On April 21, 1961, the Minnesota Twins made history by hosting the first ever Major League Baseball home game in Minnesota.
Before the Minnesota Twins moved to Minneapolis and became the team we hate to love, they were known as the Washington Senators. In 1961, The Senators were no more and thus was born the Minnesota Twins.
On this day in history, the Twins made their first appearance in Minnesota. The new Minnesota Twins played the team that replaced them in the nation’s capital, an expansion team from the Texas Rangers’ franchise.
Unfortunately for the Minnesota Twins, they lost that game 5-3. Bob Allison hit the first Major League home-run in Minnesota in the 7th inning of that game. There were 24,606 fans in attendance on that day at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis.
The Twins’ move to Minnesota ended up paying off for them very quickly. In their first year, they saw attendance rise to 1,256,723 fans, 3rd highest in the American League. The year before, in their last season as the Washington Senators, they only catered 743,404 fans, worst in the league.
The Minnesota Twins went in an opposite direction with their record after the move, though. They dropped from 73-81 in 1960 as the Senators to 70-90 in 1961 as the Twins.
Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison led the team that started in Washington and came to Minnesota. Killebrew is known as the first face of the Twins’ franchise in Minnesota.
The Twins found great success in Minnesota, though, and have high hopes of a long future. Since 1961, the Twins have acquired two World Series championships (1987 & 1991) compared to just one for the Washington Senators (1924). The Twins have also won 3 AL pennants since their move.
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Obviously, as fans, we are very glad the Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins. Attendance has improved and we have become more successful. This day, 56 years ago, our beloved Twins made their Minnesota debut.