If you put Mauer on here, you need to put Oliva. Oliva had just as many great years as Mauer.

Blyleven a no-brainer if he hadn’t left at such a young age. Hard to overstate how good he was in first stint with Twins ‘70-‘75. In an era where starters paced themselves…no max-efforting every pitch, instead pitching 300 innings/yr…still nobody could hit him, and with a ton of swing-and-miss.

On 2/15/2023 at 3:39 PM, Freddy Stolz said:

Official list is as follows:

1. Chris Archer

2. Tyler Duffey

3. Kennys Vargas

4. Byung-ho Park

Crazy that not a single one was even mentioned for contention, 

You forgot Benj Sampson.

As a Twins fan since the Senators moved to Minnesota, I would place Tony Oliva ahead of Joe Mauer. I would also mention Jim Kaat as one of the greatest of those who have pitched for the Twins. Where he ranks is hard to say but certainly in the top 5 all time.

Great article Luke!  Great conversation as well.  Tony-O is my guy, but I can't quibble with your four.  Killebrew, Carew and Puckett are the sure things.  Killebrew was the face of the franchise.  Carew was the greatest player in Twins history and Puckett led the Twins to their 2 World Series Championships.  Where it gets tough is that last person.  If we were counting the Senators era it would be the Big Train.  But several have pointed out why it should only be the Twins era.  I agree with the comparison of how the Dodgers and Giants moved out of New York but stayed with their brand and maintained their rivalry and in contrast, Griffith did everything he could to market the "Twins."  The Senators brand was horrible.

So that leaves us with that last person.  Mauer has an MVP.  Tony-O does not.  Mauer played the more difficult defensive position.  BOTH suffered injuries that shortened their careers.  Once Carew arrived on the scene, Oliva was going to have a hard time winning any batting titles.  I just wish he would have had the ability to put up more counting stats.  Each of Puckett, Oliva and Mauer saw their careers shortened somewhat by injury.  It's too bad, but we all got to enjoy them in their prime.  

Hard to argue with this list. Certainly can't take anyone off. Who would be the pitching Mt Rushmore? Radke, Santana, Viola, Morris, ect? 

A fine list, and probably mine as well. Tony O was great, but I'd rate Mauer a little higher if forced, because of the defense. Mauer was more consistently good on D at a tougher position, and even after moving off catcher developed into a Gold Glove caliber defender at a new position, which is pretty unusual. Harmon, Rodney, and Kirby are easy picks unless you fold in the Senators years.

Johan is an interesting case; the peak was insanely great. I think I want my Team Mt. Rushmore guys to play at least 10 years for the club. It's a little arbitrary I admit, but you have to find criteria somewhere. Bert has enough seasons in MN...barely. The last years weren't as great, though, even if they did include a title.

Buxton could get there, depending on how the next 5-6 years go. He's got the talent, no question, just needs the health. Can Correa contend? He could make me reconsider my "10 years" rule if he dominates the next 5-6 years, even if he doesn't get through all years of the deal.

3 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Buxton could get there, depending on how the next 5-6 years go.

Long shot (which maybe you factor in, with your word "could"). 

He just turned 29, and using WAR again as the quick-and-dirty measure he is behind all 4 of the incumbents through age-28 seasons.  I'll always root for him, but he's lost a ton of time for this kind of all-time thinking.

I get the 4 presidents on Mt. Rushmore.  Our Rushmore should be a couple more players.  Tony Oliva and Torii Hunter would be on my enlarged Rushmore!

Excellent list.  I can't argue with any of those selected.

On 2/17/2023 at 6:39 PM, strumdatjag said:

Excitability and intensity Rushmore:  :

1.   Dan Gladden

2.  Juan Berenguer 

3.  Ron Gardenhire 

4.  Doug Mientkiewicz 

(honorable mention: Sergio Romo) 

If he makes the team, add Jordan Balazovic as another Honorable Mention.  That reminds me, I left out Billy Martin.   Replace any of my original four with that former manager who was a more excitable guy than even Warren Zevon. 

Lots of layers to these discussions.  Keeping it post-61, Killebrew is a lock, but not so sure after that:



All Twins that spent their entire career here.  Not even considering Rod Carew here...

Pitchers are a whole different mess.  Take out WAR and Blyleven looks awfully similar to Jim Kaat.  Viola, Radke, Perry are all somewhat similar.  Santana did not play long here enough.  All due respect to Rick Aguilera, but where the heck does Joe Nathan fit into this discussion?

Fun discussion!

On 2/15/2023 at 8:06 PM, tarheeltwinsfan said:

I may be wrong here. The definition of a baseball franchise includes the term "at a specific location". Washington is not Minnesota.  But I still like the historical connection to the old Washington Senators franchise, which moved its franchise to Minnesota.   Walter Johnson, Joe Cronin, Sam Rice, Goose Goslin and Heinie Manush are all Washington Senators in the Hall of Fame. If we included the old Washington Senators along with the Minnesota Twins on our franchise Mt. Rushmore,  and based our selection solely on WAR, the players would rank as follows: Walter  "Big Train" Johnson 164.9; Rod Carew 81.2; Goose Goslin 66.4; Joe Cronin 64.7; Harmon Killebrew 60.3; Joe Mauer 55.2; Kirby Puckett 51.2; Sam Rice 54.4 and last, but not least, Heinie Manush 48.0.  

But that pandora of a box was opened up when Killer was listed as playing for the Twins from 1954...they were still the Sens at that time.

Big Train...what a great nickname...

Perhaps, Mount Rushmore should be expanded when it comes to talking baseball, (or football for that matter) because of the number of players on the field at one time.

I can see limiting hockey or basketball to 4, but baseball, also give its long history, only 4 is extremely limited.

I do think lineage counts, so the franchise is the Sens/Twins.

Otherwise, can you imagine the LAD leaving off everyone who was great when they were in Brooklyn?  Same too of the SFG when then were in NY.

But it does get you thinking and remembering the players who have played for our team.

20 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

If he makes the team, add Jordan Balazovic as another Honorable Mention.  That reminds me, I left out Billy Martin.   Replace any of my original four with that former manager who was a more excitable guy than even Warren Zevon. 

Billy has to be the Face of the Excitability Mount Rushmore.

They don't make managers like Billy anymore.

On 2/17/2023 at 9:01 PM, jkcarew said:

If you put Mauer on here, you need to put Oliva. Oliva had just as many great years as Mauer.

Blyleven a no-brainer if he hadn’t left at such a young age. Hard to overstate how good he was in first stint with Twins ‘70-‘75. In an era where starters paced themselves…no max-efforting every pitch, instead pitching 300 innings/yr…still nobody could hit him, and with a ton of swing-and-miss.

One of the BEST curveballs as well.

To me the only debate would be Mauer versus Oliva.  I would give Joe the slight nod as he did it at catcher, at least is prime years.  Oliva had the better personality, Joe is so bland.  They both played part of 15 seasons, bur really Oliva played 11 as 3 seasons were 10 games or less, and the 4th was 6.  Joe played like 13.5, as he had 30 game season rookie year, and a 80 game season.  

Joe put up slightly better numbers.  Oliva also played with other greats, Killer and Carew, Joe played with some greats too, but none that are HOF, still salty about Santana snub.  Neither brought home a WS.  I would not object to either above the other, but I would say Joe gets my vote.  He also had to deal with new defense data late in his career with a ton of shifting. 

Who would be on the Twins management-front office-scouting-executive Mount Rushmore? Some candidates:

Sam Mele, George Brophy, Howard Fox, Calvin Griffith, Gene Mauch, Jerry Bell, Jim Rantz, Andy MacPhail, Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan, Mike Radcliff.

3 hours ago, EGFTShaw said:

Billy has to be the Face of the Excitability Mount Rushmore.

They don't make managers like Billy anymore.

Warren Zevon ? Awesome name from the past.

3 hours ago, Teflon said:

Who would be on the Twins management-front office-scouting-executive Mount Rushmore? Some candidates:

Sam Mele, George Brophy, Howard Fox, Calvin Griffith, Gene Mauch, Jerry Bell, Jim Rantz, Andy MacPhail, Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan, Mike Radcliff.

 

Fun question.  Completely off the top of my head:  Kelly, MacPhail, Rantz, Brophy? (and I have a soft spot for Mauch).  

1 hour ago, Longdistancetwins said:

Fun question.  Completely off the top of my head:  Kelly, MacPhail, Rantz, Brophy? (and I have a soft spot for Mauch).  

5 hours ago, Teflon said:

Who would be on the Twins management-front office-scouting-executive Mount Rushmore? Some candidates:

Sam Mele, George Brophy, Howard Fox, Calvin Griffith, Gene Mauch, Jerry Bell, Jim Rantz, Andy MacPhail, Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan, Mike Radcliff.

 

I mean, yes, Calvin should be there, but it’s hard to forget the damage he caused in his later years as owner and GM.

On 2/16/2023 at 7:29 AM, JD-TWINS said:

I like Joe Mauer & respect his numbers & career a bunch……. if he tares his knee up like Oliva after 8 years his path is doomed as well. Not his fault he stayed more healthy!!……………Oliva is my 4th guy!

I agree with the fact that if Mauer got hurt after 8 years he would not be the player he was. But I have to put him on here just due to the fact that he didn't and he had the longer career. But Oliva easily could've been on here.

On 2/16/2023 at 6:45 AM, ashbury said:

No such list can omit Tsuyoshi Nishioka.  I'd also lobby for Lance Lynn instead of Archer.

Ron Davis

On 2/18/2023 at 8:44 AM, 3517zinran said:

As a Twins fan since the Senators moved to Minnesota, I would place Tony Oliva ahead of Joe Mauer. I would also mention Jim Kaat as one of the greatest of those who have pitched for the Twins. Where he ranks is hard to say but certainly in the top 5 all time.

Welcome to Twins Daily!

On 2/21/2023 at 10:11 AM, Jeff K said:

I get the 4 presidents on Mt. Rushmore.  Our Rushmore should be a couple more players.  Tony Oliva and Torii Hunter would be on my enlarged Rushmore!

 

Welcome to Twins Daily!

7 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

Ron Davis

I dunno.  Now we may have gone from Mount Rushmore to Mount Everest.  All alone up there.