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That was about as good as it gets for a mid-market franchise. There are a few memories that stood out for Justin Morneau during the portions of two seasons he played for the . Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. (Darren Calabrese/CP). The playing career would obviously have been sweeter with a championship, but to be fair, Morneau was part of the last Twins team to win a playoff game -- all the way back in 2004 -- and he noted that he just felt lucky to play alongside a Cy Young Award winner, Silver Slugger Award winners, Gold Glovers and All-Stars as he carved out his own piece of club history and represented an area that he still calls home. Date: Saturday, August 20Time: 9:00-11:00 a.m. CTLocation: Delta SKY360 Club, Target FieldPrice: $125 (Sold Out), Buffet breakfastQ&A session with Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, and other Twins HOFsAutographs by Ron Gardenhire and Dan Gladden. "I played one game of junior hockey as a 16-year-old.". He saw his father for the first time in nearly two years on Friday, enjoying a golf outing with him. 2000-2020 Rogers Media. Pregame, on television, begins around 5:30. I had fields to play on, I had safe schools to go, I had opportunities and I had friends Im so proud to say Im from New Westminster.. Walker might have helped with inspiration, but hes not the reason Morneau turned into such a success. "You never dreamed for a moment like this," Morneau said Friday. Five division championships, an American League Most Valuable Player Award, four consecutive All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger Awards and a Home Run Derby title later as part of a 14-year playing career spanning four teams, Morneau's personal accolades and contributions to one of the most successful eras of Twins baseball were cemented on Saturday with his induction to the club's Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony before the Twins' matchup against the Blue Jays, the team Morneau supported as a child. I've tried to find new challenges, tried to find new things. What to know for Saturday; Justin Morneau Twins HOF induction. Please contact us. And he proved plenty good enough at that throughout a 14-year Major League career that he earned the honor of becoming the 34th member of the Twins Hall of Fame, as announced by the club on Friday. 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). Minnesota Twins News / Twinkie. I guess a lot more people are more bored than that. Amazing. Morneau grew up playing hockey and even took time away from baseball to commit to hockey as a teenager. There isnt enough recent news in your lineup. You look at Torii (Hunter) and (Joe) Mauer and Johan Santana and one of the best closers in the history of the game in Joe Nathan and you think about the teams we put on the field, Im just lucky I came along at the right time, Morneau said. That's something that I never really thought would come along, and it did.". He asked for permission to use it and Walker happily obliged. Morneau is the 34th player to enter the Twins Hall of Fame. Morneau spent 11 seasons with the Twins, hitting .278 with 221 home runs in his career with Minnesota, the fourth-most in team history. You can change your selections at any time. The 40-year-old spent 14 years in the majors. He stayed at the University of Minnesota and, with his time off, he attended a Twins game at the Metrodome . And I think that guy is an unbelievable person, player, everything.". We invite you to a special breakfast celebrating the induction of Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, and Csar Tovar into the Twins Hall of Fame. It's almost surreal. But he attended a Twins game regardless, taking it all in from left field in the Metrodome. The breakfast will include a program honoring Csar Tovar, Ron Gardenhire, and Dan Gladden. Twins starting pitcher Michael Pineda is one of just 32 pitchers who can boast that they faced both Vladimir Guerrero and his son, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Its a fact that says more about a pitchers longevity than anything. Hes earned it the hard way, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star He loved both hockey and baseball, but he even skipped a year of baseball when he was 8 years old. Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer said Morneau will forever embody that era. He stayed at the University of Minnesota and, with his time off, he attended a Twins game at the. Were such a close group, and we can go years without seeing each other but its like we saw each other yesterday. He was a dominant lefty who you couldnt not like. Of course he did. Perhaps it was best for everyone involved, then -- and certainly for the state of Minnesota -- that Morneau fully turned his attention towards baseball. You just dream for one day in the big leagues and to cap it all off in the end with something like this, its something surreal., This is a franchise with a long, proud history of some great players, he continued. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Its a special group.". Lots of numbers retired up on the wall. Justin Morneau - Twins Hall of Famer Justin Morneau played 14 seasons in the major leagues, including 11 with the Twins from 2003-13. But here he is, at age 40, about to experience just that. He's the 34th member, and will have an . I get to talk about baseball now, so thats something that I never really thought would come along and did. I imagine it will start around 5:45 p.m. Dick Bremer will be emcee, Joe Mauer will introduce Morneau. To order Megan Ryan is a Minnesota Twins beat reporter. The Twins Hall of Fame was created in 2000. "Camaraderie with teammates, leaving Spring Training with a goal of winning the World Series, all that stuff, it's hard to replicate," Morneau said. Wow should I wear my Doumit shirt? This, for me, is a great thing in my career and in my life, Pineda said. Justin Morneau played 14 seasons in the major leagues, including 11 with the Twins from 2003-13. The mission of the Twins Community Fund is to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball, and the Minnesota Twins. For most pitchers, Pineda included, both are a challenge. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. (Chris Young/CP). COVID-19 postponed just about everything last year, including former Minnesota Twins' first baseman Justin Morneau's Twins Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Morneau will be the 34th member of the Twins Hall of Fame when he is inducted during an on-field pre-game ceremony at Target Field before the Twins host the Chicago White Sox on May 23. Hockey is the No. He was honored for his longtime service to the Twin Cities on Thursday, when he earned the Kirby Puckett Alumni Community Service Award at the club's annual Diamond Awards benefit show. All rights reserved.Privacy PolicyAd ChoicesTerms of Service. And he jas attacked this new career with the same hard-working mentality and study he employed as a player. In fact, the Twins success drafting and developing players allowed them to surround Morneau with plenty of other all-stars, overcome their small-market status and contend year-in and year-out. She joined the paper in December 2018 after spending nearly three years in Las Vegas covering sports for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. I enjoy the moment.. Justin Ernest George Morneau (born May 15, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball first baseman. Morneau ranks second in Twins history in games played at first base (1,124) and ranks third in home runs, sixth in RBIs and eighth in hits and walks. " We had a lot of conversations together. I guess a lot more people are bored than I thought, Morneau said. In addition to earning the 2006 AL MVP Award for which he edged out Derek Jeter and David Ortiz, Morneau owns the third-most home runs in club history (221) and ranks ninth in games played for the Twins (1,278). Sorry we could not verify that email address. He will start Saturday night against the Blue Jays. "To be in a Hall of Fame that includes Rod Carew and Bert Blyleven, Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett -- if you go down the list of the greatest Twins in history, to be amongst them is a very special, humbling honor.". Tickets for the Twins Hall of Fame Breakfast are sold out. The only exceptions were 2014,. "The Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the election of Justin Morneau . Could he have made a career out of that? To be in a Hall of Fame that includes Rod Carew and Bert Blyleven, Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett if you go down the list of the greatest Twins in history, to be amongst them is a very special, humbling honor.. He was a teenager growing up in Canada. I know I will.. I am looking forward to being in St. Marys this summer to celebrate with my fellow inductees in person. The New Westminster, B.C., native has also been very active in charitable endeavors. Marys, ON N4X [email protected], Registered Charitable Organization 106843477RR0001. His rankings on the #MNTwins all-time list: 1,278 games (9th)1,318 hits (8th) 221 home runs (3rd) 860 RBI (6th)289 doubles (6th) pic.twitter.com/JUjfZ6yH3B. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN The Minnesota Twins today announced details for this weekends 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. Fan Appreciation Weekend presented by Caribou Coffee (Thursday-Friday, Sept. 23-24) and, Kids Appreciation Day presented by Target (Sunday, Sept. 26). I took some batting practice in the Metrodome. "I mean, you think of the teams we put on the field," Morneau said. But Im thankful for them and where I was born. At least it was until Morneau arrived a decade later. This is, for me, wow. Hopefully well laugh and well cry and well do a little bit of everything. He is the host representative of an ice fishing tournament for United Heroes League on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. The team has a day of events planned to celebrate the four-time All-Star, starting with a sold-out breakfast featuring a Q&A and autographed items. "They just want to see you succeed. According to Stubhub tickets start at $6. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. "High school coaches are here, and the guy who owned the batting cage I used to go to, let me hit for free," Morneau said, adding the Twins told him his guest list was the longest they'd ever had. And when he recently asked his father, the elder Morneau replied that he always thought Justin would end up becoming a hockey player. His Hall of Fame plaque will be unveiled at 4:15 p.m. Before the game, a ceremony emceed by Dick Bremer and attended by several other Twins Hall of Famers will take place. Forgot your Morneau ended up doing that and a whole lot more. Well give you the latest news when it becomes available, or feel free to add some more selections to your settings. Don't miss out - sign up for our newsletters! It brings out nerves and an uncomfortable feeling that you have never felt for sure, Joe Nathan said about the speech he had to give, and Justin will give Saturday. He also has been a special assistant to baseball operations for the team since 2018. "It's because of the people and the fans and the friends and the community and everything else. Monday Morning Minnesota: Further Spring Jokes Edition, Twins open Spring Training by splitting a pair of, well, split-squad games. The tight bonds between that group -- the shared experiences that keep them all coming back, year after year, for each of these ceremonies -- are one of the most important hallmarks of this franchise and what Morneau hoped to highlight most as he teared up while going down a lengthy list of thanks for everyone from Tom Kelly to the late Wayne "Big Fella" Hattaway to the clubhouse personnel to Corey Koskie. On August 31, 2013, Morneau was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates where he helped lead the club to its first postseason appearance since 1992. The Twins drafted Morneau. Hennepin County Youth Baseball/Softball Grant. MINNEAPOLIS -- The first time Justin Morneau saw the Minnesota Twins, he still thought he was going to play hockey. "I think this is the ultimate honor for a player," Morneau said. Lots of numbers retired up on the wall, lots of National Baseball Hall of Famers," Morneau said. While his career ended without a coveted World Series ring, Morneau still has plenty of good memories to cherish, even joking the Twins "did win a playoff game" in his tenure. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. MINNEAPOLIS -- Growing up on the western coast of Canada, Justin Morneau was, of course, coaxed towards the national winter sport of hockey. On the crying or not crying poll, I say he will cry. / CBS Minnesota. It also features a special Q&A session with Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, and other members of the Twins Hall of Fame. ", Justin Morneau is in good company. Confirming what we already knew, that he made a lot Canadians proud, himself included. It was Justin Morneau Day at Target Field on Saturday, as the four-time all-star was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. In recent years, Morneau has served as a part-time analyst on Twins broadcasts for Fox Sports North and as an analyst on the Sportsnet Central panel for the networks World Series coverage. I faced the Vladdy Daddy and the Vladdy Junior. Bremer said Morneau brings that insider look to broadcasts, translating his deep knowledge of the game to viewers and sharing with them parts they wouldn't otherwise see. account that can be used to sign in here. Justin Morneau remembered the first time he came to Minnesota at about 15 years old for a hockey tournament at the University of Minnesota. Minus Torii and Cuddy. Neither can the Twins. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. And hes looking forward to sharing it all with friends, former teammates and mentors from throughout his life and playing career. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. It was funny because he said a lot of the things that I was planning on saying. He's a person who taught me how to play first base, and we've been having a good relationship. I figured about half the people would say yes and show up. Justin Morneau came to Minnesota as a teenager 14 or 15 for a hockey tournament . Morneau will be inducted during a pre-game ceremony at . When submitting content, please abide by our . But its hard to say that theres anything at this point that ever would compare to the privilege of wearing a major-league baseball uniform every night.. The man who ran the local batting cage and let Morneau hit for free so he could get enough reps. Items will NOT be supplied from the Twins for autographs. 1 of 4 Every year, the Minnesota Twins elect a class to the Twins Hall of Fame, from the first year they started the process in 2000 up until the present. He loved both hockey and baseball, but he even skipped a year of baseball when he was 8 years old. "You just dream for one day in the big leagues. When it started, I probably wouldn't have said that. Morneau enters the Twins Hall of Fame on Saturday after a career that was highlighted by winning the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player Award. At the time, he still thought he was going to be a hockey player. Each year in Minneapolis, he spearheads a winter coat drive for the Salvation Army. While one of those players, Joe Mauer, got his due when his number was retired last summer, it will be Justin Morneau 's time to celebrate when he is inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame on May .