To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you can reminisce about one of them. So who is the poster boy for day #7....

 

 

Lenny Green, 1961-64

Jimmie Hall, 1964-66

Frank Quilici, 1967-70

Paul Ray Powell, 1971

Jim Nettles, 1971-72

Jerry Terrell, 1973-74

Danny Walton, 1975

Dave McKay, 1975-76

Rob Wilfong, 1977-82

Larry Milbourne, 1982

Boomer Wells, 1982

Scott Ullger, 1983

Dave Meier, 1984-85

Greg Gagne, 1987-92

Denny Hocking, 1993-2003

Joe Mauer, 2004-12

 

I expect this to turn into a "my favorite Mauer moment" thread, but it's worth noting that at least a couple of guys held this number immediately preceding Mauer's arrival. It looks like it's been in use solidly since the Twins 1st World Series year (26 seasons) by just three guys: Gagne, Hocking and Mauer.

 

But I'll go with Rob Wilfong because I SWEAR TO GAWD his baseball card was stalking me as a child. It seems like every damn pack a 12-year-old Twin opened went the same way....

 

1. "I wonder if there are any players from my favorite team, the Minnesota Twins, in this pack?"

2. Shuffle quickly through them.

3. "HEY! IT'S A TWI....

4. ....oh. Another Rob Wilfong card. That makes eighteen."

4. ....oh. Another Rob Wilfong card. That makes eighteen."

 

Hal Reniff became a family joke because my little sister had a fine collection of his cards due to my brother and me getting him over and over and over.

I loved watching Gagne go deep into the hole and miraculously throwing out a hitter.

I loved watching Gagne go deep into the hole and miraculously throwing out a hitter.

 

I just got done mentioning in the Dozier thread that I viewed Gagne as nearly as indispensable to his teams' championships runs as the better known stars. Lenny Faedo instead of Greg Gagne? No pennants.

Easy choice. Ulger.

Jimmie Hall took Lenny Green's position and his number. He was an All-Star in '64 and '65, but not a starter since tMantle was still pretty good at that time.

I will always have a special place in my heart for Denny Hocking. He came up huge in the 2002 playoffs against the As. Had a couple RBIs in the clincher and I think caught the final out in foul territory...

 

But then he injured his hand during the ensuing celebration, which cost him a chance to play in the ALCS. Always felt a little bad for him...

Gagne has that unique throwing motion where his elbow looks like it is at a right angle and that is the image that come to my mind:

 

I'll never forget the month Milbourne was on the team. Good times.

Heh ... I actually forgot about Mauer and was thinking of Gagne.

I am going with Rob Wilfong, too. My first memory of having an opinion about who should be on the field is strongly believing that Wilfong NOT Bobby Randall should play second base. I am sure that 99% of my reasoning was that Wilfong had a very solid disco-era mustache and was, therefore, way cooler than Randall.

 

 

I just checked B-R to see how my boyhood instincts were and I think Wilfong circa 1979 settled the issue once and for all - .313/.352/.458. Of course he quickly regressed. What was interesting to learn was that during his .810 OPS year, Wilfong lead the AL in sacrifice bunts with 25!! Twenty-five!! Even better, 142 for the team as a whole! That is 5.25 games worth of outs. Yikes!! Way to go Gene Mauch!!

Edited February 5, 201313 yr by Dance with Disco Dan

The best thing Rob Wilfong did for the Twins was to help them net Tom Brunansky.

The best thing Rob Wilfong did for the Twins was to help them net Tom Brunansky.

 

 

Very good point. Wilfong and Doug Corbett brought back Bruno. The Twins won the talent exchange but definitely put the best mustaches in the deal:

 

The best thing Rob Wilfong did for the Twins was to help them net Tom Brunansky.

 

Then we should probably pause to recognize the contributions Denny Hocking made toward getting the #1 draft pick that turned into Mauer.

Greg Gagne easily. How cool to have someone of the same name whose father showed that you're never too old to kick some butt.

I always wondered why Gary Gaetti, with 2 g's in his name was the "G" man whereas Greg Gagne, with 4 g's in his name was not...

 

Anyway, favorite memory of a #7 was my lunch with Frank Quilici and subsequent visit to his Bloomington townhouse whereupon I got his autograph on my Twins baseball from the 1960's. He took the primo spot on the ball, or "manager position" as he called it. This is where the seams come close together and create a natural slot for an autograph.

Edited February 6, 201313 yr by powrwrap

Gagne

I wonder whatever became of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell? ...............................wait, wrong Greg Gagne.

I'm not participating in these threads because John skipped #11, which meant I couldn't pay proper homage to my idol Rusty Kuntz.

I'm not participating in these threads because John skipped #11, which meant I couldn't pay proper homage to my idol Rusty Kuntz.

 

It's too bad he didn't start the series soon enough to cover #25 and Randy Bush.

This is less staright-forward than one might think.

 

While Mauer is clearly the best hitter of the bunch, Gagne was a big part of two WS teams. Jimmy Hall was a very good player while with the Twins early in his career. Those would be the top 3 in this group, IMO but Mauer is my pick.