Michael Cuddyer and Andy MacPhail to be inducted into Twins Hall of Fame
The Minnesota Twins today announced plans to honor former outfielder Michael Cuddyer, along with former General Manager, AndyMacPhail, with inductions into the Twins Hall of Fame. Cuddyer and MacPhail will become the 29th and 30th members of the Twins Hall of Fame. Cuddyer will be inducted during a special on-field pre-game ceremony Saturday, August 19, and MacPhail on Sunday, August 20, when the Twins host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Target Field.
The first 10,000 fans on Saturday, August 19 will receive a Michael Cuddyer Hall of Fame bobblehead courtesy of Delta Air Lines, and the first 5,000 fans on Sunday, August 20 will receive Michael Cuddyer and Andy MacPhail Twins Hall of Fame pins, courtesy of Coordinated Business Systems.
Friday, August 18:
6:00 p.m. - Cuddyer photo opportunity with fans in the Puckett Atrium in the Delta Sky 360° Club
Saturday, August 19: Michael Cuddyer Induction
9:00 a.m. - Hall of Fame Breakfast
On Saturday, August 19 at Target Field the Twins will host the Hall of Fame Breakfast, celebrating the inductions of Michael Cuddyer and Andy MacPhail. The program will also include a Q & A session, and autographs with the 2017 Twins Hall of Fame inductees. Scheduled to attend are other members of the Twins Hall of Fame class, Rick Aguilera, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Greg Gagne, John Gordon, Eddie Guardado, Torii Hunter, Kent Hrbek, Tom Kelly, Tony Oliva, Jim Perry and Jim Rantz. Select members of the Twins Hall of Fame will be present for autographs. Cost is $100 to attend and tickets are available at www.twinsbaseball.com/breakfast.
Play Ball!
Sunday, August 20: Andy MacPhail Induction
1:00 p.m. - The special pregame ceremony emceed by Dick Bremer begins. The ceremony will feature:
Play Ball!
Among the current members of the Twins Hall of Fame scheduled to attend the ceremony honoring Cuddyer and MacPhail are Rick Aguilera, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Greg Gagne, John Gordon, Kent Hrbek, Torii Hunter, Tom Kelly, Tony Oliva, Jim Perry, Brad Radke, Eddie Guardado and Jim Rantz.
Michael Cuddyer played 15 years in the major leagues, including 11 seasons with the Twins from 2001-11. He finished his Twins career playing in 1,139 games with 1,106 hits, 239 doubles, 35 triples, 141 home runs, 580 RBI, 606 runs scored and 411 walks. Cuddyer was named to the 2011 American League All-Star team and was part of six Twins AL Central Division Championship teams. The Norfolk, VA, native was drafted by the Twins in the first round (9th overall) of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft and ranks ninth on the Twins all-time list in doubles, 10th in home runs and 11th in RBI. Cuddyer is one of 23 Twins to play 10-plus seasons with the club. Cuddyer rejoined the Twins organization as a Special Assistant on November 28, 2016.
Andy MacPhail was named third General Manager in Twins history following the 1985 season. He spent 10 seasons in the Twins Front Office, including nine seasons as the club's General Manager from 1986-94. During his tenure, he led the Twins to two World Championships, including the club's first in 1987. He was named The Sporting News Executive of the Year in 1991 with the Twins clinching their second World Series title after a regular season record of 95-67, following a last-place finish the previous season and just 74 wins. During his leadership, the Twins compiled a record of 710-699. MacPhail has since gone on to hold such positions as Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Cubs from 1994-2006, President of Baseball Operations for the Baltimore Orioles from 2007-11, and President of the Philadelphia Phillies since June of 2015.
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 Minnesota broke into the major leagues in 1961, was created as part of the club's 40th Season Celebration in 2000. The inaugural class of Twins Hall of Famers-Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and Calvin Griffith- inducted on August 12, 2000. Other inductees include: pitcher Jim Kaat (2001), broadcaster Herb Carneal (2001), pitcher Bert Blyleven (2002), manager Tom Kelly (2002), long-time public address announcer Bob Casey (2003), outfielder Bob Allison (2003), catcher Earl Battey (2004), pitcher Frank Viola (2005), owner Carl Pohlad (2005), shortstop Zoilo Versalles (2006), third baseman Gary Gaetti (2007), farm director Jim Rantz (2007), pitcher Rick Aguilera (2008), pitcher Brad Radke (2009), farm and scouting director George Brophy (2009), shortstop Greg Gagne (2010), pitcher Jim Perry (2011), pitcher Camilo Pascual (2012), pitcher Eddie Guardado (2013) and director of media relations Tom Mee (2013), second baseman Chuck Knoblauch was elected in 2014 but not inducted, outfielder Torii Hunter (2016) and radio broadcaster John Gordon (2016), and outfielder Michael Cuddyer (2017) and general manager Andy MacPhail (2017).
The Twins Hall of Fame 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 Ft. Myers, FL.
Single-game tickets to the Twins Hall of Fame induction games and all Twins home games are on sale now and are available via twinsbaseball.com, by calling (612) 33-TWINS, (800) 33-TWINS or in-person at the Target Field Box Office.