Reading the article on the first big Twin trade, helped me recall the first three Minnesota Twin trades that were minor on the field yet involving three legends.

Ernie Oravetz was traded for Ed Palmquist and Joe Altobelli. All three were career minor leaguers and Palmquist and Altobelli did play some for the Twins after they acquired them. Altobelli managed in the major leagues for the Giants, Orioles and Cubs. He won a World Series for the Orioles. People in Rochester know him as Mr. Baseball. Following his season with the Twins he played in Rochester in 1962. He has also served as coach, manager, general manager and broadcaster.

http://m.milb.com/ne...14090192377228/

The franchises second trade also involved a World Series winning manager. The Twins traded Billy Consolo for Billy Martin. Martin retired from baseball after 1961 and stayed in the organization as a scout, third base coach, AAA manager and finally manager in 1969. He was part of the Twins first two playoff teams in 1965 and 1969. I believe the stretch from 1961-69 was his longest continual stretch with any organization. It lasted until he knocked out Dave Boswell with punches in the alley behind the Lindell A.C. bar.

On the same day as the Martin trade, the Twins traded Paul Giel and Reno Bertoia for Bill Tuttle and a player to be named later. Nine days later the player to be named later was one of the original players in the trade - Paul Giel.

Paul did not want to leave Minnesota and after one start with his new club he retired from baseball. Giel, born in Winona, was a football and baseball star for the Gophers in the early 50s and runner up for the Heisman in 1953. After his return to the Twins and retirement, he was the Vikings announcer from 1962-1969 and University of Minnesota Athletic Director from 1971-1989.

The Twins didn't see much on the playing field from Altobelli, Martin and Giel but all three stepped out into significant careers following their last games as a major leaguer and Twin in 1961.