Twins announcer Dick Bremer is stepping away from the booth after 40 years

It's the end of an era for the Minnesota Twins.

This offseason was always going to be one that brought changes, most of which are exciting. Coming off the team's first playoff win in almost two decades, the Twins are in a position to grow in ways we haven't seen the team do since the high points of the fantastic 2000s teams. The first big move of the offseason, however, was not one that many saw coming.

Longtime Twins play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer is retiring after 40 years in the booth.

It was a stunning announcement, shocking Twins fans but bringing about scores of tributes to the man who has been the voice of the team for so many decades.

Bremer confirmed his retirement and posted a thank you message to Twins Territory for all the years spent together.

No replacement for Bremer has yet been announced, and really that's not what is important right now. We'll have plenty of time to talk about who will step into the booth -- and where the games will be broadcast -- but right now it's all about Dick.

Alongside the voices of Herb Carneal and Jon Gordon, Bremer ranks among the very best announcers in Twins history. He has narrated the childhoods of so many fans throughout Twins Territory and has been on the horn for some of the best moments of the franchise's existence.

Bremer isn't leaving the Twins behind, he's simply stepping away from his announcing duties. The team revealed that he'll remain in the mix as a Special Assitant, and it's unlikely that we've heard the last of him in the booth. The reigns will be handed over to anew voice, though, as the Twins truly enter a new era on every level.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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