Minnesota Twins: The Top 50 Players in Franchise History: 40-21
As the Minnesota Twins come up on their 120th season, we continue to look back at the fifty best players in franchise history with No. 40 through No. 21.
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 players deserved some recognition. When I started this project three weeks ago, I wanted to list the top fifty players in franchise history and go over the Top 5 at each position. With a top five list at each position completed, it’s time to finally get into the big one: The Top 50 Players in Franchise History.
In order to make this list the Twins player needed to appear on one of the Top 5 positional lists, pitch in at least 150 games or hit in at least four hundred (only one player did both), perform excellently on the diamond, and mean something to the franchise and it’s fans.
After already going through the Honorable Mentions and the Last Ten In, we’ll continue with players from number forty to number twenty-one. They will be split into two groups, with the first ten in the All-Star Group and the next ten in the group of Twins Greats. With so many great Twins to go over, let’s keep going.
Minnesota Twins All-Stars
This next group of players includes several former All-Stars who were excellent for the Twins but weren’t good enough to make the top thirty list. These players either played key roles for great teams or were stars on bad teams, landing them on the list, but not much higher.
No. 40: Washington Senators’ Muddy Ruel 1923-1930 (8 Seasons) 903 G, .290 BA, 373 RBI, 18.6 WAR, 7.1 dWAR, Three MVP-15 finishes, 1924 and 1925 Pennant, and 1924 World Series
Positional Ranking: No. 3 Catcher
Muddy Ruel was the ever reliable catcher for the Washington Senators for eight of the team’s most successful seasons, earning an impressive 18.6 WAR while doing so. He was very good on offense and strong on defense (7.1 dWAR), making him one of the top catchers of his time.
His big contribution came when he scored the game-tying and game-winning run in Game 7 of Washington World Series Win in 1924. However, he never provided any exceptional stats, making it hard to move him higher on this list.
No. 39: Washington Senators’ Mickey Vernon 1939-1943, 1946-1948, 1950-1955 (14 Seasons) 1805 G, 1993 Hits, 121 HR, 1026 RBI, .288 BA, 26.6 WAR, -12.7 dWAR, 5 Top-25 MVP finishes, Five-Time All-Star, Two Time Batting Champ
Positional Ranking: No. 4 First Baseman
Mickey Vernon was an excellent first baseman for a terrible team, making five All-Star games and putting up a 26.6 WAR over 14 seasons in a Senators uniform. Vernon also won two batting titles over his time in the league, showing his ability to hit.
Vernon falls to 39th on this list because the team around him struggled heavily and he wasn’t a particularly strong defender. On the flip side, he was still a very good player and he earned his spot among the top forty.
No. 38: Minnesota Twins’ Dan Gladden 1987-1991 (5 Seasons) 644 G, 661 H, 358 R, 38 HR, 238 RBI, 116 SB, 169 BB, .268 BA, 5.7 WAR, -1.4 dWAR, 1987 and 1991 World Series
Positional Ranking: No. 4 Left Fielder
If you are looking at just stats, Dan Gladden doesn’t come close to this list. Gladden wasn’t a great contact hitter (.268 batting average), he couldn’t hit for power (38 homers), and his defense was merely ok in left field (-1.4 dWAR). While he achieved a high amount of steals (eighteenth in team history in just five years), that was it.
However, Gladden makes this list and makes the top forty because of what he meant to the team. Gladden played for both of the Twins championship teams and was an important part of both teams. He makes the list for clutch moments like this:
No. 37: Minnesota Twins’ Roy Smalley 1977-1982, 1985-1987 (10 Seasons) 1148 G, 1046 H, 110 HR, 485 RBI, 549 BB, .262 BA, 20.8 WAR, 4.0 dWAR, 1 Top-25 MVP Finishes, One Time All-Star, 1987 World Series
Positional Ranking: No. 4 Shortstop
One of many Twins stars who would go on to work in the organization in some way, Roy Smalley was one of the key pieces the Twins got back when they first traded Bert Blyleven. Smalley became a mainstay at short for the Twins, and put up very good numbers over 1,148 games.
Smalley even got to be a part of the 1987 title run as a key reserve before retiring. He now works with FSN covering Twins games, staying at work in Minnesota. Smalley was a valuable member of the team for a good chunk of time, helping him earn this 37th spot.
No. 36: Minnesota Twins’ Shane Mack 1990-1994 (5 Seasons) 633 G, 668 H, 351 R, 67 HR, 315 RBI, 71 SB, 200 BB, .309 BA, 19.6 WAR, 0.4 dWAR, 1991 World Series
Positional Ranking: No. 3 Left Fielder
Twins fans often forget how good Shane Mack was over his short five-year tenure with the Twins. Mack put up a yearly average stat line of 127 games, .309 BA, .377 OBP, 13 HR, 63 RBI, and 14 SB. Those are All-Star worthy numbers out east.
He also played in 11 of the Twins 12 playoff games in 1991 en route to a World Series, hitting .333 in the ALCS. All this helped him build up a 19.6 WAR, averaging over 3.9 WAR per season, better than Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo in 2019. Pretty good company.
No. 35: Washington Senators’ Eddie “The Walking Man” Yost 1944, 1946-1958 (14 Seasons) 1690 G, 1521 H, 101 HR, 550 RBI, 58 SB, 1274 BB, .253 BA, 27.1 WAR, 36.5 oWAR, -9.2 dWAR, Three Top-25 MVP Finishes, One time All-Star
Positional Ranking: No. 4 Third Baseman
One of the longest-tenured players in team history, Eddie Yost sits tenth all-time in games played in franchise history. He built up a stellar 36.5 offensive WAR (oWAR) over his fourteen seasons as a Senator and a very solid 27.1 WAR.
Yost, known as “The Walking Man” for his ability to draw free passes, is second in team history in walks. The only reasons he sits so low on the list are because he was a very poor defender and because all of those walks never helped his team get over .500 more than once (they went 78-76 in 1952).
No. 34: Washington Senators’ Ossie Bluege 1922-1939 (18 Seasons) 1867 G, 1751 H, 43 HR, 848 RBI, 140 SB, 723 BB, .272 BA, 27.7 WAR, 12.4 dWAR, Two Top-25 MVP Finishes, One time All-Star, 1924, 1925, 1933 American League Pennants, 1924 World Series
Positional Ranking: No. 3 Third Baseman
Ossie Bluege is another Senators lifer that played his whole career with the Senators. Bluege’s career was far more successful than Yost’s time with the Senators. The Senators won three AL Pennants and the 1924 World Series with Bluege at the hot corner.
Bluege was a strong defender, with a 12.4 dWAR that ranks second in team history. The reason he falls to thirty-five in our rankings is because his offensive stats occurred over 1,867 games (fifth in team history), making them far less impressive. He was a Senators great, but he falls outside of the top thirty.
No. 33: Minnesota Twins’ Tom Brunansky 1982-1988 (7 Seasons) 916 G, 829 H, 450 R, 163 HR, 469 RBI, 36 SB, 394 BB, .250 BA, 16.1 WAR, 1.2 dWAR, One Time All-Star, 1987 World Series
Positional Ranking: No. 4 Right Fielder
Tom Brunansky is another player who, similar to Dan Gladden, ranks higher because of what he meant to the organization. Brunansky was an All-Star in 1985 and ranks eleventh in homers in Twins history, but he struggled to hit for average.
His 16.1 WAR is merely average for seven seasons, and while his 1.2 dWAR is very solid for a right fielder, his contributions to the 1987 team are his biggest impact. Brunansky hit .412, 2 HR, and 9 RBI over the 1987 ALCS and played all 12 games over the playoff run. That playoff performance earns him a spot this high.
No. 32: Minnesota Twins’ Greg Gagne, 1983-1992 (10 Seasons) 1140 G, 844 H, 69 HR, 335 RBI, 79 SB, 188 BB, .249 BA, 17.9 WAR, 12.4 dWAR, 1987 and 1991 World Series
Positional Rankings: No. 3 Shortstop
One of the tougher calls in our rankings was keeping Greg Gagne this low. Gagne was never an offensive force over his time with the Minnesota Twins, and he never made an All-Star team. However, he was a great defender (second best dWAR in team history), and was the Twins shortstop for both World Series runs.
Greg Gagne made the Twins Hall of Fame and was a great defender, but unfortunately his offensive struggles keep him outside of the top thirty. On the flip side, the thirty-second best player after 120 years of baseball, is a great achievement.
No. 31: Washington Senators’ Cecil Travis 1933-1941, 1945-1947 (12 Seasons) 1328 G, 1544 H, 27 HR, 657 RBI, 402 BB, .314 BA, 30.0 WAR, 5.2 dWAR, 4 Top-25 MVP Finishes, 3-Time All-Star, 1933 AL Pennant
Positional Rankings: No. 2 Shortstop
The only top two player at their position to miss the top 30, Cecil Travis was a star for the Senators during the 1930s. Travis was a Three-Time All-Star over his twelve seasons while he hit for a .314 average (eighth in team history) and 1,544 hits.
Travis was also an above-average defender as his 5.2 dWAR and 30 WAR are both top twenty in team history. With all that being said, the team wasn’t very successful with him as a focal point, keeping him down to thirty-first.
Minnesota Twins Greats
The next level of players is primarily Minnesota Twins players that had a major impact on the organization. Six of the players are already in the Twins Hall of Fame, and one was scheduled to be inducted this summer. The list also includes one Hall of Famer for the Senators and one other Twins Great. Lets get after it.
No. 30: Minnesota Twins’ Jim Perry 1963-1972 (10 Seasons) 376 G, 1,883.1 IP, 128-90 W-L, 3.15 ERA, 1,025-541 K-BB, 61 CG, 17 Shutouts, 26.3 WAR, 2-Time All-Star, 1970 Cy Young Award, Two Top-10 Cy Young Finishes, Two Top-25 MVP Finishes, 1965 AL Pennant
Positional Ranking: No. 8 Starting Pitcher
The first of many starting pitchers in the top thirty, Jim Perry won the 1970 Cy Young and was one of the best pitchers in Twins history. Elected into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2011, Perry put up some of the best pitching numbers in team history.
His 3.15 ERA puts him fifteenth in franchise history, his 128 wins are sixth, and his 1,025 strikeouts are eighth. With so many stars, his relatively lower WAR of 26.3 and just ten seasons hold him back from a higher slot.
No. 29: Washington Senators’ Buddy Myer 1925-1927, 1929-1941 (16 Seasons) 1643 G, 1828 Hits, 757 RBI, 118 SB, 864 BB, .303 BA, 41.9 WAR, 5.5 dWAR, 2 Time All-Star, 3 Top MVP Finishes, One-time Batting Champ
Positional Ranking: No. 3 Second Baseman
Another Senators player who spent most of his career with the team, Buddy Myer put up very impressive numbers over his sixteen seasons with the team. His career WAR of 41.9 is ninth in team history.
Myer was best known for his ability to hit, with a career batting average of .303. He was also a solid defender and a batting champ in 1935. Although he was never able to win a title, his teams won two AL Pennant and he’s the starting second baseman on our Washington Senators All-Time team.
No. 28: Minnesota Twins’ Rick Aguilera 1989-1999 (11 Seasons) 490 G, 694 IP, 40-47 W-L, 3.50 ERA, 254 SV, 586-179 K-BB, 15.5 WAR, Three Time All-Star, One Top-25 MVP Finish
Positional Ranking: No. 2 Relief Pitcher
The Twins haven’t had many excellent relief pitchers over the years, but Rick Aguilera was definitely one of them. Aguilera was the Twins closer for eight seasons including 1991. Aguilera was named to the Twins’ Hall of Fame in 2008 and it was well deserved.
Aguilera is second in saves in team history and is twenty-second all time. As an absolutely dominant reliever and a key member of the greatest team in franchise history, he belongs on this list.
No. 27: Washington Senators’ Heinie Manush 1930-1935 (6 Seasons) 792 G, 1078 H, 576 R, 47 HR, 491 RBI, 29 SB, 205 BB, .328 BA, 21.1 WAR, -2.4 dWAR, 1926 Batting Title, Two Top-25 MVP Finishes, One Time All-Star, 1933 AL Pennant, Hall of Fame
Positional Ranking: No. 2 Left Fielder
Far and away the lowest Hall of Fame player on this list, Heinie Manush only falls this far because he played with the Senators for just six seasons. Manush was an excellent hitter, despite being a below average defender (-2.4 dWAR).
Manush’s average yearly stat line of .328 BA, .371 OBP, and 82 RBI was incredible and the Senators don’t win the AL Pennant without him in 1933. However, despite those great stats, playing with the team for such a short amount of time holds him out of the Top 25.
No. 26: Minnesota Twins’ Camilo “Little Potato” Pascual 1954-1966 (13 Seasons) 432 G, 2,465 IP, 145-141 W-L, 3.66 ERA, 1,885-909 K-BB, 119 CG, 31 Shutouts, 33.2 WAR, 5-Time All-Star, Three Top-25 MVP Finishes, 1965 AL Pennant
Positional Ranking: No. 7 Starting Pitcher
The next Twins Hall of Famer on this list and one of the most underrated players in team history, Camilo Pascual was one of the Twins most reliable pitchers over his career with the team. The Little Potato has his name written all over the Twins record books.
Pascual came over with the Senators in 1961 and just kept on pitching. He is ranked third in strikeouts (1,885), fourth in innings (2,465), and fifth in wins (145) and WAR (33.2). That stat line helps earn him his spot at number 26.
No. 25: Minnesota Twins’ Earl Battey 1961-1967 (7 Seasons) 990 G, .277 BA, 410 RBI, 91 HR, 17.5 WAR, 5.4 dWAR, Three MVP-10 finishes, 4 time All-Star, 3 Gold Gloves, 1965 AL Pennant Team
Positional Ranking: No. 2 Catcher
The first player to sneak into the Top 25 is Earl Battey, the Twins’ first Gold Glove winner in Minnesota. The franchise’s backstop for the first seven seasons in Minnesota, Battey was a steady presence that caught for some of the franchise’s best pitchers.
Battey was a three-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star. Even though he only played seven seasons with the franchise, he had a huge impact, landing him in the Twins Hall of Fame in 2004 and in the number 25 spot on this list.
No. 24: Minnesota Twins’ Cesar Tovar 1965-1972 (8 Seasons) 1090 G, 1164 H, 646 R, 38 HR, 319 RBI, 186 SB, 299 BB, .281 BA, 25.9 WAR, 3.3 dWAR, Five Top-25 MVP Finishes, 1965 Pennant
Positional Ranking: No. 4 Center Fielder
The fact that the Twins fourth best center fielder still makes the top twenty-five is incredible. Cesar Tovar was a star for the Twins when the team regularly worked their way into the playoffs. Tovar was a solid hitter and defender, but his versatility was his greatest weapon.
One of the only Major Leaguers ever to play all nine positions in one game, Tovar was a star for the Twins and finished in the Top-25 of MVP voting five times despite never making an All-Star Game. His uniqueness helps him land in the top 25 here.
No. 23: Minnesota Twins’ Brad Radke 1995-2006 (12 Seasons) 378 G, 2,451 IP, 148-139 W-L, 4.22 ERA, 1,467-445 K-BB, 37 CG, 10 Shutouts, 45.6 WAR, One-Time All-Star, One Top-10 Cy Young Finish, One Top-25 MVP Finish
Positional Ranking: No. 6 Starting Pitcher
The most consistent player in Twins history, when Brad Radke took the mound, you knew what you were getting: above-average pitching and team leadership. A Twins Hall of Famer since 2009, no pitcher was more reliable than Radke.
Radke’s 45.6 WAR ranks third in team history for pitchers and he ranks fourth in wins and fifth in strikeouts. Reliability was what the early-2000s Twins needed, and Radke provided it, earning him the number 23 spot.
No. 22: Minnesota Twins’ Justin Morneau 2003-2013 (11 Seasons) 1278 G, 1318 Hits, 221 HR, 860 RBI, .278 BA, 23.3 WAR, -5.2 dWAR, Four Time All-Star, 4 Top-25 MVP Finishes, Two Silver Sluggers, 2006 MVP
Positional Ranking: No. 3 First Baseman
The second to last player in this group, Justin Morneau was the pride and joy of the Minnesota Twins in the late 2000s as part of the M&M Boys. The newest member of the Twins Hall of Fame, the 2000’s Twins wouldn’t have been as good without Morneau in the four hole.
The 2006 MVP and four-time All-Star was an excellent hitter and decent defender at first, as his 221 homers are fourth in team history. He was a fan favorite and a star for some very good teams, earning him the number twenty-two spot.
No. 21: Minnesota Twins’ Joe Nathan 2004-2009, 2011 (7 Seasons) 460 G, 463.1 IP, 24-13 W-L, 2.16 ERA, 260 SV, 561-134 K-BB, 18.4 WAR, Four Time All-Star, Two Top-25 MVP Finishes, Two Top-10 Cy Young Finishes
Positional Ranking: No. 1 Relief Pitcher
The last player in this group, and the top relief pitcher in franchise history, Joe Nathan was named to the Twins Hall of Fame in 2019 and is tops in team history in saves with 260 (eighth in MLB history).
A four-time All-Star and a part of one of the best trades in Twins history, Nathan was an easy call for the top twenty-five, but unfortunately for him, his teams never made it past the ALDS, keeping him outside of the top twenty.
Next. The Top 50 Players in Franchise History: 20-1. dark