he made a lot Canadians proud, himself included. His Hall of Fame plaque will be unveiled at 4:15 p.m. Before the game, a ceremony emceed by Dick Bremer and attended by several other Twins Hall of Famers will take place. On August 31, 2013, Morneau was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates where he helped lead the club to its first postseason appearance since 1992. Justin Morneau is honored for all that he has done on and off the field for the Minnesota Twins as he is inducted into the Twins' Hall of Fame in front of the franchise's legends More From This Game Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau Hall of Fame Induction milestone So, when Justin was in his early teens, he found himself in the Twin Cities for a hockey tournament, sitting in left field at the Metrodome, watching one of those struggling Minnesota teams of the mid-1990s, without a hint of the idea that in a half-decade, he'd be drafted by that very team. The left-handed hitting Canuck began his minor league career as a catcher but was converted into a first baseman in 2000 in Rookie ball. The Twins elected Morneau to the Hall of Fame in January 2020 but postponed his May induction that year because of COVID-19. " We had a lot of conversations together. He hit 221 home runs throughout his 1,278 games for the Twins. Hes excited for his five kids, especially the younger ones who dont remember his playing days, to have a chance to see him on the field again. The Twins will induct the former first baseman Saturday before their game against Toronto at Target Field. And when he recently asked his father, the elder Morneau replied that he always thought Justin would end up becoming a hockey player. "They just want to see you succeed. Items will NOT be supplied from the Twins for autographs. Youll hear that a quicker pace will help defenders stay engaged and perform better. Teams around the division get their first glimpse of a roadmap to 2023 success. You start to learn about all of the great players and the World Series, he said. After Saturdays ceremony in Denver, itll never be used again. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. M&M boys, Morneau and Mandelaro, to be inducted into Red Wings Hall of Fame. Heres the list: Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Calvin Griffith, Herb Carneal, Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Tom Kelly, Bob Allison, Bob Casey, Earl Battey, Frank Viola, Carl Pohlad, Zoilo Versalles, Gary Gaetti, Jim Rantz, Rick Aguilera, Brad Radke, George Brophy, Greg Gagne, Jim Perry, Camilo Pascual, Eddie Guardado, Tom Mee, John Gordon, Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, Andy MacPhail, Johan Santana, Jerry Bell, Joe Nathan and now Justin Morneau. He went on to become the 2006 American League MVP, a two-time silver slugger winner, the 2014 National League batting champion and winner of the 2008 home run derby, something no Canada had ever done before, and no one has since. Tickets for all four Twins-Blue Jays games September 23-26 are available and can be purchased at twinsbaseball.com**, by using the MLB Ballpark app, by calling 612-33-TWINS or 800-33-TWINS, or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office. \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550},"type":"oembed"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Five division championships, an American League Most Valuable Player Award, four consecutive All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger Awards and a Home Run Derby title later as part of a 14-year playing career spanning four teams, Morneau's personal accolades and contributions to one of the most successful eras of Twins baseball were cemented on Saturday with his induction to the club's Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony before the Twins' matchup against the Blue Jays, the team Morneau supported as a child.\n\n\"This is a franchise with a long, proud history and great players. Max Kepler was out of the starting lineup with a non-COVID-related illness after being removed early from Thursday nights game for the same reason. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Morneau grew up playing hockey and even took time away from baseball to commit to hockey as a teenager. "You just dream for one day in the big leagues. Is that really true? I enjoy the moment.. And fast-forward another 25 years, he'd be joining the team's Hall of Fame. He played parts of 11 seasons with the. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Chicago White Sox. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity to share a moment like this in a stadium full of people. So, I hope it doesnt sound like Im just copying what he said two weeks ago. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. All rights reserved.Privacy PolicyAd ChoicesTerms of Service. To be honest, I never thought he would be the guy filling in up here. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. You can go years without seeing each other, but its like we saw each other yesterday. Over the course of his career, Morneau was also named the winner of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fames Tip ONeill Award, as top Canadian player, three times (2006, 2008, 2014). permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. ST. PAUL -- Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan, members of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame, are among the group of players who will be considered for the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the first . 1 spot, lacrosse is the No. Twenty-five years later, Morneau is about to enter the franchise's Hall of Fame after a 14-year big-league career that included 11 seasons with the Twins. Date: Saturday, August 20Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m. CTLocation: Delta SKY360 Club, Target FieldPrice: $125 (Sold Out), Buffet breakfastQ&A session with Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, and other Twins HOFsAutographs by Ron Gardenhire and Dan Gladden. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. His 11-year career with the Twins encompassed 221 home runs, 860 RBIs and 289 doubles among 1,318 hits. It was a close group. You look at Torii (Hunter) and (Joe) Mauer and Johan Santana and one of the best closers in the history of the game in Joe Nathan and you think about the teams we put on the field, Im just lucky I came along at the right time, Morneau said. He also has been a special assistant to baseball operations for the team since 2018. Morneau spent 11 seasons with the Twins, hitting .278 with 221 home runs in his career with Minnesota, the fourth-most in team history. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. Morneau, who was inducted officially into the Twins' Hall of Fame in September, was the American League Most Valuable Player in 2006, a four-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger. We use cookies to improve your experience. He will start Saturday night against the Blue Jays. 2 sport, and all my friends who played lacrosse made fun of me for playing baseball. Megan Ryan But here he is, at age 40, about to experience just that. His rankings on the #MNTwins all-time list: 1,278 games (9th)1,318 hits (8th) 221 home runs (3rd) 860 RBI (6th)289 doubles (6th) pic.twitter.com/JUjfZ6yH3B. For his efforts, Morneau was named the Twins team MVP twice (2006, 2008). account. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! So, which Vlad is harder to face? The 71-member committee annually considers player personnel for induction into the Twins Hall of Fame; however, with Morneaus planned induction date of May 23, 2020 postponed to September 2021 due to COVID-19, there was not an election process this past offseason. As part of his efforts for that cause, he hosted an annual casino night that raised over a $1 million for the arthritis foundation and helped send kids to Camp Cambria, a camp for kids with arthritis. Megan Ryan is a Minnesota Twins beat reporter. His impact on the Twins organization and Twins Territory in general is significant.". Minnesota Twins News / Twinkie. I am looking forward to being in St. Marys this summer to celebrate with my fellow inductees in person. Justin Morneau played 14 seasons in the major leagues, including 11 with the Twins from 2003-13. Enter your email below and we'll send you another email. Now Morneau has cemented his legacy with the Twins, alongside the likes of Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew. Now, he'll forever be immortalized as part of that franchise's history -- not that his time as a Twin is close to being over. "I mean, you think of the teams we put on the field," Morneau said. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Twins fans have been reunited with Morneau now that he has seemingly been the top analyst filling the shoes of Bert Blyleven. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media In an essay for TSN prior to Walkers induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Morneau relayed the story of coming up through the minors and one day getting to his locker to find a present from one of his idols: a signed bat from Walker with the inscription To Justin, make Canada proud.. Neither can the Twins. He finished his Twins career hitting .278 (1,318-for-4,749) with 289 doubles, 16 triples, 221 home runs, 860 RBI, 669 runs scored and 501 walks in 1,278 games. - YouTube Morneau became the 34th member of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.. Twins starting pitcher Michael Pineda is one of just 32 pitchers who can boast that they faced both Vladimir Guerrero and his son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Its a fact that says more about a pitchers longevity than anything. Even in retirement, Morneau seems to be following in his footsteps. You just dream for one in the big leagues. Morneau would spend the next decade with the Twins and evolve into one of the American Leagues most feared sluggers. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Former Twins pitcher LaTroy Hawkins is on the mic with Dick Bremer while Justin lets it all sink in on his big weekend. Live On-Air , Star Tribune "There's so many people that have your best interest," Morneau said. Its a great moment when facing Vladdy Junior, with the numbers he has this season. It brings out nerves and an uncomfortable feeling that you have never felt for sure, Joe Nathan said about the speech he had to give, and Justin will give Saturday. The Twins elected Morneau to the Hall of Fame in January 2020 but postponed his May induction that year because of COVID-19. Former Minnesota Twins star Justin Morneau will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame Saturday ahead of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays.