In the first of many great moments for the Minnesota Twins in 1991, former infielder Rod Carew is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Carew, who ended his career with the California Angels after spending the first 12 years of his career with Minnesota, made the All-Star team in each of his first 18 seasons, missing out on the showcase in only his final campaign. He was a career .328 hitter, ranking 34th all-time, and won the Rookie of the Year award in 1967, as well as the American League MVP in 1977.
He is one of seven former Twins to have their numbers retired, a list which consists of Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, and Carew’s former teammates Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Tom Kelly, and Bert Blyleven. Jackie Robinson’s number is also retired, as it is by all 30 MLB teams, on a honorary basis.
Carew would be voted in on 90 percent of ballots, 401 of 443, which broke the 75 percent mark he needed to get to Cooperstown.
The Twins would go on to win their second World Series in five seasons in 1991, which was secured by a 10-inning, complete game shutout by a man getting his final chance at the Hall of Fame today, pitcher Jack Morris.
