MINNEAPOLIS -- "Touch 'em all, Kirby Puckett! Touch 'em all!"
John Gordon's legendary radio call of Puckett's walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series forever cemented his status in Twins lore, and over the course of 25 seasons as the voice of the Twins, his trademark home run call became a fixture of Minnesota baseball.
Five years after Gordon's retirement in 2011, the Twins paid homage to one of the most recognizable voices in franchise history by inducting him into the Twins Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony on Sunday afternoon at Target Field.
"Thank you to the Hall of Fame committee," Gordon said in his speech. "Both Torii [Hunter] and I are much appreciative. This is a very proud moment for both of us. I'm truly honored and proud that the committee thinks me worthy of me being in the Twins Hall of Fame.
"I'm truly honored and very proud here today, and I have to tell you that this experience has been very humbling."
Gordon became the 28th member of the Twins Hall of Fame and was the second inductee this weekend. Longtime center fielder Torii Hunter was also honored on Saturday.
The Detroit native joined the Twins' booth in 1987, just in time for the first World Series championship in Minnesota history. He was also on the call for the 1991 championship and followed the team across downtown Minneapolis in its move from the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to Target Field in 2010.
Gordon was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2008 and called his final Twins game on Sept. 28, 2011.
"I did spend 25 years with the organization, and I did have a wonderful relationship with the players and the front office and the fans and employees of the Twins," Gordon said before his ceremony. "I can't ever recall a time where I was ever feeling bad about a relationship I would have with someone that was with the Twins organization or on the field."
There weren't any tears flowing during his speech on Sunday, but according to Gordon, he broke down when he was first told that the Twins wished to memorialize him in their Hall of Fame.
"I really had a tough time calling [former Twins manager Tom Kelly]," Gordon said. "I broke down and he said, 'Take your time. Take your time.' It took me almost a minute or so to tell him that I was going to be inducted in the Hall of Fame, and at the time, he said, 'Just take your time. I know what you're going to say. I know what you're going to tell me, but take your time.'
"I finally was able to get it out and tell him that I was going into the Hall of Fame."
Gordon joins Herb Carneal, his broadcast partner of 20 years, as the second broadcaster to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.