Minnesota Twins: The Top 50 Players in Franchise History: 50-41

The Last 10 In:

Not every great Minnesota Twins player can be included on the list. Combing through 120 years of history does give several really good players. With this in mind, here are the eight Twins and two Senators who just made the list.

No. 50: Minnesota Twins’ Eddie Guardado 1993-2003, 2008 (12 Seasons) 648 G, 704 IP, 37-48 W-L, 4.53 ERA, 116 SV, 610-270 K-BB, 9.5 WAR, Two Time All-Star, One Top-25 MVP Finish

Positional Ranking: No. 5 Relief Pitcher

It is impossible to have a Top 50 Twins list without “Everyday Eddie”. His stats may not suggest inclusion on this list, as his 4.53 ERA and 9.5 WAR over 12 seasons aren’t fantastic, but Eddie Guardado wasn’t just about the stats.

Guardado brought an infectious energy to the locker room and pitched with a team that needed likable players to avoid the oft-rumored contraction. Guardado provided that. He brought fans to the stadium and brought joy to the team, making him a lock for the top 50.

No. 49: Minnesota Twins’ Jeff Reardon 1987-1989 (3 Seasons) 191 G, 226 IP, 15-16 W-L, 3.70 ERA, 104 SV, 185-55 K-BB, 4.2 WAR, One Time All-Star, Two Top-25 MVP Finishes, One Top-10 Cy Young Finish

Positional Ranking: No. 4 Relief Pitcher

The only player on this list to spend just three seasons with the team, Jeff Reardon is the reason the pitching game minimum is so low. His run with the Twins may have been short, but it was legendary.

A key member of the 1987 World Series team and the player that got the final out of that series, Reardon earned 104 saves over his Twins tenure, sixth-most in team history. He was only here for a short time though, keeping him in the lower-end of the Top 50.

No. 48: Minnesota Twins’ Zoilo Versalles 1959-1967 (9 Seasons) 1109 G, 1061 H, 87 HR, 406 RBI, 85 SB, 257 BB, .257 BA, 14.7 WAR, 8.8 dWAR, 2 Top-25 MVP Finishes, 2-Time All-Star, One Gold Glove, 1965 MVP, 1965 AL Pennant

Positional Ranking: No. 5 Shortstop

Zoilo Versalles is the only former MVP to rank outside of the top forty. While Versalles was a solid offensive and defensive player, he wasn’t particularly great at any one thing. His MVP season is viewed as one of the worst MVP seasons in league history, as Tony Oliva probably should have won the award that year.

That being said, Versalles is a two-time all-star and a member of the Twins Hall of Fame. He was a good player for nine seasons and helped the team win its first pennant in Minnesota, so he’s worth a spot on this list, but with a lot of good players, he finishes as one of the last ten in.

No. 47: Minnesota Twins’ Michael Cuddyer 2001-2011 (11 Seasons) 1139 G, 1106 H, 606 R, 141 HR, 580 RBI, 52 SB, 411 BB, .272 BA, 12.8 WAR, 20.0 oWAR, -10.1 dWAR, One Top-25 MVP Finish, One Time All-Star

Positional Rankings: No. 6 Right Fielder

Though Michael Cuddyer couldn’t quite crack the stacked right field list, he is definitely deserving of a spot on this list. The one time All-Star and Twins Hall of Famer was an excellent offensive player who served as a fan favorite.

Cuddy may not have been a great defender, but his great personality and ability to score for some really strong Twins teams land him on this list. Cuddyer earned his spot in team history and will be remembered fondly by Twins fans for a long time to come.

No. 46: Minnesota Twins’ Butch Wynegar 1976-1982 (7 Seasons) 794 G, .254 BA, 325 RBI, 37 HR, 15.3 WAR, 9.0 dWAR, 2 time All-Star, ROY-2

Positional Rankings: No. 5 Catcher

There was a lot of optimism around Butch Wynegar among Twins fans when he entered the league in 1976. He was an All-Star right out of the gate and finished second in rookie of the year voting. Twins fans thought they had the next great catcher.

Wynegar’s career would be derailed slightly by injuries, and he never ended up becoming the Twins great that he could have been, but he was a very good catcher (especially defensively) for seven seasons, helping him make the list.

No. 45: Minnesota Twins’ Brian Harper 1988-1993 (6 Seasons) 730 G, .306 BA, 346 RBI, 48 HR, 15.4 WAR, 2.3 dWAR, 1991 World Series

Positional Ranking: No. 4 Catcher

Twins fans often forget just how good Brian Harper was for the Twins for his six seasons in a Twins uniform, when he hit .306 (the eleventh best mark in team history, tied with Joe Mauer). He was a consistent offensive presence behind the dish and a solid defensive player as well.

His biggest contribution was his play to help the Minnesota Twins’ second World Series. His best play came when he stood his ground against Lonnie Smith in a now infamous play at the plate, showing why he makes this list:

No. 44: Minnesota Twins’ Brian Dozier 2012-2018 (7 Seasons) 955 G, 167 HR, 491 RBI, 98 SB, .248 BA, 22.7 WAR, 2.3 dWAR, One time All-Star, One Gold Glove 3 Top 25 MVP Finishes

Positional Ranking: No. 4 Second Baseman

Brian Dozier is the most recent Twins’ player to make this list, as he is the only active player on this list. Though he’s no longer a Twin, Brian Dozier’s power hitting ability was incredible, as he averaged a stellar almost 24 homers a season.

He made the Twins watchable during a low point for the franchise, and the second baseman became a fan favorite for that. Even though he no longer is in a Twins uniform, he’s still a fan favorite.

No. 43: Minnesota Twins’ Corey Koskie  1998-2004 (7 Seasons) 816 G, 781 H, 101 HR, 66 SB, 437 RBI, 385 BB, .280 BA, 22.1 WAR, 4.9 dWAR, One Top-25 MVP Finish

Positional Ranking: No. 5 Third Baseman

Another member of the memorable early 2000s teams, Corey Koskie was one of the most underrated players in the league during his time in Minnesota. A solid defender and a solid player batting, Koskie was a key player for the Twins.

Though he left earlier than Twins fans would’ve liked, Koskie was well-liked by Twins fans and helped the team win the ALDS in 2002 and win the division again in ’04. His 22.1 WAR is twenty-sixth in team history and he deserves a spot on this list.

No. 42: Washington Senators’ Frederick “Firpo” Marberry 1923-1932, 1936 (11 Seasons) 470 G, 1654 IP, 117-71 W-L, 3.59 ERA, 94 SV, 667-568 K-BB, 26.0 WAR, One Top-25 MVP Finish

Positional Ranking: No. 3 Relief Pitcher

One of the first swingman pitchers in team history, Firpo Marberry racked up 94 saves at a time when no one else was earning them He pitched as a starter, long reliever, and a closer, doing whatever the Senators needed to win.

Marberry was a part of the 1924 and 1925 American League Pennant teams and was a key piece to help the team win the World Series in 1924. That main contribution helps him land in the top fifty in franchise history.

No. 41: Washington Senators’ Buddy Lewis 1935-1941, 1945-1947, 1949 (11 Seasons) 1349 G, 1563 H, 830 R, 71 HR, 607 RBI, 83 SB, 573 BB, .297 BA, 28.3 WAR, -1.3 dWAR, Two Top-25 MVP Finishes, Two Time All-Star

Positional Ranking: No. 5 Right Fielder

The top player in the “Last Ten In” Group, Buddy Lewis produced a .297 BA and 830 runs over 11 seasons with the Senators. The Two-Time All-Star posted an excellent 28.3 WAR, the sixteenth best number in team history.

Unfortunately, he was never able to help the team go very far, as he never got to see the postseason over his career. Because of this, despite his solid stats, Lewis finishes outside of the Top 40.