In Memoriam

[David Youngs]

2021 was a difficult year for many, including the Minnesota Twins community. As hope and brightness of the new year prevails, we take time to honor and reflect on members of the Twins family that left us this past year. 

 

Baseball is a very human game. Stats and numbers lead to titles and accolades, yet the core of our nation’s pastime is bound in the men who took the field. Men of all different backgrounds, positions, creeds, and personalities; some who cemented their name in baseball history and others who were lucky enough to dance with their childhood dream for just a short period of time. 

Maybe you grew up watching some of these names on television with your parents. Perhaps some are inked in some of your fondest memories that enriched a lifelong love of the game. Others you may just be learning of as you read this article. 

Regardless of knowledge, each of these individuals painted their own canvas in the history of a game and the Minnesota Twins organization that we all love. And while we miss them dearly, we smile at the memories and stories of how they impacted the game of baseball.

Joe Altobelli (May 26, 1932- March 3, 2021)
Outfielder and First Baseman for the 1961 Twins

A son of Rochester, New York, Altobelli played in 41 games for the 1961 Twins. That tenure included 21 hits and three home runs. Even though Altobelli’s tenure for the Twins was brief, his impact on the game was massive. Most notably, Altobelli took over the Earl Weaver-led Baltimore Orioles in 1983 and managed the club to a World Series in his first season at the helm. 

Contrary to many managers at the time, Altobelli was known for his kindness and compassion towards players. After over a decade of coaching, Altobelli returned home in 1991 to serve as General Manager of the Rochester Red Wings for three seasons. In 1997, he became the color commentator for the Wings’ home games, a role that he would hold through the 2009 season. 

Altobelli became known as “Mr. Baseball” in Rochester. His number is the first to be retired in team history.

Mike Bell (December 7, 1974- March 26, 2021)
Bench Coach for the 2020 and 2021 Twins

The Twins community mourned the loss of Bench Coach Mike Bell, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer just prior to the 2021 season. Bell was coming off of his first season with the Minnesota Twins. 

A member of a family rich with baseball history, Mike was the true definition of a 'baseball man' according to Rocco Baldelli. Yet perhaps his greatest quality was the love that he had for those surrounding the game of baseball. 

“He brought that passion to the field as our bench coach. He was an amazing bench coach because he was amazing with people,” Baldelli said in an interview after Bell's passing. 

Mike's brother David is the current manager of the Cincinnati Reds. When the two teams met for an interleague game in June, a touching ceremony was held in honor of Bell. 

Twins' beat writer Do Hyoung-Park wrote a beautiful piece touching on the ceremony. You can read it here.

The Twins wore patches on their jerseys throughout the 2021 season to honor and remember Bell. While Mike's time in Minnesota was brief, it is extremely clear that he touched the lives of so many throughout the baseball community.

Jim 'Mudcat' Grant (August 13, 1935- June 11, 2021)
Pitcher for Twins from 1964-67

A giant in baseball history, Mudcat Grant passed away in June at the age of 85. Grant broke barriers in the game, most notably becoming the first black pitcher to win 20 games in a season. That incredible milestone took place in 1965, where Grant went 21-7 with a 3.30 ERA and played an instrumental role in the Twins' journey to the World Series. That incredible season earned him all-star accolades and a sixth place finish in MVP voting (teammates Zoilo Versalles and Tony Oliva finished first and second in voting).

Grant spent 14 seasons in the MLB amongst seven teams. His career stat line is impressive; 145-119 with a 3.63 ERA and 21.1 WAR. Yet his greatest legacy will be his advocacy for equality and representation in Major League baseball. His efforts will forever be remembered and honored as the game continues to strive to be more equitable. 

Mike Marshall (January 15, 1943- June 1, 2021)
Pitched for the Twins from 1978-1980

Known for his screwball and incredible durability, 'Iron Mike' passed away at the age of 78. A perennial Cy Young candidate and eventual winner in the early 70's (the first reliever to win the award), Marshall was a bullpen staple for the Twins in the late 70's. The Adrian, Michigan, native's best season in Minnesota took place in '79, where he appeared in a league-leading 90 games and touted a league-leading 32 saves. Those numbers and a 2.65 ERA earned him MVP and Cy Young votes in what would be his last 'elite' season. 

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Marshall's career was that he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Exercise Physiology in 1978 while he was with the Twins. He was a huge advocate for eliminating arm-related pitching injuries and carried that with him as he demolished milestones in baseball. John Swol of TwinsTrivia.com chatted with Marshall about his unique tactics and excellent career, check it out!

Ray Miller (April 30, 1945- May 4, 2021)
Manager for the Twins in 1985 and 1986

Serving as a crucial olive branch after a miserable start to the 1985 season, Ray Miller passed away at the age of 76. Miller was named skipper of the Twins for the '85 season after the team fired Billy Gardner following a 27-35 start. Miller weathered the storm, leading the young Twins to a 50-50 record to finish the season. He lasted midway through the 1986 season and was replaced by Tom Kelly. 

Chuck Schilling (October 25, 1937 – March 30, 2021)
Member of Twins Roster for the 1966 season

A member of some high-quality Red Sox teams (and good friend to Carl Yastrzemski), Schilling was traded from the Sox to the Twins in exchange for Nimrod, MN, native Dick Stigman. And while Schilling never played a game for the Twins, he had an excellent tenure with the Red Sox, garnering team MVP status in his 1961 rookie season. 

Dwight Siebler (August 5, 1937 – June 16, 2021)
Pitched for the Twins from 1963-67

A native of Platte Center, NE,, Siebler passed away at the age of 83. The RHP spent the entirely of his major league career with the Twins, garnering a 3.45 ERA in 48 appearances. Siebler appeared in just seven games during the '65 World Series run but pitched in a career-high 23 games the following season. 

Jim Snyder (August 15, 1932 – March 9, 2021)
Second Baseman for the Twins from 1961-62, 1964

Best known as manager of the 1988 Mariners, Snyder played three seasons for the Twins in the early 1960's. And while he only tallied 103 MLB plate appearances, he achieved the dream that all youth ballplayers dream of; one MLB home run on July 16, 1964 in a 6-0 victory over the Washington Senators. 

Wayne Terwilliger (June 27, 1925 – February 3, 2021)
Coach for Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints

Veteran, player, and beloved coach. Known as 'Twig' by many, Terwilliger served as the Twins' first-base coach for both World Series titles in '87 and '91. Terwilliger began coaching with the Twins in 1986 under Ray Miller and stayed on the staff when Tom Kelly took over managerial duties. 

An excellent player in his own right, Terwilliger actually played for the St. Paul Saints in 1952 and would come full circle, serving as the Saints' first base coach from 1995-2002. 

Twig truly embodied the phrase 'love of the game.' After serving in World War II, Terwilliger spent 62 years in profession baseball. He was so well-liked that the Twins gifted him a fishing boat when he retired from the team in 1994. 

Loved by many, Terwilliger was a staple of baseball in the state of Minnesota and will be remembered for an eternity. 

Stan Williams (September 14, 1936 – February 20, 2021)
Pitched for the Twins from 1970-1971

Nicknamed "Big Daddy" the 6'5 Williams spent two of his 14 MLB seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Williams posted an outstanding 10-1 record with an 1.99 ERA in 1970. A starting pitcher earlier in his career, Williams' 1970 season is cemented as one of the most dominant relieve pitching campaigns in Twins history. 

 

Have any fond memories of the players and coaches listed above? Share your story below!
 

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[Karbo]

So sad to lose so many quality people. I remember all of these people, though I didn't know Schilling was ever a member of the Twins. I lived in Az. the year they won the series and the common phrase for their starting staff was "Johnson & Schilling & whoever is willing". A very wise person once told me long ago the older you get the more dead people you know. Unfortunately, that is the truth.

[tony&rodney]

Pitched about twenty times against Mike Marshall. He was a very complicated individual. He once claimed that if he had learned to throw a decent curveball before he retired, he would have won a pile of Cy Young awards. When I left Florida he was still pitching.

Thank you for the nice memorial post. Each year we pause and remember those who came to the end of the line, many too soon.

[TopGunn#22]

Karbo,  this was "Chuck" Schilling, a 2B-man in the big leagues.  You're thinking of "Curt" Schilling, the dominating RHP and HOF hopeful.  They played in different eras and were not related.

[AceWrigley]

Not to be "Curt" about this, but he wasn't prime rib, he was "Chuck". ?

[Rosterman]

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Karbo,  this was "Chuck" Schilling, a 2B-man in the big leagues.  You're thinking of "Curt" Schilling, the dominating RHP and HOF hopeful.  They played in different eras and were not related.

Nope, he got the right player. Traded to the Twins with catcher Russ Nixon for Dick Stigman. Rosters were expanded at the beginning of the season and Schilling sat on the bench, cut by Sam Mele in May after never getting in a game and decided to retire rather than go to Triple-A. So, like at least a half-dozen other players (including two this past season - Drew Maggi and Tomas Telis), was on the major league roster but never played a game for the Twins.

 

[Rosterman]

Thanks for the wonderful memories. I wish the Twins would do something like this more often before games, remember the legacy of players that made the franchise.

 

The players that played in the sixties are diminishing.

 

Fondly remember this Mudcat Grant moment at the Harmon Killebrew celebration.

 

[ashbury]

Nice recap.  Thanks.

 

[David Youngs]

1 hour ago, Rosterman said:

Thanks for the wonderful memories. I wish the Twins would do something like this more often before games, remember the legacy of players that made the franchise.

 

The players that played in the sixties are diminishing.

 

Fondly remember this Mudcat Grant moment at the Harmon Killebrew celebration.

 

This is amazing! Going to post it on our social channels. Will be sure to credit you.

[theBOMisthebomb]

The Mike Bell passing was difficult. He was just a few years younger than me and I still feel young-ish. We have to really not take life for granted, it's so precious and time is fleeting. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Wonderful article. Thank you.

[Otaknam]

I think it’s a good idea that the Twins, and every  team, should do a video tribute at the beginning of each season to prior teammates lost during the past year. This would be consistent with baseball’s emphasis on history and teams could probably work a marketing angle too. 

[twinfan]

Every year we lose some of those that made the team (and the sport) what it is today. Thanks for the memories. May we all have a happy, healthy and safe 2022. And a winning team would help as well.

RIP Betty White. I wonder if she was a Twins fan when she lived in St Olaf on The Golden Girls. But of course she was.

[glunn]

May they all rest in peace.

[strumdatjag]

Mike Marshall was Gene Mauch’s go-to guy that closed out Twins wins.  He turned a  below  average Twins team into an average team.  
But as a 9-11 year old, I am most grateful for Jim “Mudcat” Grant.  There were other great years back in the day from Jim Kaat and Jim Perry.  But Mudcat was my favorite Jim.  Find us some video of Mudcat and the Kittens.