(KDLM) – Manager Ron Gardenhire, outfielder Dan Gladden, and super-utility man Cesar Tovar are the newest inductees into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.
Gardenhire managed the Twins for 13 seasons from 2002-14 and compiled a record of 1,068-1,039 (.507), marking the second-most wins in club history, trailing only Tom Kelly (1,140-1,244, .478). Gardenhire was the third base coach for 11 seasons prior to becoming skipper of the Twins in 2002, including during the team’s 1991 World Series Championship run. Gardy managed the club to 90-plus wins five times and won the American League Central title in six of his 13 seasons (2002, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’09 and ’10). He was named the American League Manager of the Year in 2010 and finished as runner-up for the award in 2003, ’04, ’06, ’08 and ’09. He was also named Baseball America AL Manager of the Year in 2008 and The Sporting News AL Manager of the Year in 2010.
Gladden was the leadoff man for the Twins’ two World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. Gladden has also spent the last 22 seasons as a radio broadcaster for the Twins. Gladden ranks first on the club’s all-time Postseason list in runs scored (17) and stolen bases (7) and is tied for first in games (24), while ranking second in hits (29), doubles (6), and RBI (15). He scored one of the most iconic runs in Twins history, the championship-winning tally in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. His 22 seasons as a Twins broadcast career is the fifth-longest radio or television broadcaster in club history, behind Herb Carneal (46 seasons from 1961-2006), Dick Bremer (38 seasons from 1983-2021), Bert Blyleven (26 seasons from 1995-2020) and John Gordon (25 seasons from 1987-2011).
Tovar played eight seasons with the Twins from 1965-1972, hitting .281 (1164-for-4142) with 193 doubles, 45 triples, 38 home runs, 319 RBI, 646 runs scored and 186 stolen bases in 1,090 games. The utilityman, who passed away in 1994, is third on Minnesota’s all-time list in stolen bases, seventh in triples, 11th in hits and at-bats, tied for 11th in runs scored, 13th in doubles and 15th in games played. Tovar led the American League in doubles (36) and triples (13) in 1970 and hits in 1971 (204). He also finished seventh in the AL Most Valuable Player voting in 1967, after hitting .267 (173-for-649) with 32 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 47 RBI and 98 runs scored in an MLB-leading 164 games. On September 22, 1968, he became the second player in AL/NL history to play all nine positions in the same game, doing so in the Twins’ 2-1 victory over Oakland.
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 Twins Hall of Fame membership is permanently displayed in the Hall of Fame Gallery on the United Healthcare Suite Level at Target Field, as well as on Target Plaza and in the Minor League Clubhouse at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.
Gardenhire, Gladden, and Tovar will be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame August 20th and 21st.
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