Minnesota Twins Eccentricity & Ephemera: A Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 18)

03/11/2025 08:00 AM

Tickling the Target Field ivories

Rounds 1-17 Results:

1. Herb Carneal
2. Tom Kelly
3. The Metrodome
4. Jack Morris
5. Win Twins Theme
6. Dick Bremer
7. Bob Casey
8. Target Field
9. Metropolitan Stadium
10. Judge Harry Crump
11. Paul Molitor
12. Dan Gladden
13. Ron Gardenhire
14. John Gordon
15. Star Tribune Sports Section
16. Nelson Cruz
17. Sue Nelson

I have nothing against pop music being pumped in ballparks. In fact, I rather enjoy player walk-up themes and entrances tunes. But in the smaller moments—between pitches or during mound visits—there's nothing quite like a great organist to provide ballpark ambiance. Ivory-ticklers have a strong history in MLB and Sue Nelson proudly carries it on with the Minnesota Twins. A few years ago, I brought my mom (a fellow pianist) to say hello to Sue and they—two perfect strangers—were smiling and chatting within moments. Sue's is a position that won't be retained when the final Hava Nagila is played—all the more reason to appreciate her in the present!

Next: Planes, Trains, (But Not) Automobiles.

Little Big League

• When the Baby Boomers starting getting nostalgic in the 1990s, baseball was on the tip of their cinematic tongues. In 1994, an art-imitating-life story of the woebegone Twins hit theaters. Filmed at the Metrodome and featuring the vocal talents of John Gordon's "Wally Holland", Little Big League and its adolescent Billy Heywood gave young Twins fans a dream scenario. Whether teaching us math or exploring baseball's brand of humor, Little Big League remains an all-time classic in these parts.

TC Bear

• When you attend a baseball game as a child, you aren't concerned with stats or standings (okay, maybe I was, but I digress). You simply marvel at the grandness—sights, smells, sounds—of it all. It is very possible your first Minnesota Twins memory (even if you have trouble accessing it in grey matter folds) is high-fiving TC Bear in the Dome/Target Field concourse or observing his silly antics on the pregame field or atop the home dugout.

Jim Thome

• For years, Jim Thome tormented the Twins—Rick Reed in particular—as a member of the Cleveland Guardians or Chicago White Sox. In 2010, Big Jim continued his AL Central tour and jumped onboard the Twins for Target Field's inaugural campaign. Providing power not seen in these parts since Harmon Killebrew was in the batter's box, Thome gave the new ballpark its first magical moment and starred in a legendary commercial. A year later, he belted home run #600 in MN duds.

Batgirl

• By the mid-2000s, the times were a-changin' in MN baseball journalism. With the rise of high-speed internet, Twins blogs (everybody wave!) began popping up all over the web. In that virtual Wild West, perhaps none were so influential as Batgirl. No, not Barbara Gordon—Anne Ursu of Minneapolis. From 2004-2007 her LEGO re-enactments, Boyfriends schtick, and hilarious snark carved out new ground in Twins coverage. Baseball didn't have to be all grizzled, cigar-chomping beat reporters. Even without clubhouse access, fan coverage could be just as compelling—and almost certainly more entertaining!

Public Transportation

• As it involves elected officials and taxpayer dollars, public transit is always a hot-button issue. But regardless of success/failure, Twin Cities public transportation has moved thousands of paying customers from home/work to Target Field. In my own experience: the Northstar Train served me in north and northwest Metro living stops. When in the south metro, I'd catch the Light Rail from MOA. From 2010-2018, I only drove-and-parked to a handful of Target Field outings. I have even taken a city bus from my grandparents' home in Fridley to the ballpark! For folks who lack reliable transportation or loathe city gridlock, TC Metro Transit is a significant positive factor in baseball outings.