WCCO is looking back at some of the best players to ever take the field for the Twins and breaking it down by decade and position.
While the 80's saw a lot of landmark moments for the Twins...from an ownership change to a new stadium to the teams' first World Series wins, it also saw the rise of some of the biggest names in team history.
In 1984, Calvin Giffith decided to sell the Twins. A Minneapolis banker decided to purchase the team for $32 million. Enter, Carl Pohlad, the patriarch of the family who owns the team today. In 1987, the Twins were able to bring Minnesota its first World Series championship!
Just like our list from the 1960's and 1970's, we picked a player for each position (which they had to actually play), along with three starting pitchers and a reliever.
Catcher: Tim Laudner
Laudner was the backstop for more than half of the team's games played in the 1980's. While he was never a catcher to hit for average, he was a career 3.2 WAR player whose 77 home runs kept him in a platoon role for most of the early-80's. Laudner had big moments during the 1987 World Series and was named an All-Star in 1988. His Twins career ended when he lost the starting job to Brian Harper in 1989.
First Base: Kent Hrbek
One of the most quintessential names in Twins history is Kent Hrbek. The first baseman made his Twins debut in 1981 and took over the starting job in 1982. A career 38.6 WAR first baseman who helped lead the Twins to the 1987 World Series championship.
Second Base: John Castino
The Twins didn't have great luck in finding an everyday second basemen late in the 80's, but had Castino for the early part of the decade. the Rookie of the Year in 1979 (shared with Alfredo Griffin), Castino looked like the long term solution at second base before back problems derailed his career.
Third Base: Gary Gaetti
The starting third baseman from 1982 on was one of the best at the position in their history. "The Rat" helped lead the Twins to the 1987 title and was one of the best hitters in the '80's in all of Major League Baseball. In his time with the Twins, Gaetti hit 201 home runs, 758 RBI and had a WAR of 27.1.
Shortstop: Greg Gagne
Gagne became a Twin after being traded from the Yankees for another Twins All-Decade player, Roy Smalley. Gagne spent two years fighting for the starting shortstop job and finally won it in 1985. While Gagne only slashed .249/.292/.385, he was a defensive maven for the team. Fun fact, he hit two inside-the-park home runs against the White Sox in 1986.
Left Field: Dan Gladden
While this one could have gone a couple of ways (honorable mention to Gary Ward), Dan Gladden was the most recognizable left fielder for the Twins in the 1980's. "The Dazzle Man" came to the Twins via trade in 1987 and immediately made his presence known, capping off the World Series winning year by hitting a grand slam in game one of the series.
Center Field: Kirby Puckett
Do we need to say anything else? The greatest Twin of all time.
Right Field: Tom Brunansky
"Bruno" spent most of the 80's (82-87) patrolling right field for the Twins. A clutch hitter in the 1987 World Series and one of the team's better power hitters during that span. Brunansky was named an All-Star in 1985.
Starting Pitcher: Frank Viola
Not only was Viola the Twins' best pitcher of the 80's, he is considered one of the game's best pitchers in the decade. While the ace of the staff, "Sweet Music" was 112-93 with a 3.86 ERA in his eight years and 260 games with the Twins. Viola helped the team to win the '87 World Series, where he was named series MVP. In 1988, his last year with the Twins, he won the American League Cy Young Award.
Starting Pitcher: Allan Anderson
The Twins have long had a history of workhorse pitchers who come to the park and get the job done. Allan Anderson fits the bill to a T. The lefty pitched for the Twins from '89-91 and was a solid arm for the team. He had a 2.45 ERA in '88, which led the league.
Starting Pitcher: Bert Blyleven
We're circling Blyleven again in the '80's for his second stint with the Twins. After spending the first six seasons in Minnesota, Blyleven bounced around the majors. He made his way back to Minnesota in 1985 and was a strong second starter to Frank Viola. Blyleven became a Hall of Famer...and a legend for his "circle me Bert" segments on local Twins broadcasts.
Relief Pitcher: Juan Berenguer
One of the most iconic moments for the Twins in the '80's was Juan Berenguer, a journeyman pitcher, finding his way off the bus and into the Metrodome after the ALCS to 60,000 fans with his trench coat and metal briefcase. Besides the iconic look, Berenguer was a key late-innings reliever who spent most of his time setting up closer Jeff Readon.