Good Thursday morning, Uni Watchers. Hopefully everyone had a good Wednesday.
A little while back, I began running a series in which reader Brad Bierman, who has collected, mounted and framed every (or almost every) patch worn by every Major League franchise, has been periodically showing them off. His first collection was for the Athletics (in several of their homes), followed by his Chicago Cubs patch collection, and another for the San Francisco Giants. He took a brief respite from the individual teams to share with us his multiple-team patches for MLB (there will be a Part II) and also the NFL.
Brad returns today with his individual team patches, and a look at the patch history of the Minnesota Twins.
by Brad Bierman
Welcome back as I return to reviewing my MLB team patch collection this week. With it being an American League team in rotation, I wanted to review one of three AL teams that currently does not wear an ad patch, so I selected the Minnesota Twins.
One of my first thoughts in selecting the Twins was remembering what Paul Lukas once wrote years back on Uni Watch regarding being a collector, especially of a specific niche item. I’m paraphrasing here a little, but basically Paul was saying no matter how hard you try, you’re simply never going to collect everything you want, and it’s better to understand that reality while still enjoying the collecting.
I keep that in mind often when I come up to dead ends trying to get specific hard-to-find patches, mainly from the past, but more often in the present with so many one-game-only patches being worn.
With that said, there are several Twins patches that are hard to obtain, but I do have 17 spanning back to 1972, so let’s get started.
1972
No less an authority than my professional friend Bill Henderson, who editorialized (and apologized) in his must-have Game Worn Guide to MLB Jerseys, calling this one-year-only Twins patch, “Baseball’s ugliest ever patch,” which was worn on the left sleeve of the road uniforms. It is an alternate rendition of longtime Twins mascots “Minnie and Paul” logo. It appeared on the team’s home jerseys between 1961-86, on road jerseys during the same period, except for this 1972 version, and was revived in 2000 as you’ll see in one of the patches below before being brought back full-time from 2002-2022 on home jerseys.
Even though the dates on this patch show “1961-1985,” it was worn in 1986 on the right sleeve of both home and road jerseys which means it’s celebrating 25 seasons in the team’s 25th anniversary season of ’86. Sound confusing? It is, and Paul dove into the topic of anniversary patches in a great 2016 article. If the Twins wore this patch in the 1985 season, there would have been no eyebrows raised, but wearing it in ’86 set off the confusion.
I like the moniker “A Family Tradition” on this correct 30th anniversary patch. It sums up the friendly (family) vibe in the Twin Cities attending a summertime Twins game, first outside at the Met in Bloomington, then inside the sterile Metrodome, then back outside at the present great Target Field setting.
Back in all their glory are “Minnie and Paul” in this beautiful 40th season, not anniversary, patch. The Twins simply could not seem to make up their mind how to commemorate their celebratory seasons with respect to jersey patches, but I like this patch a lot.
The memorial patch for former Twins owner Calvin Griffith, who died in October 1999, was worn on the left sleeve opposite the 40th anniversary patch.
After moving to the Twin Cities in 1961 from Washington, five seasons later the team hosted the All-Star Game and won the AL pennant, falling in the World Series to the Dodgers in seven games. Seems odd to not wait until the 50th anniversary celebration in 2015 to honor this great team, but why wait? The team did wear a 50th anniversary patch in 2015 for one game (see below).
Following the death of 44-year Hall of Fame team broadcaster Herb Carneal on April 1, 2007, the Twins wore a black armband on their right sleeve for games between April 2-8, then used this patch with his first name and a microphone from April 9-rest of the season. According to Bill’s Game Worn Guide to MLB Jerseys, “A smaller diameter Herb patch was used on the chest of the home vest, which was worn only one game, August 31, 2007, in the first game of a doubleheader.” That was against the Royals, and in the pictures I have seen it appears the outer white border has been removed. Again, for more patch context, I’ll refer you to Paul’s article on the subject of microphones used in memorial patches.
The State of Minnesota celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2008, and the Twins participated by wearing this patch on their right sleeve for games May 9-11, 2008. I believe I got this patch through the team store, and on the back is the original 2008 price sticker – $10.95.
On August 1, 2007, during afternoon rush hour just after 6:00 p.m. near downtown Minneapolis, drivers were creeping through a construction zone. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed, sending cars into the water, killing 13 people and injuring 145 others. One year later, August 1, 2008, the Twins wore this “Interstate Minnesota 35W” patch, which resembles an Interstate Highway sign, to mark the initial anniversary of the tragedy.
Ever wondered what the “HHH” stands for in this final season patch? Those are the initials of our 38th Vice president, Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr., also a longtime Minnesota U.S. Senator, whom the building was named for when it opened in 1982 as the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. We never liked the aesthetics of those air-supported Teflon roof domes of the early 1980s, but we do like how the roof came out looking on this patch.
After team owner Carl Pohlad died January 5, 2009, the team knew it would be remembering him with a memorial patch, in addition to the previously planned Metrodome final season patch, and they placed both on the same sleeve of most jerseys.
Back-to-back double patch seasons for the Twins, but on different sets of jerseys. First, the inaugural season patch of Target Field. Today it would have a Target logo on it somewhere, but that fortunately was not the case in 2010, so nothing got in the way of the nice-looking downtown silhouette. This patch was worn on the home white and alternate blue jerseys.
The correct 50 seasons patch with the appropriate gold addition was worn on the road gray and retro home cream uniforms.
To me this is taking the downtown Minneapolis silhouette from the 2010 inaugural season patch, improving it in a 2.0 design version, if you will, for the All-Star Game patch that season. I like the colors and background.
[Editor’s Note: The Twins 2014 ASG Logo was designed by UW pal Todd Radom — PH]
One season after he retired, the Twins honored hometown Hall of Famer Joe Mauer by retiring his jersey number 7 in a ceremony on June 15, 2019 at Target Field, and wore this patch on the right sleeve of the dark blue alternate jersey. I like how the exact date is listed on the patch.
Staying with the “seasons” theme from 2000 and 2010, the team again highlights its Minneapolis ballpark geographic location in its 60 Seasons patch.
After former pitcher Jim Kaat was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Golden Days Era Committee in 2022, he was honored by the franchise he pitched for from 1959-1973 in Washington, D.C. and Minnesota, with his number 36 retired in a ceremony July 16, 2022. The team wore a patch that day on their home white uniforms.
• 1985 – All Star Game – The Twins did not wear this patch in the ’85 season, but they were created. I have obtained one recently.
• 2004 – Memorial patch for Eloise Pohlad, the owner’s wife. I have obtained one recently.
• 2006 – Memorial number “34” on jersey for Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett (two versions).
• 2011 – Memorial number “3” on jersey for Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew (two versions).
• 2014 – In honor of GM Terry Ryan who was battling cancer, the team wore a “Stand Up To Cancer” patch for its home opener, April 7, 2014.
• 2015 – Beautiful small pennant-shaped patch to honor the 1965 AL champions worn August 1, 2015.
• 2016 – In recognition of Twins Hall of Famer Rod Carew’s campaign against heart disease. the team wore a “Heart of 29” patch (Carew’s uniform number) for three games in the 2016 season.
• 2016 – The Twins wore an “11 Jacob” patch on September 9. 2016 for missing 11-year old Jacob Wetterling of Minnesota who disappeared in 1989. His killer confessed in 2016.
• 2017 – Memorial patch for former organization player Yorman Landa who died in an off-season accident. Worn April 3, 2017.
• 2017 – Beautiful patch celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1987 World Series champions. Worn on home jersey July 22, 2017.
• 2021 – Memorial patch for bench coach Mike Bell who died of kidney cancer March 26, 2021.
I am on the lookout for any of these patches. Thanks in advance.
And here is the full framed set for the Twins:
Thanks for sharing these, Brad! That Carneal patch remains my favorite memorial patch of all time.
You’re welcome. I enjoy sharing the patches with people who can appreciate them. The Herb patch was classy, for a classy gentleman.
As always a joy to walk down such a niche memory lane.
GTGFTS
19 Aug 2005
Jeff Francoeur will double in this at bat, and the Braves will make a valiant effort, but the Padres eventually win 12-7.
GTGFTU
19 Nov 1972
Vikings beat the Rams 45-41 at the Coliseum
No idea why there is a Vikings helmet mobile in LA, but it’s the only game that seems to fit.
Yeh that’s it. Krause returns fumble for TD, rare Rams home game wearing blue. Still a mystery why big Vikes helmet on field. Highlights on You Tube, week 10 NFL game of week show.
That year the Coliseum would host Super Bowl 7, and at halftime all 26 teams’ helmet cars were featured. Maybe they pulled out the Vikings car for a test run?
And yes, the guess is correct. The Rams wore those blue jerseys a few times that year. I really liked that look. And Paul Krause was one of my first favorite players, so this is a special photo for me.
Rams and Vikings, the very small fraternity of teams that wore shoulder hoops on the white jerseys, and conventional sleeve stripes on the dark jerseys. Odd.
Not even going to attempt to GTGFTS, but I just want to say that Jeff Francoeur is one of those guys that I loved as a kid and I can’t really explain why. The only thing I can think of is he had his first full (and best) season in 2006, which would have been my second or third year of probably being interested in baseball.
I have a similar weird affinity for him. In 2005, I lived in Jacksonville when the Mississippi Braves came to town and he had a monster game where I was thinking “This guy is going to be a star in The Show.” When he got promoted directly from AA, I felt like a professional scout.
Brad I’m a fan of your postings. I collect mainly anniversary and 90% baseball. The Twins 1991 30th 61-91 sleeve patch worn in 1991 during their World Series winning year. . I bought it through the Twins Gift store. The patch came with a COA stating that “this was one of 65 patches worn during the 1991 season”. That would never happen today. A game worn uniform, stripped of a patch worn during possibly the greatest World Series, and sold individually for $10 would today border on nutty .Keep up the great work and looking forward to more in the future!
Thank you, RW. It’s comments like yours that make me happy that I can share the patches with like-minded members of the UW community! Means a lot.
It would be great to see your anniversary patch collection
I love the 1991 30th anniversary patch story as well. You’re right, that would not happen today unless the patch/jersey were auctioned on the MLB Auction website, or a team store, which do sometimes offer for purchase game-worn patches. ( auctions.mlb.com )
Also wanted to mention the Twins did not wear the 30th patch in the ’91 World Series, wearing the WS patch on the right sleeve of H/A jerseys instead, and after not wearing the WS patch in 1987.
Great post as always Brad!
Sorry if this has already been asked – but do you display your collection at home, or keep them preserved out of sight, and pull them out for special showings?
Please keep them coming!
Thank you, Dballer. No problem answering.
I am in transition as to where I will live come fall, so for now I have all the patch boards (getting close to 100) lined up in three rows in team alphabetical order on the floor in a corner of my bedroom which is a decent size room. When I want to see, let’s say, the Minnesota Twins board, I flip through and pull it out. Most of the 30 MLB teams are actually on two boards now. Incredible how many patches there have been worn on MLB jerseys between just 2000-2025.
Wherever I move permanently, I hope to have each board displayed. Pictures sometimes do not do them justice when looking up close, and I thoroughly enjoy the fact that EVERY patch has a story behind it.
Appreciate the remarks.
Wow, GTGFTU has been on fire this week. Just great stuff.
Nice collection, Brad! The Eloise Pohlad patch was similar to Carl’s in that they both were their first name signatures…and such great penmanship on that!
On local news last night was a story about the Twins’ Minnie and Paul logo:
link
Thank you, Mike, appreciate it. Also thanks for sharing the WCCO story on Minnie and Paul, what a collection at Target Field with the team curator. Too bad they didn’t discuss the 1972 road logo variation,
Yes, I am most familiar with the three versions (white/gray/blue) of the “Eloise” patch worn in 2004. bearing her great penmanship, as you say, writing her first name. I have a priority list of patches to acquire and a budget, so it took a while to get to this particular patch.
Happy to say my waiting paid off in one sense. I was able to acquire the patch for the lofty price of 99 cents.
Clyde Doepner is great! He’s a wonderful storyteller as well as collector/curator!
As a Minneapolis resident and diehard Twins fan I’m biased but I really do think the Twins have done excellent work with their patches over the decades. The 60th anniversary one in particular was spectacular IMO.
I agree for the most part on the Twins commemorative patches over the years, and the simple but respectful memorial patches they have worn.