What did the Twins do on 9/11?

[Parker Hageman]

This Detroit Free Press piece by John Lowe published the day after the attacks documents what the 2001 Twins team (as well as the Tigers) did when the towers were struck:

 

When Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly came down for breakfast at his Dearborn hotel Tuesday, he saw about 50 people standing in silence around a loud television in the lobby.

"I said, 'Uh-oh, ' " Kelly said. "I knew something bad happened."

At midday, Kelly stood outside the hotel and alerted players that Tuesday night's game at Comerica Park had been canceled because of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The Tigers-Twins series is scheduled to continue tonight and Thursday. Besides tonight's cancellation of the White Sox-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium, baseball commissioner Bud Selig hasn't announced if today's other games would be played.

"I don't know how we can expect anyone to play in the next few days, " Kelly said. "I've got a sick feeling, an empty feeling."

With the resumption of air travel in the U.S. uncertain, Kelly said the Twins' traveling secretary was looking into getting buses for the trip home to Minnesota if a flight can't be arranged.

 

Of course, nothing will top the story of then-minor leaguer Michael Cuddyer whose game-winning home run in the Eastern League Championship series saved teammate Brad Thomas and his wife from boarding the fateful Boston-to-LA flight which ultimately crashed into the World Trade Center.

 

"Around mid-morning, the team was called to come to the park to talk about what was going to happen with the championship series — not that anybody really cared at that point," Cuddyer said. "When I arrived, some people in the front office were crying, but most people, including my teammates, were just numb over what had just happened to our country."

 

During the team meeting, it was revealed that Thomas was originally scheduled to be on one of those flights. Thomas had booked his ticket toward the end of the regular season to ensure cheaper airfare.

 

"Obviously, this was news that just added to the numbness and for me really put into perspective the news I was about to receive a few days later," said Cuddyer, who was called up to the majors for the first time on Sept. 15.

 

As Kirby Puckett said, "Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us."