Minnesota Twins: The Top 5 First Basemen in Franchise History
As the Minnesota Twins coming up on their 120th season, we look back at the five best first basemen in franchise history.
The Minnesota Twins are one of the oldest franchises in baseball, dating back to 1901, when they were the league bottom-dweller known as the Washington Senators. Since that time, the team has won three championships, six pennants, and eleven division titles.
It has also suffered through seven 100+ loss seasons, fourteen playoff defeats, and have lost over 1100 games to the New York Yankees. The team has had some really good seasons, and some really bad seasons. Throughout it all, there have been some excellent players who have carried the team.
These excellent players deserve some recognition , so Puckett’s Pond will be putting together a list of the top players at each position to get ready for the top 50 players of all time. In order to make it on this list, players need to have played over 400 games, been excellent on offense and defense, and played an important role for the team.
We started with the top 5 catchers in team history, so the next position we’ll go into is first base. The team has head several great first basemen over its almost one hundred and twenty year history, so let’s get started.
Honorable Mentions:
Doug Mientkiewicz
Years: 1998-2004 (7 seasons)
Key Stats: 643 G, 590 Hits, .275 BA, 43 HR, 266 RBI, 6.4 WAR, -2.1 dWAR, One Gold Glove
Doug Mientkiewicz was one of the Minnesota Twins who helped turn the franchise around in the beginning of the 2000s, helping the club avoid contraction and turn into a Division title winner three years running. He also was the No.1 reason the club beat the Oakland Athletics in 2002, leading the team in homers and RBI over the course of the series.
He was a solid first baseman over his seven years for the team, hitting .275 with 266 RBI over 643 games. His stats weren’t eye-popping, but he was a reliable bat for the team when they needed him. He didn’t have a lot of power, only hitting 43 home runs, but he was solid at a position where the Twins didn’t have a ton of stars.
His best skill was probably his defense. Mientkiewicz posted a -2.1 dWAR which is very good for a first baseman. First base is seen as an easy position and receives a lower grade. Mientkiewicz even won a Gold Glove in 2001, proving his skill.
Mientkiewicz never was a star, but his reliability, name, and clutch ability made him a bit of a fan favorite. He was traded away to the Boston Red Sox to clear a spot for Justin Mourneau, someone who we’ll get to later in this list.
Don Mincher
Years: 1960-1966 (7 seasons)
Key Stats: 617 G, 92 HR, 270 RBI, .244 BA, 8.3 WAR, -1.4 dWAR, 1965 American League Pennant
Don Mincher was the first baseman for the Minnesota Twins at an important time for the team. Mincher manned first base for the last year in Washington and the first season in Minnesota, lasting through the team’s run to the American League pennant in 1965.
Mincher was a solid hitter for the Twins and Senators, hitting 92 homers and knocking in 270 RBI over his 617 games, but his best seasons came after he left the team, as he made two All-Star teams and finished his career with 200 home runs and a 22.9 WAR.
He compiled an 8.3 WAR over his 7 seasons in Minnesota (and Washington), but similar to Mientkiewicz, his main skill was defense. He fielding percentage improved almost every year he was with the organization and finished with a dWAR of -1.4 dWAR, best among franchise first basemen.
He may not have been as memorable as some of the other players on this list, but Mincher was a strong player who held down first in a transition period for the team. After that, he helped the team reach its first World Series in the new state.
No. 5: Joe Kuhel
Years: 1930-1937, 1944-1946 (11 Seasons)
Key Stats: 1205 G, 1338 Hits, 56 HR, 667 RBI, .288 BA, 16.5 WAR, -7.1 dWAR, 5 Top 25 MVP finishes, 1933 American League Pennant
Joe Kuhel, pronounced Joe Cool, played for the Washington Senators for 11 years. He was a clubhouse leader and a star for a team that was competitive for the beginning of his time with the team, making a World Series in 1933. The team success didn’t carry over in for the rest of his time in Washington, but Kuhel stayed consistent.
Kuhel was not a very good defensive player, earning a -7.1 dWAR, which isn’t good, even for first basemen. Joe Mauer’s dWAR over five years at first was -1.8. Kuhel never focused on his defense, instead racking up offensive numbers that rank among the best in franchise history.
Joe Kuhel ranks 32nd in offensive WAR with the team, 25th in batting average and on-base percentage, and 18th in hits. Granted, he has played in more games than all but 24 other players in team history, but he played those games well.
Kuhel was at his best in 1933 when he lead the team in home runs with 11 and came in second in batting average (he hit .322) and RBI (he had 107). His team won the AL Pennant by eight games, but came up short of a title, losing to the underdog Pittsburgh Pirates in five games.
Without Kuhel, the Senators wouldn’t have won the team’s final pennant in Washington. He was a key piece of a very good team. Joe Kuhel deserves his spot among the best first basemen this franchise has seen.
No. 4: Mickey Vernon
Years: 1939-1943, 1946-1948, 1950-1955 (14 Seasons)
Key Stats: 1805 G, 1993 Hits, 121 HR, 1026 RBI, .288 BA, 26.6 WAR, -12.7 dWAR, 5 Top 25 MVP Finishes, 6-Time All-Star
Another Senator on the list? Yup, and he won’t be the last. Mickey Vernon was a mainstay in the Washington lineup for 14 seasons, going through the longest low point in series history. The team did not win more than 84 games during his career, and always finished at least 25 games out of the pennant.
Mickey did everything in his power to change this trend. Vernon hit 121 HR over his time with the team, good for second all time when he retired (it’s now 17th in team history). He also left the team with 1993 hits, (eighth all-time), 1026 RBI (fifth), and a .288 batting average (twenty-fifth). He played for such a long time and at such a high level for the team.
His defense was the worst of anyone on the list, only grading out at a -12.7 dWAR. His fielding percentage was only .990, which is just okay for most fielders, but really bad for first basemen. This didn’t really effect him much, as he still finished in the Top 25 of most valuable player voting five times, in addition to making six All-Star rosters.
Mickey Vernon won two batting titles with his time with the team as well, one in 1946 and one in 1953. He could have won another one and added to his stats, but he spent the 1944 and 1945 seasons enlisted in the military to fight in World War II.
Vernon was one of the most well-liked ball players in the league and was respected by all of his teammates and opponents and when he retired he went on to become a manager in the league for several seasons. He embodied what baseball is about.
No. 3: Justin Morneau
Years: 2003-2013 (11 Seasons)
Key Stats: 1278 G, 1318 Hits, 221 HR, 860 RBI, .278 BA, 23.3 WAR, -5.2 dWAR, 4-Time All-Star, 4 Top 25 MVP Finishes, Two Silver Sluggers, 2006 MVP
The most recent player on this list, Justin Morneau was one of the best players on the team for several seasons, forming a dominate duo with the other M&M brother, Joe Mauer. Morneau hit fourth in a loaded lineup, allowing him to rack up stats and awards.
Morneau made the team in 2003, winning the job away from Doug Mientkiewicz. After Mientkiewicz was traded, Morneau proceeded to become one of the top first basemen in the league. He led the team in homers and RBI during his time with the team and made 4 All-Star teams.
His best season came in 2006, when Morneau hit .321 with 34 home runs, and knocked in 130 RBI. He and Johan Santana led the team to a American League Central title that year, one of five division titles he won with the team. Morneau also earned one of his two Silver Slugger awards that year. He also finished in the Top 25 in the MVP race four other times during his tenure.
Morneau now sits in the franchise’s Top 10 in homers, RBI, doubles, and slugging percentage. Morneau’s 221 homers and his slugging percentage of .485 are fifth and his 860 RBI are tenth. His power made him a force to be reckoned with.
His defense was also pretty decent for a first baseman. Over his eleven seasons with the team, Morneau compiled a dWAR of -5.2. That’s not a great rating and won’t win him any awards, but it was still solid. His career fielding percentage of .996 is excellent.
Even though teams starring Morneau never made it past the ALDS, he is still remembered fondly by Minnesota Twins fans. He led the team through a period of a lot of wins and his WAR of 23.3 shows how valuable he was.
No. 2: Joe Judge
Years: 1915-1932 (18 Seasons)
Key Stats: 2084 G, 2291 Hits, 71 HR, 1001 RBI, 210 SB, 943 BB, .299 BA, 47 WAR, -5.3 dWAR, 4 Top 25 MVP finishes, World Series Champion
Joe Judge had one of the longest careers of any Senator or Twins player. He played in 2,084 games, placing him third on the Minnesota Twins all-time list. He made the most of his time with his career, one that spanned three decades.
Judge’s career numbers are impressive, especially because he kept it going over such a long period. His .299 batting average ranks 18th in team history, and he kept those numbers up over almost 20 years. He didn’t offer a lot of power, but he was fast, stealing 210 bases over his career, good for sixth all-time.
His best skill was his ability to get on base. In addition to his high batting average, Judge earned 943 walks, good for third all time. His OBP of .379 is 10th in team history. His defense wasn’t a negative either, as Judge’s career dWAR of -5.3 was only one point worse despite playing over eight hundred more games.
Judge was a part of most of the Senators best teams, including two American League Pennants and one World Championship in 1924. His WAR of 47 is good for sixth in team history, and he finished in the Top 25 of MVP voting four times, showing his value.
Without Joe Judge, the Senators would not have won their World Series title and would not have had as many successful seasons as they did. He was a cornerstone of the franchise and one of the best first basemen of his day.
No. 1: Kent Hrbek
Years: 1981-1994 (14 Seasons)
Key Stats: 1747 G, 1749 Hits, 293 HR, 1086 RBI, 838 BB, .282 BA, 38.6 WAR, -7.7 dWAR, One All-Star, 2 Top 25 MVP Finishes, 2 Time World Series Champ
Kent Hrbek was one of the faces of the Minnesota Twins for over a decade. He was a Minneapolis native who rose through the organization after being a 17th round pick in 1978. Less than 10 years later, he helped bring home the Twins’ first title in Minnesota. Four years later, he helped bring home another one.
Hrbek lasted 1,747 games in Minnesota, racking up 1,749 hits, 1086 RBI, and 293 home runs. He’s second in home runs and ranks in the top 12 of almost every single offense category for the Minnesota Twins. “Herbie” as he was affectionately known, also drew 838 walks, showing his ability to get on base (and the respect pitchers had for his power).
His defense was solid, as his -7.7 dWAR is an okay number for a first baseman who played fourteen seasons. Hrbek deserved more award consideration than he got, as he almost always had to compete with Don Mattingly, who won more awards because he played out East with the New York Yankees.
His most important contribution to the Minnesota Twins wasn’t his offense, it wasn’t his defense, it was his personality and his ability to help the Twins get over the hill and win titles. In addition to all of that, Herbie provided one of the most memorable moments in Twins history:
Kent Hrbek may not have had the numbers that Joe Judge did, but very few players meant more to the Minnesota Twins than Hrbek did. His awesome personality, his style of play, and his ability to help his hometown team win made him the best first baseman in franchise history.
Next. The Top 5 Catchers in Franchise History. dark