The Minnesota Twins announced that Ron Gardenhire has earned the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday, winning a prestigious award from the franchise he joined in the 1980s led through the 2000s.
Ron Gardenhire's career with the Minnesota Twins spanned three decades
From 1988 to 2014, Ron Gardenhire was a fixture of the Twins organization. Gardenhire began his professional baseball managerial career leading the Class A Kenosha Twins to an 81-59 record before being promoted to Double-A Orlando next season. After two successful seasons in the Sunshine State, Gardenhire took over as Tom Kelly’s third-base coach, where he won a World Series ring in 1991.
He would hold that position for the next 11 seasons before taking over as manager after Kelly’s retirement after the 2001 season. In thirteen seasons as Twins manager, Gardenhire amassed a 1068-1039 record that included six AL Central Division championships and an appearance in the 2002 ALCS against the Anaheim Angels. During his tenure, he managed some of the greatest Twins players of the 21st century, such as Brad Radke, Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, and Justin Morneau.
2008 saw Gardenhire take home the first of three AL Manager of the Year awards of his career from Baseball America. Two years later, Gardenhire captured AL Manager of the Year awards from Major League Baseball and the Sporting News.
Unlike his predecessor, Gardenhire was a much more animated and fiery coach. During his career in Minnesota, he set a franchise record of 71 ejections, including eight in the 2006 season. That intensity and passion for his team made him perhaps the most beloved manager in franchise history.
Unfortunately, the bottom fell out from under Gardenhire after the 2010 season. Four straight losing seasons, all of which featured 70 wins or less, led to Gardenhire’s dismissal after the 2014 season.
Ron Gardenhire left a legacy with the Minnesota Twins
While Gardenhire’s tenure ended under less-than-stellar circumstances, it does not diminish his impact on the Minnesota Twins franchise. Not only was he revered for his wins on the field, but he was also an outstanding presence off the field, participating in TwinsFest and helping raise donations for the Minnesota Twins Community Fund.
Gardenhire will receive the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday, January 23, 2025.