Article: Joe Nathan, Jerry Bell Named Twins Hall of Famers

[Seth Stohs]

On Friday afternoon at Target Field, Twins president Dave St. Peter announced that there will be two new members to the Twins Hall of Fame in 2018. In the players ballot, former Twins closer (and Twins Daily Winter Meltdown guest) Joe Nathan was announced. In a non-players ballot, former Twins president Jerry Bell. They will be the 32nd and 33rd Twins Hall of Famers.The Twins will have pre-game ceremonies on the field before games on August 3rd and 4th, games against the Royals.

 

"The Pohlad family and entire Minnesota Twins organization would like to offer congratulations to Joe Nathan and Jerry Bell on their well-deserved election to the Twins Hall of Fame."

 

Joe Nathan became the Twins all-time leader in Saves with 260. He pitched for the Twins in 2004 through 2011, seven of his 16 MLB seasons. Over his time with the Twins, he went 24-13 with a 2.16 ERA in 463 1/3 innings. He struck out 561 in that time.

 

Nathan came to the Twins in one of the most famous Twins trades. In 2004, Terry Ryan traded catcher AJ Pierzynski in exchange for Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser.

 

Jerry Bell became the third president in Twins history in January of 1987. He kept that role for 16 seasons. He was key in work done to ensure Twins baseball remained in Minnesota long-term. He oversaw the development, design, construction and opening of Target Field. He also was very involved in the development of the Twins spring training facilities in Ft. Myers.

 

The first 10,000 fans at Target Field on Saturday, August 3, will receive a Joe Nathan Hall of Fame bobblehead. On August 4th, the first 5,000 fans will receive Jerry Bell and Joe Nathan Hall of Fame pins.

 

Notes

• St. Peter also announced that through the Diamond Awards, nearly $4 million has been raised to help the Bob Allison Ataxia foundation and the research of the University of Minnesota.
• This is the sixth year that Twins Fest has been at Target Field. Over 60 current, former and future Twins will be in attendance. There are still some tickets available. Proceeds from the event go to the Twins Community Fund.
• St. Peter noted that they hope that there will be approximately two million fans at Target Field in 2019, about the same as 2018. He said that about 80 to 90 percent of season ticket holders have renewed, a number that will be around 12,000.
• He pointed out that the Gophers will be playing Oklahoma at Target Field on April 20th.
• He again mentioned the NDSU football season opener will be at Target Field against Butler. Over 29,000 tickets have already been sold.
• He also said that there will be at least one concert at Target Field this summer. That information will be coming in the near future.

 

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[yarnivek1972]

I must have missed the game where Nathan struck out 561.

[whatyouknowtwinsfan]

Excited about Joe Nathan! Well deserved! Congrats to Jerry Bell as well! He was in a large way responsible for Target Field and I'm forever grateful about that. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

I must have missed the game where Nathan struck out 561.

[Doomtints]

+1

[Aerodeliria]

When he was in his prime as a Twin, he was so tough...as good as anyone.