Minnesota Twins: COVID-19, BLM Tributes make Home Opener one to remember

George Floyd

Floyd was a Minneapolis resident who was killed when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Three other officers were compliant as two sat on his body and one prevented citizens from intervening. The fatal incident occurred near a Cup Foods approximately four miles away from Target Field. After the incident, the Twins ownership showed their support for Floyd by donating money for an initiative challenging systemic racism.

On Tuesday, the Twins unveiled a “Justice for George Floyd” banner in their outfield that will be on display all season at Target Field. In addition, the Twins played a video of athletes around the MLB speaking out against systemic racism and how Floyd suffered for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.

After the Floyd video tribute, Sounds of Blackness performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

In bottom of the fifth inning, at 8:46 pm the Twins and Cardinals gave a moment of silence for Floyd.

“Associated with the tragic death of George Floyd, the Minnesota Twins want to take this time to observe a moment of silence to both honor his memory and remind us all that we are here together. One team, one territory, united for change,” the public announcer said ahead of the moment of silence.

Manger Rocco Baldelli spoke of the experience postgame.

“Everyone felt something in that moment,” Baldelli said of the tribute to Floyd. “It’s very special and it is not something you do very often and we should. But it definitely draws your attention to something other than baseball for a minute and it was right time to do so.”