Minnesota Twins

I'm a Minnesota Twins fan - have been all my life (well, as long as there has been a Minnesota Twins team). Even during the ten years we lived in Illinois, I remained a loyal Twins fan.

In the olden days, Steve and I would often attend the morning worship services at our church and then go to the Sunday afternoon game. Somewhere in my storage, I have Super 8 movies of camera day at the old Met Stadium, which is now the location of the Mall of America. A couple of the players at that time were Tony Oliva and Rod Carew. We were at the game when Harmon Killebrew hit his famous home run into the second deck of the outfield.

Of course, after Met Stadium was torn down, the Twins played at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome, which is in downtown Minneapolis. I always liked games at the dome. I knew what to wear - rain or shine, or even snow - I could count on it being the same. One horrible memory there is the night I worked as a volunteer at a concession stand. It was a fund-raiser for the Bloomington Jefferson High School band. Had I known what I was getting into, I would have never offered to do it, but that will have to be another blog entry. There was one nice thing that happened that night: I got to talk to Joe Mauer. Before the game, just after batting practice, he was walking toward the dugout. I was sitting in the first row when he walked by. I called out to him, "Joe, I really like your sideburns." He replied, "Thanks. I think I'll keep them!" Last year he was named Most Valuable Player in baseball. Last year was also the conclusion of the Twins playing ball at the dome, which has since been renamed Mall of America Field.

Tomorrow is opening day at the brand new Target Field, also in downtown Minneapolis. It would have been exciting to go to the event. I understand it is state of the art, with fantastic dining opportunities, and plenty of places to stay out of the rain (or snow). It has been given an award for being "green." My sister got to go to an exhibition game there last week and posted these pictures.

All fans in attendance tomorrow will receive an Opening Day Homer Hanky and an Opening Day 2010 commemorative certificate. Other things happening tomorrow include:

• 11:30 a.m. - The Twins unveil the Kirby Puckett bronze legend statue on Target Plaza.
• 12:00 p.m. - Gates open - legendary Twins players will ceremonially open their respective gate (Harmon Killebrew at Gate 3, Tony Oliva at Gate 6, Kent Hrbek at Gate 14, Rod Carew at Gate 29 and Kirby Puckett, Jr. at Gate 34)
• Special arrangement of the National Anthem will be performed by The Twin Cities All-Stars comprised of members of the Sounds of Blackness, The Steeles, Moore by Four and the Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir,
• Military flyover of F-16s performed by the 148th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard located in Duluth, Minn. with fireworks to follow.
• Other activities will be included, and then the Twins team will take the field and hopefully win their first game against the Boston Red Sox at this beautiful new field.