Minnesota Twins: Five Favorite All-Star Moments
In case you didn’t realize, the All-Star Game is upon us and the Minnesota Twins are sending Eduardo Nunez to represent them in San Diego.
For the rest of the guys on the team, it’ll be an opportunity for them to spend time with their families and rest but for Nunez it will surely be a memory that will last him a life time.
That got me thinking about some other Minnesota Twins who have made the trip and what some of the top memories from their time at the Midsummer Classic would have been.
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Hopefully on Tuesday, we’ll get to see Nunez running the bases the only way he knows how: As fast as he possibly can with his helmet left in the dust.
After a little bit of time to think, I’ve made a list of a few of my favorite All-Star memories featuring our very own Minnesota Twins.
I’ve cut it down to being from 2000 to present as that time frame has really been my peak baseball fandom. Prior to that I was little young.
Because of this being the general time frame for this list, it may be a bit obvious which one will be my No. 1 choice so please keep in mind these memories are my favorite during that time and feel free to chime in with any favorites of your own.
Next: Number Five
Justin Morneau Comes Home
This one was a very biased choice because I was actually there to view it.
The year was 2014 and the Minnesota Twins were playing host to the All-Star Game. In keeping with the All-Star tradition, the Monday before the game there was the Home Run Derby.
Morneau was part of Troy Tulowitzki’s team and after a delay of more than hour due to rain, the contestants were introduced.
Two of the sluggers in particular drew significantly large praise from the packed house at Target Field.
One was Brian Dozier, who drew a loud standing ovation. The second was Morneau who was clearly moved by the praise he received from his former home team.
It was truly goose bump-inducing moment, especially being there to experience it. The crowd was into it, chanting his name and going crazy every time he took a cut.
Unfortunately, Morneau didn’t make it out of the first round after hitting just two home runs and losing in a swing off with Todd Frazier.
For that matter, Dozier also failed to make it out of the first round after hitting two homers. But to the Twins fans, that would have just been icing on the cake because the real treat was seeing the former American League MVP in Target Field once again.
After Morneau finished taking his swings, he walked off the field and saluted the fans one final time. It seems unlikely we’ll ever see in him a Twins uniform but maybe just maybe we’ll see him with the White Sox if he makes it.
It’ll just remain to be seen whether he receives the same standing ovation from the Twins fans.
Next: Number Four
Perkins Notches Save with Suzuki Catching
Once again we head back to the All-Star Game in 2014 when Target Field was the host venue and the Minnesota Twins found themselves well-represented with a pair of players.
The game was largely overshadowed by it being Derek Jeter’s final season but for the Twins fans in attendance, the night was perfectly capped off by Glen Perkins collecting the save.
What made things even better was the man who was behind the plate when Perkins nabbed the save, Kurt Suzuki.
It was a perfect way to end the first All-Star Game to be held in Minnesota since 1985.
It’s just unfortunate Brian Dozier and/or Justin Morneau couldn’t have gone further in the Home Run Derby, that would have been perfect for the fans in attendance for both nights.
Perkins needed just nine pitches to get through the inning. He struck out one and allowed no hits for a perfect ninth.
Ironically enough, everything pretty much came full circle for the Minnesota Twins as it was Perkins with the save, Suzuki catching during the final out and even Pat Neshek taking the loss.
Perkins would go on to become an All-Star in 2015 as well while Suzuki would struggle the following season.
However, it could be argued that Suzuki could have made the team this season with his .294 average, five home runs and 32 RBI’s.
Next: Number Three
Justin Morneau Controversially Win the Derby
It was a Home Run Derby to end all Home Run Derbies as Josh Hamilton hit a record-breaking 28 first round home runs.
And still lost.
Despite hitting 13 less homers overall, Morneau out-dueled Hamilton in the final round, 5-3 and took home the crown.
Yes, it was Hamilton who put on the best show but at the end of the day, it’s all about how you finish.
With the victory, Morneau became the first member of the Minnesota Twins to win the derby.
It wasn’t without controversy though as many believed Hamilton should have won because technically he did hit more bombs – 35 to Morneau’s 22.
Still, Twins fans were more than pleased to the see the former MVP represent them at the game.
And it was in New York, at the historic Yankee Stadium in what would be its final season of operation.
That performance would be one of many terrific performances by Morneau that season.
He would add a Silver Slugger to his resume and hit 23 home runs with 129 RBI’s while posting a .300 average.
Morneau also appeared in a career-high 163 games that season due to there being a one-game playoff against the Chicago White Sox, which the Twins would go onto lose.
In a way, that season was one of Morneau’s final big performances for the Twins as injuries would really begin to take its toll on his once-promising career.
So really, the performance at the derby was a great way for Morneau to make an impact on the biggest stage of them all.
Next: Number Two
Brian Dozier Puts a Stamp on his First All-Star Game
For whatever reason, it took the American League way too long to finally add Dozier to the All-Star roster.
Despite hitting .256 with 19 homers and 50 RBI’s at the break, the already competitive second base spot had no room for the best player on surprising Minnesota Twins.
After missing out on being a reserve, Dozier’s final shot was to make it as a Final Vote winner.
Ultimately, Dozier also lost out on that to Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakes.
It seemed the attempt to make the team was thwarted and Dozier would be spending his time off watching the game.
Then a miracle happened!
Well, not a miracle, but rather an injury to Jose Bautista, which allowed another roster spot to open up.
After a pair of walk-off home runs that had the Minnesota Twins world going crazy, Dozier’s name was finally added to the roster and he joined Glen Perkins on an All-Star trip to Cincinnati.
So what did Dozier do during his first All-Star appearance?
Not to be satisfied with simply making the team, Dozier gave that year’s game one it’s biggest highlights.
When his first at-bat finally came around, he smacked a solo home run to center field and became just the 16th player to homer in his first All-Star Game at-bat.
It was a magical moment for a man who was undeservedly overlooked by those in charge of selecting the initial rosters.
Some people may not have heard of Dozier prior to but they sure did after the game was over.
What better way to represent the Twins and prove your worth than the way Dozier did?
Next: Number One