Coaches and Managers
The Minnesota Twins have had some of the youngest managers in the history of the game. The team has built up tremendous loyalty with its coaching staffs and managers over the years, having many coaches stay on through multiple managers.
Ron Gardenhire
A long-time coach with the Minnesota Twins, Gardenhire took over the reins for the Twins in 2002. Gardenhire had a .507 winning percentage as a manager from 2002 to 2014.
Gardenhire was the AL Manager of the Year Award in 2010 and he finished as the runner-up for the award five other times and third one time as well. He won 6 American League Central division championships over his career.
Only Gardenhire and Tom Kelly have eclipsed 1,000 wins as a manager for the Minnesota Twins.
Rick Stelmaszek
Sadly, in 2017, the Minnesota Twins organization lost Rick Stelmaszek as he passed away November 6th. He spent 32 seasons with the Twins organization as a coach.
Stelly’s 32 seasons with the club are the third-most consecutive seasons served with one organization as a coach, and is the most seasons served as a coach in the organization’s history. He served under 5 different managers.
Stelly’s passing led to this tremendous tweet from Glen Perkins:
My Grandpa taught me to throw lefty. Todd Oakes taught me how to be a man. Stelly taught me how to be a pro. Cancer took all 3. FU Cancer.
— Glen Perkins (@glenperkins) November 7, 2017
Wayne Terwilliger
A WWII veteran that played 9 seasons in the major leagues, Wayne Terwilliger was a veteran coach by the time he joined manager Ray Miller‘s staff in 1986. He was the first-base coach for the Minnesota Twins from 1986-1994, striking a notable image at the first base bag in that time.
Terwilliger stayed in the Twins Cities area, managing the St. Paul Saints from 1995-2002. He’s still kicking at 92 years young!
Next: Team Staff