Twins announce details for Justin Morneau Hall of Fame Induction and Fan Appreciation Weekend

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins today announced details for this weekend’s four-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field, which includes Fan Appreciation Weekend presented by Caribou Coffee on September 23 and 24, Kids Appreciation Day presented by Target on September 26 and the long-awaited Justin Morneau Twins Hall of Fame induction on September 25 in a game presented by Sheboygan Sausage Company. Sixteen members of the Twins Hall of Fame, along with dozens of Morneau’s former teammates and coaches, are scheduled to be in attendance to celebrate the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player.

Tickets Available

Tickets for all four Twins-Blue Jays games September 23-26 are available and can be purchased at twinsbaseball.com**, by using the MLB Ballpark app, by calling 612-33-TWINS or 800-33-TWINS, or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office.** First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, September 23; 7:10 p.m. on Friday, September 24; 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, September 25 and 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, September 26.

Fan Appreciation Weekend presented by Caribou Coffee (Thursday-Friday, Sept. 23-24) and

Kids Appreciation Day presented by Target (Sunday, Sept. 26)

The Minnesota Twins organization is proud to celebrate and thank Twins Territory with Fan Appreciation Weekend presented by Caribou Coffee (Thursday and Friday) and Kids Appreciation Day presented by Target (Sunday).

• Gate Giveaways (Thursday and Friday): The first 20,000 fans in attendance on both Thursday and Friday evening will receive a Twins Stocking Cap courtesy of Caribou Coffee.
• Gate Giveaway (Sunday): The first 5,000 kids, 12 and under, in attendance on Sunday will receive a T.C. Kids Mug courtesy of Target.
• Pull Tabs (Thursday, Friday and Sunday): The first 25,000 fans, 18 and older (or those accompanied by a parent or guardian), in attendance at Thursday’s, Friday’s and Sunday’s games will receive a special “Twins Pull Tab” presented by Caribou Coffee containing one of four prizes: One (1) free Home Plate View ticket to a 2022 Twins home game in April or May; a free size upgrade on any drink at any participating Caribou Coffee in Minnesota; an autographed item by a Twins player or alumni; or, a surprise gift from the Twins.
• Lucky Rows (Thursday, Friday and Sunday): During the Thursday, Friday and Sunday games, the Twins will select up to four “Lucky Rows” at Target Field; fans seated in those rows will receive a gift card (Caribou Coffee on Thursday and Friday; Target on Sunday) and/or prizes such as a replica Twins jersey or other team merchandise, money for in-ballpark purchases, and more.

Twins Hall of Fame Friday (September 24)

• Justin Morneau Media Availability (4:15 p.m., on the field): Justin Morneau will meet with the media at 4:15 p.m. on the field, in front of the Twins’ dugout. (Please note that proof of vaccination is required for field access.)
• Justin Morneau Fan Photo Opportunity (6:00 to 6:30 p.m., inside Gate 29): Fans will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with Twins Hall of Fame electee Justin Morneau from 6-6:30 p.m. inside Gate 29.

Justin Morneau Twins Hall of Fame Induction (Saturday, Sept. 25; presented by Sheboygan Sausage Company)

• Hall of Fame Breakfast (9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in Truly On Deck): Fans with tickets to this sold-out event will have a unique opportunity to join Justin Morneau for a special breakfast celebrating his induction into the Twins Hall of Fame. The program will include a Q&A session hosted by Marney Gellner and will feature fellow Twins Hall of Famers Michael Cuddyer, Eddie Guardado, Torii Hunter, Joe Nathan and Brad Radke, while fans will receive an autographed item from each Hall of Famer. (All net proceeds will benefit the Minnesota Twins Community Fund; please note that tickets purchased for the 2020 Breakfast are valid for the 2021 event.)
• Giveaway – Justin Morneau Bobblehead presented by Sheboygan Sausage Company: The first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a Justin Morneau Hall of Fame Bobblehead courtesy of Sheboygan Sausage Company.
• Plaque Unveiling (4:15 p.m. on Target Plaza): Justin Morneau will join fans on Target Plaza as his Twins Hall of Fame plaque is officially unveiled.
• Twins Alumni Fan Photo Opportunity (4:45 to 5:15 p.m.): Fans will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with Twins all-time managerial wins leader Ron Gardenhire, along with alumni Corey Koskie, Ryan Doumit and Nick Punto, from 4:45-5:15 p.m. inside Gate 29. Twins Season Ticket Holders will have an exclusive photo session from 4:45-5:15 p.m. at the Digital Clubhouse with former Twins pitchers Grant Balfour, Brian Duensing, Matt Guerrier and Carlos Silva. (Please note that players and times are subject to change.)
• Justin Morneau Twins Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Pregame): Former first baseman and 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau, now a special assistant for the club and broadcaster for Bally Sports North, will officially become the 34th member of the Twins Hall of Fame. A four-time All-Star and two-time Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winner with Minnesota, Morneau will be joined on the field by his family and friends, along with past coaches and teammates, fellow members of the Twins Hall of Fame and club dignitaries past and present. Dick Bremer will serve as emcee, while Joe Mauer will introduce Morneau.
• Twins Hall of Famers in Attendance: Additional Twins Hall of Famers scheduled to be in attendance on Saturday are: Jerry Bell, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Michael Cuddyer, Gary Gaetti, Greg Gagne, John Gordon, Eddie Guardado, Kent Hrbek, Torii Hunter, Tom Kelly, Joe Nathan, Tony Oliva, Brad Radke, Jim Rantz and Johan Santana.

Justin Morneau – Twins Hall of Famer

Justin Morneau played 14 seasons in the major leagues, including 11 with the Twins from 2003-13. He finished his Twins career hitting .278 (1,318-for-4,749) with 289 doubles, 16 triples, 221 home runs, 860 RBI, 669 runs scored and 501 walks in 1,278 games. The 2006 American League Most Valuable Player hit 30-or-more home runs three times for the Twins and recorded 100-or-more RBI in four seasons. As a member of the Twins, he was named to four-straight AL All-Star teams (2007-10) and earned two Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards (2006 & ’08). The New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada native was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft and ranks second on the Twins all-time list in games played at first base (1,124), third in home runs, sixth in RBI, and eighth in hits and walks. He remains with the Twins as a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations, a position he has held since January 2018. Additionally, 2021 marks Morneau’s third season as an analyst for select Twins television broadcasts on Bally Sports North.

Morneau was elected in January 2020 by a 71-member committee consisting of local and national media, club officials, fans and past elected members, using rules similar to those necessary for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The 71-member committee annually considers “player” personnel for induction into the Twins Hall of Fame; however, with Morneau’s planned induction date of May 23, 2020 postponed to September 2021 due to COVID-19, there was not an election process this past offseason.

About the Twins Hall of Fame

The Twins Hall of Fame, which honors players, managers, coaches and off-field personnel who have contributed to the organization’s growth and success since Major League Baseball came to Minnesota in 1961, was created as part of the club’s 40th Season Celebration in 2000. Membership is permanently displayed in the Hall of Fame Gallery on the Target Field Suite Level, as well as on Target Plaza and in the Minor League Clubhouse at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla.

A full listing of Twins Hall of Fame inductees follows:

Name, Pos./Role (Year Inducted) Name, Pos./Role (Year Inducted)

Harmon Killebrew, first baseman (2000) Jim Rantz, pitcher & front office (2007)

Tony Oliva, outfielder (2000) Rick Aguilera, right-handed pitcher (2008)

Rod Carew, second baseman (2000) Brad Radke, right-handed pitcher (2009)

Kent Hrbek, first baseman (2000) George Brophy, front office (2009)

Kirby Puckett, outfielder (2000) Greg Gagne, shortstop (2010)

Calvin Griffith, president & principal owner (2000) Jim Perry, right-handed pitcher (2011)

Herb Carneal, radio broadcaster (2001) Camilo Pascual, right-handed pitcher (2012)

Jim Kaat, left-handed pitcher (2001) Eddie Guardado, left-handed pitcher (2013)

Bert Blyleven, right-handed pitcher (2002) Tom Mee, media relations (2013)

Tom Kelly, manager (2002) John Gordon, radio broadcaster (2016)

Bob Allison, outfielder (2003) Torii Hunter, outfielder (2016)

Bob Casey, public address announcer (2003) Andy MacPhail, general manager (2017)

Earl Battey, catcher (2004) Michael Cuddyer, outfielder (2017)

Carl R. Pohlad, owner (2005) Johan Santana, left-handed pitcher (2018)

Frank Viola, left-handed pitcher (2005) Joe Nathan, right-handed pitcher (2019)

Zoilo Versalles, shortstop (2006) Jerry Bell, team president (2019)

Gary Gaetti, third baseman (2007) Justin Morneau, first baseman (2021*)

*Morneau was elected in 2020; however, his induction was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19