Success #18: Randy Bush

There were only seven Twins players that were part of both 1987 and 1991 World Championship teams. Randy Bush was one of those seven.

Randy Bush was drafted by the Twins in 1979 and made his debut with the ballclub in 1982. He retired in 1993 having played all 12 seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Bush went into coaching almost immediately after retiring as a player and in 2006 stepped into the assistant general manager position for the Chicago Cubs.

I have to be honest, I don't remember much about Bush from when I was young. Things were different in the late-80's than they are now. ESPN didn't dominate television. It wasn't as easy to know every player on every team and all of their stats. What I knew of the Twins was what my dad told me, what I caught on local television, and what I overheard listening on the radio. Randy Bush wasn't Kirby Puckett. Or Frank Viola. Or Kent Hrbek. Or Danny Gladden. He wasn't Greg Gagne either. Those guys were my favorites. Those were the names I heard night in and night out. But he was a staple in the Twins organization all the same. 

Part of the reason that I probably don't remember much of Randy Bush is because he was a bit of a specialist. He played mostly in right field but logged time in left field, at first base, and as designated hitter often. Twice he led the American League in pinch-hits, which meant he came in off the bench. In doing a bit of research, I uncovered that Bush's numbers against lefties was so bad, that he simply wasn't in the lineup when a lefty was on the mound. Ever. In fact, in 12 seasons as a Twin, Bush only had 119 plate appearances against LHP. That's astonishing! 

Tom Kelly used Bush in a way that allowed his strengths to shine. It's probably why he was, and still is a favorite of many Twins fans. His weaknesses were never really exposed under the tutelage of Tom Kelly and instead, he became a reliable, consistent player who did what he was asked to do when he was called upon.

Randy Bush was a somewhat easy success, despite having to send the baseball to Wrigley Field. He has a good track record through the mail. I hate sending mail to the stadium because you never know how it's going to be handled. But three successes in a row, Pavano, Valencia, and Bush have come via team mail. I may not be done contacting Bush, as it'd be fun to get his signature on some World Series memorabilia, being one of the seven to win both 1987 and 1991 World Series Championships with the Twins.

Mailed: 4/7/12
Received: 4/30/12 (23 days)

Back to Blogging

I hadn't written a blog post since May, yet the baseballs kept rolling in! I began work on my Masters this past semester and with that added to my full docket of classroom teaching and helping my lovely wife father two sweet, young, busy, growing children, I could not find the time to write about the players I had been hearing from.

But I'm back! Or at least, I want to be. I just posted about Danny Valencia and I have heard from so many more since then. I'm determined to write about each one. Even had an opportunity to meet one of my favorite Twins this past season! And with TwinsFest 2013 right around the corner and personal days requested away from work for the Mrs. and I to attend for the first time, I decided to kick it into gear.

I have a document saved on my computer of the players I want to contact, the players I have attempted and the ones I've heard back from, and their addresses. I revisited it the other day to make sure it was up to date and realized that my journey is far from over. There are so many players I would love to contact.

Call it a New Year's Resolution.

Success #17: Danny Valencia

I'm not sure Danny Valencia ever got a fair shake with the Twins. As I write this, he is no longer a Twin actually, traded early this past season to the Boston Red Sox (who have since, traded him now this offseason to the Baltimore Orioles). At the time I sent him a baseball, he was a Twin, and one of my favorites. He was the second player on the current roster I attempted to reach so I was elated to get a response.

Danny Valencia was a 19th round draft choice of the Minnesota Twins in 2006 and spent 4 seasons in their minor league system before getting his chance at big league play in 2010. Third base had been a black hole for the Twins since the departure of Corey Koskie and Valencia's minor league numbers were well above average from the beginning, leaving many Twins fans pining for a call-up. It didn't come as early as some wanted. Valencia's discipline at the plate, and fielding was to blame.

But in 2010 he got his opportunity and in 85 games batted .311 and finished 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. He followed that up by playing in 154 games in his sophomore season and belting 15 HRs. Many considered the season a bit of a "sophomore slump" however as his batting average dropped to .246 and his plate discipline once again became an issue. 2012 was supposed to be his season to break out of his slump but Trevor Plouffe never really gave Valencia the chance. Valencia struggled early on in the season, Trevor Plouffe took the opportunity and ran with it, hitting 14 HRs in June and July. Valencia was sent to AAA to get in some at-bats but soon after, found himself traded to Boston.

I never felt that Valencia received a fair opportunity from Gardenhire to succeed as a Twin and I don't know why. Some pegged Danny as arrogant, but those opinions were more or less influenced by Gardenhire's spin on game situations in press conferences. Valencia was a competitor and worked hard. He stayed away from the party scene and wanted baseball to be his life. I sent him a baseball after watching a video of him give a clubhouse tour in spring training on MLB Network and he laughed at his empty mailbox. 

I hope Danny Boy can find himself some success in the majors again, maybe even this season with Baltimore. I think he has loads of talent. It just hasn't been honed in yet.

Mailed: 4/10/12

Received: 4/26/12 (16 days)

Success #16: Carl Pavano

The future was looking bright for Carl Pavano following the 2003 season. The Florida Marlins just defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series and Pavano won Game 4 for the Marlins, holding the Yankees to just one run in eight innings pitched. His 2004 season (a "contract" year), was a good one, and the Red Sox, Reds, and Yankees came calling with big money.

Pavano turned down the Red Sox and Reds' more lucrative deals and signed a 4-year, nearly $40 million contract with the New York Yankees. The Yankees always have the best players money can buy and with Pavano near the top of their rotation, they appeared to be a team ready to make the World Series for another few years.

But things did not go as Pavano, or the faithful Yankee fans and players would have liked. Pavano was a train wreck in New York. Many baseball fans could have foretold it. His contract looked overpriced to begin with.

He started his first year as a Yankee pitching well, but by June of his first year with New York, he had found himself on the disabled list. He bruised his butt and started the next season on the DL and later that season, when the Yankees wanted to take him off the DL, Pavano informed them that he and his supermodel girlfriend had been in a car accident and that he had broken two ribs. He didn't pitch in 2006.

Injuries plagued the rest of his tenure at New York. He had Tommy John surgery and his teammates and even manager called him out on a number of occasions for a lack of effort. The New York media referred to him as "American Idle". He never was healthy as a Yankee and when he did pitch, he didn't pitch all that well. Many were actually surprised to see the Cleveland Indians give the guy a chance when he hit the free agent market in 2009, thinking his career was done.

But Pavano showed that he could still pitch with Cleveland and against AL Central teams, specifically the Detroit Tigers, he had pitched very well. The Twins traded for him to boost their rotation in 2009 because of his success against Detroit, the team they were in a dead heat race with for the Division title. The Twins won the division by beating Detroit in the infamous "Game 163" and Pavano started Game 3 against the Yankees in the playoffs.

Pavano hit it off with the Twins staff, so he remained with the club in 2010 and pitched better than he had since 2004. By mid-season, his name had even been included in the midst of Cy Young talk. He showed surprising durability by leading the AL in complete games pitched and in shutouts. He started, and lost, Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees (again) and signed a two-year contract to remain with the Twins in the off-season. The Twins posted the worst record in baseball in an injury plagued 2011 season and things have started off any better in 2012. Pavano was the only member of the rotation to actually remain in the rotation for the entire season in 2011 and he's the only Twins pitcher in early 2012 that can be relied on to have a quality start each time out.

Pavano is the first major leaguer on the current roster that I have sent to (non-prospect). I sent the baseball to Target Field and it was returned to me in just 5 days! It came back to me dirty and smudged a bit, as if Pavano signed it after practice or a game, right there in the clubhouse. Despite his reputation as a Yankee diva, and his off-the-field dating escapades (Alyssa Milano, other various super models and young bartenders), Pavano has a great reputation among fans and is known to be reliable and speedy through the mail. I can now attest to that. Personally, I like the guy.

I will remember Pavano for revitalizing his career by helping the Twins hold off Detroit in 2009 and for providing the rotation with a reliable, veteran presence in the dark days of 2011 and now, 2012.

Mailed: 4/7/12
Received: 4/12/12 (5 days)

Success #15: Frank Viola

Before there was Johan Santana, there was Frank "Sweet Music" Viola.

In 1981, the year of my birth, the Minnesota Twins drafted Frank Viola in the 2nd round of the MLB draft. Viola breezed through the minors and joined the big league club the following season, in 1982. The results were less than stellar. 11 wins. 25 losses. 5.37 ERA.

Viola was a staple in the Twins rotation from that point on and in 1987, after finishing 6th in the voting for the Cy Young Award, he led the organization to their second World Series appearance and first ever World Series title. After starting and winning Game 7, 4-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals, Viola was named World Series MVP (as you can clearly see from his awesome inscription on my baseball)!

The following season, 1988, would prove to be Viola's best. He led the league in wins, with a 24-7 record as a starter, struck out 197 batters, had a career best ERA of 2.64, and as if those numbers weren't enough, he pitched 7 complete games and 2 shut outs. He won the AL Cy Young Award in a landslide. 1988, however, would be Viola's final full season as a Twin.

At the trade deadline the following year, with Viola struggling, the Twins sold high to the New York Mets. They got five players in return for Viola, two of which, would be significant cogs in another World Series Championship just a few years later, Rick Aguilera and Kevin Tapani. Aguilera would go on to become the most successful closer in Twins history, that is until Joe Nathan officially dethroned him in 2011.

Frank Viola has a reputation as a great signer through the mail and reportedly always makes time for plenty of fans at games today. Currently, Viola is the pitching coach for the New York Mets Single A affiliate in Savannah, GA. Viola's 50 day return, marks my longest wait, but one well worth it, for a World Series MVP!

Mailed: 1/31/12
Received: 3/21/12 (50 days)

Success #14: Butch Wynegar

I've heard Butch Wynegar's name mentioned among the likes of Twins fans older than me. I didn't know anything about him until I began reading up on the team's history this winter.

Wynegar was a second round draft pick of the Twins in 1974. He lit up rookie ball that season and skipped right over Double-A and Triple-A to make the team a full season later in 2006. He made the All-Star game as a rookie, became the youngest player to ever appear in an All-Star game at 20 years old (he batted 0-0, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance), and he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1976. He made the All-Star game again in 1977 and was on his way to becoming one of the best defensive catchers in the game.

Problem was, the team stunk. And Wynegar's career with the Twins never was as bright as some predicted it would be. By 1981, Wynegar's best years in a Twins uniform were behind him but the team still gave him a 5-year, $2 million contract. However, they traded him the following season, to the Yankees, after starting the season off batting .209. Wynegar said the trade was because owner Calvin Griffith wanted to dump all the high salary players. Griffith said it was because Wynegar wasn't any good. At 20 years old the kid was catching for the American League in the All-Star game as a rookie and at 26 years old, he was being shown the door.

He found new life in a Yankee uniform though and lasted 6 seasons in New York. He caught a no-hitter from pitcher Dave Righetti on July 4. The Yankees resigned Wynegar at the end of his contract for a few more years but the pressure of playing in New York was something Wynegar had tired of. In 1986, Wynegar threatened sitting for the remainder of the year if he wasn't traded. The Angels were suitors and Wynegar finished his career as a back up catcher, for two more seasons.

Aaron Gleeman called him "Joe Mauer before there was Joe Mauer." Many thought Wynegar should have been part of Fox North's 50 Greatest Twins, when Target Field was unveiled. Gleeman has him as #31, on his list of all-time Twins greats.

Today, Wynegar is the hitting coach for the New York Yankees Triple-A team in Scranton. Obviously, no remaining bad blood.

Wynegar may be the nicest man I've heard back from, based on the success I had. Not only did he return the ball, he personalized it with my name (shown below), and stuck an old Topps rookie card of himself in the package (shown above). All I had asked for was the baseball signed. No requested inscription. He even tapped the return mailer all up and wrote "fragile" on it in Sharpie a few times.

Mailed: 2/29/12
Received: 3/21/12 (21 days)

Optimism for 2012

I don't care what the experts say, the 2012 Minnesota Twins will not only be better than the 2011 Minnesota Twins, they will be better than most of the experts think.

Many Twins fans share a feeling of pessimism heading into the season after such a dismal 2011 campaign, and I suppose, rightfully so. Mauer, Morneau, and Span's health raised red flags. The bullpen was a disaster. The starting rotation was inconsistent and lacked a true "ace". And the middle infield made more fundamental errors than Twins fans have grown accustomed to seeing.

But that was 2011. 2012 is a new year. And if Twins teams of recent memory have taught fans anything, it's to not count them out.

Here are the reasons I'm optimistic heading into tomorrow's Opening Day 2012:

1. Terry Ryan: The Twins, under the leadership of GM Bill Smith, were a disaster. It was apparent that Bill Smith never really had a "plan" for where he wanted to take this team. He let key figures walk. He traded away sustainable players for nothing but mere peanuts. He let Gardenhire run amok with favoritism for mediocre players. Well, not anymore. I commend the front office for not letting this get worse than it already was, stepping in, and making an effort to right the ship. If there's any man that can do it, I trust Terry Ryan. Already this Spring he's weeded this team of talent and handcuffed Gardy in a way that forces him to put the best team on the field that he can. Willingham and Doumit are solid, if not slightly superior, substitutions for Cuddyer and Kubel. Gone is the Nishioka experiment. Gone is Revere starting in LF. Gone is Drew Butera and his putrid .170 batting average. Terry Ryan will keep Gardy in check. And we already look like a better ballclub because of him. 

2. Health: It's impossible to predict a team's health from season to season. People may look at the Twins and feel pretty safe betting against them because of recent injuries to players like Mauer, Morneau, and Span, but the fact remains, you never know. Miguel Cabrera could injury himself in the first week of the season and kill Detroit's chances at a division repeat. You never know. Mauer came under a lot of scrutiny last season because of his "leg weakness" and I personally feel that a lot of it was blown out of proportion. I've come to realize that the mainstream sports media doesn't really give a rip about the Minnesota Twins. I think Joe took it all personally and he seems to be revitalized this season. If he's healthy, alone, he's good enough to ensure that the Twins will not lose 90 games again. And he appears fit as can be this Spring.

Concussions are a different story. No one knew how Morneau or Span would return. A lot of stories covering Justin's recovery painted a rosy picture, but there was always a sliver of caution spoken from Justin himself. Let's face it, baseball is just a game. He's a young, rich, man. He has his life to think about.

Many Twins fans wrote him off. Many. I've heard lots of people suggest that this will be his final season in the bigs and that he will be done, or cut, by mid-season. Well if this Spring is any sign of things to come, I expect much bigger things than I did a few months ago. Because Justin is beginning to resemble the Justin of old. Keeping him firmly rooted in the role of DH will help keep him healthy as well.

As I said, you can't predict injuries, but from where I'm standing, the Twins appear to be less dinged up than they were last year. And that should account for more wins. 

3. New Faces: Whether or not any of the new acquisitions, or the young guys getting their first taste of early season, big league action, will pan out, is still up for debate as the season hasn't even begun. But, I think each new face is an intriguing one. On paper, Josh Willingham should prove to be more productive than fan favorite Micheal Cuddyer was. And on paper, Ryan Doumit should prove to be more well-rounded of a player than Jason Kubel was. It hurt losing both, and while neither of the guys that replaced them are flashy "names", on paper both should be equally as productive, if not more.

Jamey Carroll is an interesting "upgrade" too. The middle infield was a disaster last year. It was obvious from the start that Nishioka was not going to work at shortstop. And Casilla, while showing signs of becoming a formidable secondbaseman, couldn't stay healthy. The number of errors committed by the plethora of players that contributed at shortstop and second base was far too many. With Carroll manning short, that will change. And for a starting rotation that relies on ground ball outs, that's a good thing. Carroll is surely getting up there in age, but he's a smart ball player and has always produced solid results wherever he's played. I think we Twins fans will like him a lot.

Young guys too, will get their shot at playing this year and fans will be clamoring to see how they perform. It is exciting to see guys like Chris Parmelee and Liam Hendriks break camp with the team and both have the potential of contributing nicely from day one. Parmelee may be starting in RF in Baltimore Friday night and Hendriks is penciled in as the number 3 pitcher, starting on Easter Sunday, while Baker and Marquis are absent. Other guys like Joe Benson (OF) and Brian Dozier (SS) will be waiting in the wings in Rochester too, in case the injury bug strikes. It's been a while since the Twins have had anything of substance waiting in Rochester. They just may this year.

4. The AL Central: I'm still not convinced the AL Central teams have done anything to become a better division overall, which means, with some health, the Twins could be right back in the thick of things and competing this year. The Indians are no better now than they were last year. If anything, frequent injuries to Grady Sizemore and the whole Fausto Carmona (Roberto Hernandez) situation is sure to be a setback. The White Sox got perceivably worse, losing Guillen, Buherle, and Quentin. And the Royals, while sure to be an up and coming glamor pick to compete, are still nothing but young, untested talent. I think Prince Fielder's addition to Detroit only makes up for the loss of Victor Martinez for the season and in moving Cabrera to third, actually makes the team very weak defensively. I'm not even sure if his stats will transfer well to Detroit's lineup. Milwaukee's table setters had far superior OBPs and Miller Park is much more hitter friendly than Comerica, especially for lefties. And as Prince's career has gone on, he's become more and more dependent on home games to hit his homeruns and he's pulled a fair amount of them in recent years. Plus, lets see how they like an entire season of Delmon Young holding down the fort in LF.

5. Francisco Liriano: Frankie is pitching in a "contract" season and we all know what happens in "contract" seasons. He looks physically fit this Spring and his pitching has been sharp as ever. I fully expect him to have a great season and become this team's one true Ace . . . however with his inconsistent performances of past, I'm not sure that I'd want to dish out too much cash in the offseason, even if he becomes the dominant force this year that I think he will be. I'd rather some other team overpay for a bloated performance in a contract year.

Now, I'm not entirely naive . . . I understand that the starting rotation leaves a lot to be desired. They can at times pitch well but have been terribly inconsistent. Baker's health is a question and Marquis' transition to the American League will undoubtedly be rocky. Hendriks could be a pleasant surprise and Pavano will be a consistent innings-eater. I think Anthony Swarzek could become someone to benefit the team, but time will tell.

The bullpen, while more familiar this season and stable, still will keep fans on the edge of their seats. Or falling off them. I love Perkins and Duensing. Not sure on Capps as a closer but have to trust Terry Ryan's judgement.

All in all, I'm feeling confident that Spring has given Twins fans some hope for optimism, when just a few months ago, there wasn't any.

Success #13: Kent Hrbek

Well, after a longer wait than expected, I finally heard back from Kent Hrbek.

The Minnesota Twins have retired 6 numbers. Kirby Puckett (34), Harmon Killebrew (3), Rod Carew (29), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), and most recently, Bert Blyleven (28). All but Blyleven have gate numbers named in their honor at Target Field. Blyleven and Hrbek are the only two to not have statues standing at Target Field either, although Hrbek's will be unveiled a few weeks from now during a home stretch. Hrbek is the only one with his own sports bar inside the ballpark. Kelli and I have had a few drinks inside, buying time during a rain delay last season. It's always packed, but it's a cool feature to Target Field with lots of unique memorabilia displayed.

Suffice it to say, Hrbek is a guy that Minnesota Twins fans know and love. Partly because he's a hometown talent (hailing from Bloomington, Minnesota), but partly because he was a member of two World Series teams in 1987 and 1991. 

There were only seven players that were part of both '87 and '91 World Series ballclubs. Randy Bush, Greg Gagne, Dan Gladden, Kent Hrbek, Gene Larkin, Al Newman, and Kirby Puckett. That makes Hrbek one of a kind.

Hrbek's "name" might not be as important to the casual MLB fan as it is to Twins fans. His career numbers are good, but not Hall of Fame worthy (.282 batting average, 293 homeruns, 1,086 RBIs). He was only an All-Star once, in 1982. And besides the two World Series titles, the Twins weren't much to write home about in the early 1980s, when Hrbek first came up through the organization. But the World Series titles are special, and the fact that he finished second in the MVP voting in 1984, surprising many by leading the Twins in competing for the AL West title (he lost the award to a closer), tells you he had some special seasons besides the World Series runs.

But the World Series runs are where many Hrbek memories were made. His overall statistics during the two series' are not that impressive. But he gave Twins fans a Grand Slam in Game 6 of the 1987 Series, a pivotal 3-2-3 double play late in Game 7 of the 1991 Series, with the score tied 0-0, and his controversial tag of Ron Gant during Game 2 of the 1991 Series will forever live in infamy.

Hrbek was always battling injuries and retired after the strike in 1994 so he could spend more time with his wife and daughter at his home in Bloomington. An avid outdoorsman, Hrbek hosts his on hunting and fishing show in Minnesota and often is a fixture helping out at camp in the Spring. Since his father died of ALS, Hrbek has started a foundation and keeps himself busy doing lots of charity work raising money.

In 1995 his number 14 was retired by the Twins, only the fourth at the time behind Killebrew, Carew, and Oliva (his number was retired before Kirby's!). And in 2000, when the Twins established their own Hall of Fame, Hrbek was elected in with the initial class of players (Puckett, Carew, Killebrew, Oliva, and former owner Calvin Griffith).

On April 14 this year, a fitting date, a statue commemorating Hrbek will be unveiled at Target Field.

Mailed: 2/7/12
Received: 3/16/12 (37 days)

Success #12: Dave Goltz

Fun fact I learned from Aaron Gleeman: Dave Goltz was the first native Minnesotan, drafted by the Twins (in 1967), to reach the major leagues with them. But it wasn't a smooth beginning . . .

Goltz first reached the Twins major league club as a 6 foot 4 inch, 23 year old relief pitcher in 1972, midseason. By the end of the season, Goltz had impressed and was moved to the starting rotation. In 1973 Goltz also started in the bullpen before being moved into the starting rotation but this time, did not impress. Thus, he started 1974 in the minors again. He was quickly called up to the bigs again and this time, stuck around.

In 1975 he started the season as a starter and became a fixture in the rotation. In 1976 he duplicated his '75 season statistics. 14 wins. Mid-3.00 era. In 1977, he pitched his best season as a Twin, winning 20 games, with a 3.36 era and finishing 6th in voting for the Cy Young. He tossed a 1-hitter against Boston that season. Goltz was named the Twins Opening Day starter for three seasons in a row, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I read a great Twins blogger compare him to Mark Buehrle once, and it makes a lot of sense.

In 1980 Goltz signed a lucrative deal to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. His career would never be as good, or consistent as it was with with the Twins. Goltz isn't a flashy name, in team lore, but he's an important one. In fact, only 5 Twins have better marks in wins, innings, and starts (Blyleven, Kaat, Perry, Viola, and Radke) . . . that fun fact also courtesy of Aaron Gleeman.

Today, Goltz lives in Fergus Falls, MN and works for Midwest Insurance. He dabbled in coaching after retirement but has long since, taken it easy. Goltz was always regarded as a fan favorite and genuine personality. His baseball was waiting in my mailbox on the day we brought my newborn son home from the hospital.

Mailed: 2/29/12
Received: 3/6/12 (6 days)

Success #11: Jim Perry

Bert Blyleven is arguably the best pitcher the Minnesota Twins have ever suited up. He credits guys like Jim Kaat and Jim Perry as his mentors.

Jim Perry was a serviceable Major League pitcher for 17 seasons. He started out in the Cleveland Indians organization, the same organization his Hall of Fame brother Gaylord, saw most of his success with. He was called to the majors in 1959 and earned a second place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting, losing out to soon-to-be Minnesota Twins outfielder Bob Allison.

In 1963, after a few disappointing seasons, the Indians traded Perry to the Twins. Perry didn't pitch for the Twins until 1965, and when he did, it was out of the bullpen. The team thought Perry didn't have the attitude to be a starter. They thought he was too nice! However later that season, star pitcher Camilo Pascual became injured and Perry had to fill in as a starter and helped lead the Twins to the AL Pennant. Even this didn't cement his place in the Twins rotation. For a number of years Perry bounced back and forth, from the bullpen to the starting rotation. In 1969, Perry won 20 games as a starter, helped the club to the ALCS, and finished third in the Cy Young Award voting. In 1970, Perry won a league-leading 24 games and won the Cy Young, making him the first Minnesota Twin to do so. Only Frank Viola and Johan Santana have done so since.

Last year, in 2011, Jim Perry was elected into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame, alongside great pitchers like Blyleven, Kaat, Viola, Aguilera, and Radke. Perry is known to be a fantastic through the mail signer, but after nearly a month wait, I was ready to write him off. 27 days, gives me hope in hearing from others that I am about to write off. He is my longest response, and I love the fact that he inscribed it for me with his Cy Young note!

Mailed: 1/31/12
Received: 2/27/12 (27 days)

Success #10: Brad Radke

Brad Radke is the success that I am the most excited about and proud of. He's one of my favorite all-time Twins. He was a loyal, hard working pitcher who left everything he had on the turf in the Metrodome. The day he happily retired, was a sad day for Twins fans because he had become a staple in the starting rotation. I so wish he could've played in Target Field.

This past winter marked the first time since retiring, that Radke made an appearance at TwinsFest. He was one of the primary reasons I wanted to go! When my plans fell through (thanks Taylor!), I jump-started this hobby. I have searched far and wide for addresses for Radke and come up with a couple in Clearwater Beach, FL and Largo, FL. Neither had very high success rates. It didn't appear that Radke was a reliable through the mail signer.

I kept researching and found a different address (one I am not going to reveal). I located it on a Florida real estate mapping website. It pointed toward a plot of land that Brad and his wife, Heather Radke, had purchased and built a house on in 2009. I took a chance and sent an 8x10 to that address. Maybe Radke's not such a poor through the mail signer after all!

Radke spent 12 years with the Twins. He suffered through the awful mid-to-late 90's and became a leader on the team as they were resurrected in the early 2000s. He finished third in voting for the Cy Young Award in 1997 and was an All-Star in 1998. In 2009, the Twins inducted Radke into their Hall of Fame. 

I debated whether or not to send the 8x10 or a baseball. I think I would have rather had a signed baseball from him, but it's cool to get some variety in my collection. Who knows, maybe I'll even send him a baseball someday soon and push my luck.

Mailed: 2/10/12
Received: 2/24/12 (14 days)

Where Art Thou Kent Hrbek?

I told myself when I started this, not to get my hopes up. I seriously try. No matter how nonsensical it seems to me to not respond to a piece of mail like what I'm sending out, I still try and realize that everyone has their own prerogative. Some guys just don't like signing through the mail. Some guys simply don't have time to sign through the mail. Most of the guys I'm sending to though, should. And I make it really easy on them. All the tools are in the package I send. Just sign it, and mail it back.

But I need to be happy with the success I've had. I have sent 17 total items (plus two more dropped in the mail today) and received 11 of them back. That's pretty good. Some were complete surprises (Liam Hendriks, Brad Radke), others I was always confident of a return (Tom Kelly, Tom Brunansky). Of the guys I have not heard from, I don't really know what to think. I'm dumbfounded by Gene Larkin, and I understand not hearing from Miguel Sano and Joe Benson. Frank Viola traditionally is very good but takes an awful long time. Rick Aguilera, was a long shot to begin with, boasting a not so great track record of signing through the mail.

I know I should be happy with what I've got, but I can't help but be disappointed in Kent Hrbek.

Research showed Hrbek as a strong supporter of ALS. My wife's aunt is currently battling this and I touched on it in my letter of request to Hrbek. Research also showed that Hrbek is a fantastic through the mail signer if a small donation was made to the Minnesota ALS Foundation he helped start. Since I was sending him a baseball, I sent along a nice check.

Seven days ago I noticed in my bank account that the check was cashed. A scan of it even proves that Hrbek himself endorsed it! Two days later, a thank you card (for tax purposes) came in the mail to me, from the Minnesota ALS Foundation. Seven days ago . . . yet . . . no baseball from Herbie.

I have a hard time believing that the guy would cash my check and NOT sign my baseball and return it, but I'm beginning to worry that that is exactly what happened. 11 of my 17 requests have come back to me without a hitch, so I have a hard time believing it was lost in the process. I hope I hear from him soon, but my doubts are growing with each passing day.

Maybe he was too busy filming Taco Johns commercials.

Success #9: Liam Hendriks

 

I had written off the guys I sent balls to in Fort Myers. I sent baseballs to top Twins prospects Miguel Sano, Joe Benson, and Liam Hendriks when I learned they were among many that had shown up early to Spring Training workouts. I called the stadium later and spoke with a man that informed me that the Twins actually take over the mailing department during Spring Training and that the chance of the players seeing my item in a timely manner was pretty slim.

I literally crossed all three off of my "pending" list.

Then the mail came on Friday. I had two packages. Both through-the-mail successes. The first one I opened was a baseball signed by Australian pitcher Liam Hendriks.

Liam Hendriks came out of nowhere last year to impress in the Twins minor league system. He began the year at AA New Britain where he boasted a 2.70 ERA in 15 starts, prompting a promotion to AAA Rochester where he started 9 games and saw his ERA rise to 4.56. That didn't stop the Twins from calling him up near the end of last season to help the injury-plagued rotation. He started 4 games at the MLB level and only two resulted in decisions, both losses. His MLB ERA was 6.17. 

Kyle Gibson has been the guy to pay attention to in the last few seasons but after an elbow injury ended his 2011 season, Hendriks picked up the torch and ran with it. Hendriks was chosen to pitch in the 2011 Futures All Star game. All serious Twins followers have Hendriks ranked among the club's current top 10 prospects. Many even have Hendriks as high as the top 5 or just shy of it. Some prospects get promoted based on tools and potential. Others come out of nowhere to impress due to persistence and hard work. That's Hendriks. 

He has loads of potential and could possibly break onto the scene in a 2012 season where expectations are rather low for the team. There's not much room on the staff as of now, but once the season gets going, injury prone players like Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, and Francisco Liriano as well as veterans like Carl Pavano and Jason Marquis may need to be bumped and Hendriks should be waiting in the wings.

Hendriks marks my first through the mail success of a player on the Twins current roster. He also marks my longest success (17 days).

Mailed: 2/7/12

Received: 2/24/12 (17 days)

Success #8: Camilo Pascual

 So just when I get disappointed, autographs start rolling in!

Camilo Pascual was a starting pitcher for the Twins in the 19060s. He started with Washington and came over when Calvin Griffith moved the team to the Twin Cities. The three seasons prior to the move, Pascual had turned in two seasons with ERAs south of 3.15 and one season with an ERA of 2.64. At the time, he was becoming one of the most feared pitchers in the league. With the Twins, he would become one of the best. With Pascual atop the rotation, alongside starters Jim Kaat, Jim Perry, and Mudcat Grant the Twins had a much feared pitching staff. Four seasons after the move, the young talent in the field and at the plate, paid off for the Twins and they won the AL pennant.

When I researched Pascual's career, Johan Santana eerily came to mind. Consistently low ERA and four straight 200+ strikeout seasons (leading the league) after the move to Minnesota. Near the end of his tenure with the Twins, Pascual began developing trouble in his arm and his numbers began to suffer. The Twins traded him back to Washington (an expansion team) where he pitched a few more years with them and various other teams before retiring.

Pascual returned to the organization in 1978 as pitching coach and would later become an international scout for many MLB teams. He's credited for the Oakland A's signing of Jose Canseco. This year, the Twins will honor him by inducting him into their own Hall of Fame. A well-deserved honor.

From what I could find, it didn't appear that Pascual was a reliable signer through the mail. I felt I was taking a chance with him. Or maybe my letters of request are better than I think! Either way, Pascual returned my baseball from his Miami, FL home in just 6 days, which seems to be the norm when I catch guys at home.

Mailed: 2/17/12
Received: 2/23/12 (6 days)

Success #7: Tom Brunansky

Despite my recent disappointment this week, last week was not so quiet. On Monday I received Tom Kelly and Jim Kaat's baseballs, and on Thursday, I received one from Tom "Bruno" Brunansky.

Before there was Michael Cuddyer, there was Tom Brunansky. He was a staple in right field for the Twins throughout the 1980s. He hit at least 20 HRs in each of his 6 complete seasons as a Twin. He was an All-Star in 1985 and in 1987 had a monster AL Championship series helping the Twins upset the Tigers. The Twins won the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals that season but Brunansky was quiet in the series.

Following their World Series Championship, in a rather bold move with somewhat good intentions at the time, the Twins traded Brunansky to the Cardinals for second baseman Tom Herr. Herr had an awful impact on the clubhouse, complaining often about being in Minnesota and driving a wedge between once best friends, Gary Gaetti and Kent Hrbek. Herr was shipped out after the 1988 season. Meanwhile, Brunansky spent two full seasons in St. Louis and slugged over 20 HRs in each of them. Who knows what might have been if the Twins had kept Brunansky and never traded for Herr . . . maybe they wouldn't have needed 3 more seasons to get back to the World Series.

Brunansky played in 5-6 more seasons after being traded by the Twins but he has remained a fan favorite amongst fans and front office. In 2010 the Twins made Brunansky the hitting coach for one of their Rookie League teams and quickly promoted him to AA New Britain. This season, he'll be at AAA Rochester. I told him in my letter of request, that it's great the Twins are keeping a man like him close by!

I love it when guys inscribe their number. And the "Go Twins!" inscription is awesome!

Mailed: 2/7/12
Received: 2/16/12 (9 days)

Disappointment Setting In

On January 18, I mailed a baseball to Kevin Tapani. 10 days later I received my ball back signed. Since then, I have mailed out 17 baseballs. I didn't have high expectations at the time, but after receiving 7 back fairly quickly, my expectations raised. I got my hopes up. I thought I was making it easy for former players to sign and return balls to me and couldn't fathom why someone would discard one. I soon expected to get all of them back. Now, disappointment is setting in.

Guys like Tapani, Reardon, and Tom Kelly confirmed what I had uncovered while researching. They are great, timely signers through the mail. I didn't know what to expect from guys like Kaat and Gagne, but both surprised me with very fast returns.

I have decided that the three minor league players I sent mail to (Sano, Benson, and Hendriks) are long shots. I called Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers and spoke with a man who informed me that the Twins take over the mailing department during Spring Training and lots of fan mail gets lost in the shuffle.

That leaves 7 other baseballs out there in the world. Camilo Pascual and Rick Aguilera were just mailed late last week. Both were long shots, but worth a try. Besides it's too early to tell with them. Frank Viola is semi-reliable but takes an average of 2-3 months so I shouldn't be worried about him quite yet. And the 8x10 I sent to Brad Radke nearly 2 weeks ago, well I'm not even sure I sent it to an accurate address. However, Jim Perry is traditionally a very fast, reliable signer through the mail, and here I sit 23 days later still waiting. Kent Hrbek is another down-to-earth, reliable, and timely signer. 16 days is stretching beyond Hrbek's average response time. And then there's Gene Larkin . . . I feel like the best letter of request that I've written was to Gene Larkin. I don't know why I thought he'd be an easy get, but 23 days and no return.

Maybe patience is a virtue I just wasn't blessed with. Maybe I need to realize these guys have lives and may be busy and need to allow myself to be surprised a month or two from now. Yet every day, I return home from school excited to open the mailbox and see who I may have heard from. And lately, everyday that mailbox is merely full of bills. I sure hope my luck changes soon.

Success #6: Tom Kelly

Jim Kaat wasn't the only baseball I received on Monday. There were two packages in my mailbox!

On January 26, 2012, at the Minnesota Twins annual Diamond Awards Event, Tom Kelly received some incredible news. His #10 would be retired this year and added to the likes of Puckett, Killebrew, Carew, Oliva, Hrbek, and Blyleven. Deservedly so for a man that managed the organization to it's only two World Series Championships ('87 and '91).

Kelly was with the Twins for 16 seasons. He was part of the highest highs the club has ever experienced and the lowest lows (1,244 losses). He retired in 2001 paving the way for current manager Ron Gardenhire. Kelly lives near Minneapolis still and is very involved with the organization throughout the baseball season and in Spring Training. I love his guest stints as color man for Fox North as well!

TK's teams averaged a 4th place league finish in his 16 seasons at the helm, but not all of that was his fault. Ownership played it cheap and by the time TK retired in 2001, he had begun developing the young core group of players that would become a perennial contender in the 21st Century. Much of Gardy's success, is due in large part to Kelly's hard work.

I had heard that Kelly was a fantastic signer, however my worry was that I wasn't going to catch him before he departed for Fort Myers and Spring Training. Pitchers and catchers officially report tomorrow but many players are already there working out. He mailed a baseball back to me in just 6 days.

Mailed: 2/7/12
Received: 2/13/12 (6 days)

Success #5: Jim Kaat

Talk about longevity! In 25 seasons with MLB teams, Jim Kaat boasts a career ERA of 3.45! He had nearly 2,500 strikeouts and won 16 Gold Glove awards in his 25 seasons. All things considered, Jim Kaat should be in the Hall of Fame. He is in the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame and many Twins fans believe his #36 should be retired as well. For now, that will have to suffice. Unless of course the veterans committee wises up and puts forth the effort to get him in the Hall.

I had a heck of a time tracking down Kaat's address. After reading about him and following his blog, he became someone I just had to get to sign a ball. I have a feeling he would have been one of my favorites from the Twins teams in the '60's. The only reason he didn't win a Cy Young in 1966, the year following the Twins' World Series loss to the Dodgers, but the league didn't separate AL from the NL and instead awarded just one pitcher. Sandy Koufax walked away with the honor.

I found a few addresses for Kaat with recent through the mail successes. However after stumbling upon a news article online, featuring Kaat in his Stuart, FL home along the St. Lucie river, suddenly the other addresses didn't make sense. Further research made it seem that Kaat has an agency handle his through the mail requests. I kept searching and soon enough stumbled upon an address in Stuart, FL and Google Earth would confirm it's location on the St. Lucie river. I took a shot and sent my request there, along with a $10 check. (Later I panicked upon uncovering a $25 fee request for through the mail autograph requests! And that Kaat was a stickler about paying, often sending back items unsigned!)

Well in just six short days, my risk became a success. Kaat returned my ball signed, and returned my check! Obviously I stumbled upon his home address and caught him at home! He did send along a donation envelope for a foundation he started in memory of his third wife, MaryAnn Kaat, implying that if I wanted to still donate a sum for the signed ball, to send the donation there. Kaat married his current (fourth) wife Margie a year after MaryAnn passed.

Mailed: 2/7/12
Received: 2/13/12 (6 days)