Former Minnesota Twins star Justin Morneau will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame Saturday ahead of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 40-year-olds name can be found near the top of almost every major stat involving Canadians. Its unfortunate that our thing is happening on the same day, but its also pretty cool.. "Justins brilliant career -- defined by an American League Most Valuable Player Award as well as his leadership role on the field and in the community -- makes him one of the greatest players of his generation. On that day, I couldn't imagine a day like this, to be inducted among the greatest players in franchise history.". They said that I invited more former players and the longest guest list theyve ever had for this thing, Morneau said. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. The first 10,000 fans to enter Saturday's game will receive a Morneau bobblehead. Fellow Canadian Corey Koskie, who put out the welcome mat and showed him the way with Minnesota. He will start Saturday night against the Blue Jays. Things we lost in the pandemic (Pt. Not exactly a baseball hotbed, Morneau said of his hometown during the speech. 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). So many people that helped you get there.". The New Westminster, B.C., native has also been very active in charitable endeavors. 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. I went from the best job in the world to the second-best job in the world, he said. To be honest, I never thought he would be the guy filling in up here. The Minnesota Twins organization is proud to celebrate and thank Twins Territory with Fan Appreciation Weekend presented by Caribou Coffee (Thursday and Friday) and Kids Appreciation Day presented by Target (Sunday). 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. This, for me, is a great thing in my career and in my life, Pineda said. The Twins drafted Morneau in 1999. 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. Of course he did. Throughout his career, Morneau also consistently answered the call for the Canadian national team. Justin Morneau Twins Hall of Fame Induction (Saturday, Sept. 25; presented by Sheboygan Sausage Company). We invite you to a special breakfast celebrating the induction of Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, and Csar Tovar into the Twins Hall of Fame. His 11-year career with the Twins encompassed 221 home runs, 860 RBIs and 289 doubles among 1,318 hits. We all have so much respect for each other. Contact: Mackenzie Bongard, [emailprotected]. He stayed at the University of Minnesota and, with his time off, he attended a Twins game at the Metrodome, sitting in left field. Autograph restrictions subject to change. 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 . He has also helped organize fundraisers for juvenile arthritis to raise awareness about a disease his niece, Maddie, is fighting. "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.". 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 Fort Myers, Fla. A full listing of Twins Hall of Fame inductees follows: Name, Pos./Role (Year Inducted) Name, Pos./Role (Year Inducted), Harmon Killebrew, first baseman (2000) Jim Rantz, pitcher & front office (2007), Tony Oliva, outfielder (2000) Rick Aguilera, right-handed pitcher (2008), Rod Carew, second baseman (2000) Brad Radke, right-handed pitcher (2009), Kent Hrbek, first baseman (2000) George Brophy, front office (2009), Kirby Puckett, outfielder (2000) Greg Gagne, shortstop (2010), Calvin Griffith, president & principal owner (2000) Jim Perry, right-handed pitcher (2011), Herb Carneal, radio broadcaster (2001) Camilo Pascual, right-handed pitcher (2012), Jim Kaat, left-handed pitcher (2001) Eddie Guardado, left-handed pitcher (2013), Bert Blyleven, right-handed pitcher (2002) Tom Mee, media relations (2013), Tom Kelly, manager (2002) John Gordon, radio broadcaster (2016), Bob Allison, outfielder (2003) Torii Hunter, outfielder (2016), Bob Casey, public address announcer (2003) Andy MacPhail, general manager (2017), Earl Battey, catcher (2004) Michael Cuddyer, outfielder (2017), Carl R. Pohlad, owner (2005) Johan Santana, left-handed pitcher (2018), Frank Viola, left-handed pitcher (2005) Joe Nathan, right-handed pitcher (2019), Zoilo Versalles, shortstop (2006) Jerry Bell, team president (2019), Gary Gaetti, third baseman (2007) Justin Morneau, first baseman (2021*), *Morneau was elected in 2020; however, his induction was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19. "I think this is the ultimate honor for a player," Morneau said. 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. For most pitchers, Pineda included, both are a challenge. But he attended a Twins game regardless, taking it all in from left field in the Metrodome. His name was added to Baseball Canadas Wall of Excellence in 2010. Over parts of five minor league campaigns, he developed into a top prospect, earning invitations to two MLB Futures Games (2002, 2004) before he was called up to make his major league debut with the Twins on June 10, 2003. I think we all have so much respect for each other. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). All net proceeds from this event will benefit the Twins Community Fund. Little did he know that just seven or so years later, he'd be on the field in a Twins uniform. He's the 34th member, and will have an . Twins fans have been reunited with Morneau now that he has seemingly been the top analyst filling the shoes of Bert Blyleven. MINNEAPOLIS -- The first time Justin Morneau saw the Minnesota Twins, he still thought he was going to play hockey. It was funny because he said a lot of the things that I was planning on saying. But here he is, at age 40, about to experience just that. MINNEAPOLIS -- The first time Justin Morneau ever visited Minneapolis, he was a 14- or 15-year-old kid about to play in a hockey tournament. I know I will.. In the end, most of them did, enough that he lost count of how many would be in attendance. And that's why they're carving out a permanent home for him at Target Field alongside their other legends. Enter your email address to get a new one. The ceremony will be held ahead of Saturday nights game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field after COVID-19 postponed it for more than a year. He was elected to the hall in January 2020, but his planned induction was delayed by COVID-19. Customize your Sportsnet lineup for the latest news from your favourite leagues and teams. The New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada native was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft and ranks second on the Twins all-time list in games played at first base (1,124), third in home runs, sixth in RBI, and eighth in hits and walks. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. "Not good enough," Morneau said. Next, select your favourite teams and leagues and well show you their latest news and scores in the My Favourites section of the home page. " Every year, it seemed like, for a long run of time, six divisions and championships in nine years. 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. Morneau on Saturday will be inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame David Berding / USA TODAY Sports. 33 was deemed off-limits. Heres the list: Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Calvin Griffith, Herb Carneal, Jim Kaat, Bert Blyleven, Tom Kelly, Bob Allison, Bob Casey, Earl Battey, Frank Viola, Carl Pohlad, Zoilo Versalles, Gary Gaetti, Jim Rantz, Rick Aguilera, Brad Radke, George Brophy, Greg Gagne, Jim Perry, Camilo Pascual, Eddie Guardado, Tom Mee, John Gordon, Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, Andy MacPhail, Johan Santana, Jerry Bell, Joe Nathan and now Justin Morneau. Items will NOT be supplied from the Twins for autographs. "The Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the election of Justin Morneau to the Twins Hall of Fame," said Twins president Dave St. Peter in a statement. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Justin Morneau ready for Twins Hall of Fame, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window), Justin Morneau ready for Twins Hall of Fame induction, A look at MLBs new rules and how they will affect the Twins, Getting reliever Jorge Lpez back on track key task for Twins, Jose Miranda pulls out of World Baseball Classic, per reports, Twins prospect Edouard Julien makes an impression at the plate, Jaw wired shut, Twins prospect Jordan Balazovic returns to baseball activities, Twins starter Pablo Lpez, soon off to compete in WBC, sharp in first spring start, John Shipley: Timing on Lindsay Whalen decision seems odd, Hastings delivers improbable rally to stun defending champ St. Michael-Albertville in 3A wrestling final, Boys hockey: Hill-Murray stops Gentry Academy, earns another trip to state, Two graduates allege in lawsuits sexual groping by fellow students, frat-like culture at St. Thomas Academy, How much is too much? As for Morneau himself, he didn't have too far to go to join all those former teammates. Back then, the Canadian's dream was to play in the NHL. September 24, 2021 - 10:04 PM. He was a teenager growing up in Canada. 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.. He ranks third in hits (1,603), fourth in home runs (247) and seventh in RBIs (985) with a lifetime .281 batting average and .348 on-base percentage. Teams around the division get their first glimpse of a roadmap to 2023 success. He was the guy that lead by example. For his efforts, Morneau was named the Twins team MVP twice (2006, 2008). At the time, he still thought he was going to be a hockey player. I enjoy the moment.. Morneau would spend the next decade with the Twins and evolve into one of the American Leagues most feared sluggers. 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. The 40-year-old spent 14 years in the majors. "The Minnesota Twins are thrilled with the election of Justin Morneau . Sep. 25Justin Morneau came to Minnesota as a teenager 14 or 15 for a hockey tournament. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Justin Ernest George Morneau (born May 15, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball first baseman. It all started with Morneau being selected to the Twins Hall of Fame. Betsy Helfand covers the Minnesota Twins for the Pioneer Press. Guerrero retired after the 2011 season and has since been inducted into the Hall of Fame and Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays star, debuted in 2019 and is an American League Most Valuable Player candidate. Joe Nathan joined the two in the booth Friday. He joins Kent Hrbek as the only first basemen to earn the honor, as voted on by 71 members of local and national media, club officials, fans and previously elected members. Additionally, 2021 marks Morneaus third season as an analyst for select Twins television broadcasts on Bally Sports North. Is that really true? It also features a special Q&A session with Ron Gardenhire, Dan Gladden, and other members of the Twins Hall of Fame.