Minnesota Twins award winners and league leaders explained

This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Minnesota Twins professional baseball team.

Award winners

Most Valuable Player (AL)

• – Walter Johnson
• 1924 – Walter Johnson
• 1925 – Roger Peckinpaugh
• 1965 – Zoilo Versalles
• 1969 – Harmon Killebrew
• 1977 – Rod Carew
• 2006 – Justin Morneau
• – Joe Mauer

Cy Young (AL)

• – Jim Perry
• 1988 – Frank Viola
• 2004 – Johan Santana
• – Johan Santana

Rookie of the Year (AL)

• – Albie Pearson
• 1959 – Bob Allison
• 1964 – Tony Oliva
• 1967 – Rod Carew
• 1979 – John Castino (shared with Alfredo Griffin)
• 1991 – Chuck Knoblauch
• – Marty Cordova

Manager of the Year (AL)

• 1991 – Tom Kelly
• 2010 – Ron Gardenhire
• 2017 – Paul Molitor
• 2019 - Rocco Baldelli

Gold Glove Award (AL)

Pitcher

• Jim Kaat [12] (1962–72, Twins, 1973 Twins-White Sox)
• Johan Santana (2007)

Catcher

• Earl Battey [3] (1960–62)
• Joe Mauer (2008–2010)

First base

• Vic Power [3] (1962-63 Twins, 1964 Twins-Angels)
• Doug Mientkiewicz (2001)

Second base

• Brian Dozier (2017)
• Chuck Knoblauch (1997)

Third base

• Gary Gaetti [4] (1986–89)

Shortstop

• Zoilo Versalles [2] (1963, 1965)

Outfield

• Byron Buxton (2017)
• Torii Hunter [7] (2001–2007)
• Kirby Puckett [6] (1986–89, 1991–92)
• Tony Oliva (1966)

Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award

See main article: Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award. Team (at all positions)

• (2012)
• (2013)

Silver Slugger (AL)

DH

• Paul Molitor (1996)
• Nelson Cruz (2019)

Catcher

• Joe Mauer [4] (2006–2010)
• Mitch Garver (2019)

First baseman

• Justin Morneau [2] (2006, 2008)

Second baseman

• Chuck Knoblauch [2] (1995,1997)

Third baseman

• none

Shortstop

• none

Outfielders

• Kirby Puckett [6] (1986–89, 1992, 1994)
• Josh Willingham (2012)

Utility player

• Luis Arráez (2022)

Edgar Martínez Award

• Chili Davis (1991)
• Paul Molitor (1996)
• Nelson Cruz (2019)

Roberto Clemente Award

• Rod Carew (1977)
• Dave Winfield (1994)
• Kirby Puckett (1996)
• Nelson Cruz (2021)

Major League Triple Crown: Pitching

• Johan Santana (2006)

Triple Crown (AL): Pitching

• Johan Santana (2006)

DHL Hometown Heroes (2006)

DHL Hometown Heroes

• Kirby Puckett — voted by MLB fans as the most outstanding player in the history of the franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value

All-Star Game MVP Award

Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Award

• Kirby Puckett (1993)

All-Stars

Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Catcher

• Earl Battey [4] (1962, 63, 65, 66)
• Joe Mauer [4] (2006, 08, 09, 10)
• Butch Wynegar [2] (1976, 77)
• Dave Engle (1984)
• Tim Laudner (1988)
• A. J. Pierzynski (2002)
• John Roseboro (1969)
• Kurt Suzuki (2014)

First Baseman

• Justin Morneau [4] (2007–10)
• Rod Carew [3] (1976–78)
• Harmon Killebrew [3] (1967–69)
• Bob Allison (1963)
• Ron Coomer (1999)
• Kent Hrbek (1982)

Second Baseman

• Rod Carew [9] (1967–75)
• Chuck Knoblauch [4] (1992, 94, 96, 97)
• Brian Dozier (2015)

Third Baseman

• Harmon Killebrew [5] (1961, 65, 66, 70, 71)
• Gary Gaetti [2] (1988, 89)
• Rich Rollins (1962)

Shortstop

• Zoilo Versalles [2] (1963, 65)
• Leo Cárdenas (1971)
• Cristian Guzmán (2001)
• Roy Smalley (1979)
• Eduardo Nunez (2016)
• Jorge Polanco (2019)

Outfield

• Kirby Puckett [10] (1986–95)
• Tony Oliva [8] (1964–71)
• Jimmie Hall [2] (1964, 65)
• Torii Hunter [2] (2002, 07)
• Bob Allison (1964)
• Tom Brunansky (1985)
• Larry Hisle (1977)
• Harmon Killebrew (1963)
• Ken Landreaux (1980)
• Matt Lawton (2000)
• Gary Ward (1983)
• Michael Cuddyer (2011)

Designated Hitter

• Nelson Cruz (2021)

Pitcher

• Camilo Pascual [3] (1961–62, 64)
• Joe Nathan [4] (2004, 05, 08, 09)
• Rick Aguilera [3] (1991–93)
• Johan Santana [3] (2005–07)
• Glen Perkins [3] (2013, 14, 15)
• Eddie Guardado [2] (2002, 03)
• Jim Kaat [2] (1962, 66)
• Jim Perry [2] (1970, 71)
• José Berríos [2] (2018, 2019)
• Bert Blyleven (1973)
• Dean Chance (1967)
• Doug Corbett (1981)
• Mudcat Grant (1965)
• Francisco Liriano (2006)
• Joe Mays (2001)
• Eric Milton (2001)
• Jack Morris (1991)
• Brad Radke (1998)
• Jeff Reardon (1988)
• Frank Viola (1988)
• Jake Odorizzi (2019)

Sports Illustrated MLB All-Decade Team (2009)

• Joe Mauer, catcher
• David Ortiz, designated hitter (Twins–Red Sox)
• Johan Santana, starting pitcher (Twins–Mets)

Baseball America Major League Player of the Year

See main article: Baseball America Major League Player of the Year.

• Joe Mauer ^[1]

Baseball America Manager of the Year

• Ron Gardenhire

Chuck Tanner Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award

• Ron Gardenhire

Other achievements

BBWAA chapter awards

Team award

• – American League pennant (as Washington Senators)
• – World Series championship^[2] (as Washington Senators)
• – American League pennant (as Washington Senators)
• – American League pennant (as Washington Senators)
• – American League pennant (as Minnesota Twins)
• 1987 – William Harridge Trophy (American League champion)
• – Commissioner's Trophy (World Series)^[2]
• 1991 – William Harridge Trophy (American League champion)
• – Commissioner's Trophy (World Series)^[2]
•  - Baseball America Organization of the Year
•  - Baseball America Organization of the Year

Team records

See main article: List of Minnesota Twins team records.

League leaders

Batting

Home Runs

• 1969 – Harmon Killebrew (49)
• 1967 – Harmon Killebrew (44)
• 1964 – Harmon Killebrew (49)
• 1963 – Harmon Killebrew (45)
• 1962 – Harmon Killebrew (48)

Runs Batted In

• 1994 – Kirby Puckett (112)
• 1977 – Larry Hisle (119)
• 1971 – Harmon Killebrew (119)
• 1969 – Harmon Killebrew (140)
• 1962 – Harmon Killebrew (126)

Batting average

• 2009 – Joe Mauer (.365)*
• 2008 – Joe Mauer (.328)
• 2006 – Joe Mauer (.347)**
• 1989 – Kirby Puckett (.339)
• 1978 – Rod Carew (.333)
• 1977 – Rod Carew (.388)
• 1975 – Rod Carew (.359)
• 1974 – Rod Carew (.364)
• 1973 – Rod Carew (.350)
• 1972 – Rod Carew (.318)
• 1971 – Tony Oliva (.337)
• 1969 – Rod Carew (.332)
• 1965 – Tony Oliva (.321)
• 1964 – Tony Oliva (.323)

* Highest batting average for a catcher in MLB History

** First AL catcher to win batting title

Pitching

Wins

• 2006 – Johan Santana (19)*
• 1991 – Scott Erickson (20)*
• 1988 – Frank Viola (24)
• 1977 – Dave Goltz (20)*
• 1970 – Jim Perry (24)*
• 1966 – Jim Kaat (25)
• 1965 – Mudcat Grant (21)

* Tied for league lead

ERA

• 2006 – Johan Santana (2.77)
• 2004 – Johan Santana (2.61)
• 1988 – Allan Anderson (2.45)

Strikeouts

• 2006 – Johan Santana (245)
• 2005 – Johan Santana (238)
• 2004 – Johan Santana (265)
• 1985 – Bert Blyleven (206)*
• 1963 – Camilo Pascual (202)
• 1962 – Camilo Pascual (206)
• 1961 – Camilo Pascual (221)

* Includes statistics while with Cleveland Indians

Saves

• 2002 – Eddie Guardado (45)
• 1979 – Mike Marshall (32)
• 1970 – Ron Perranoski (34)
• 1969 – Ron Perranoski (31)
• 1968 – Al Worthington (18)

See also

• Baseball awards
• List of MLB awards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jerry. Crasnick. Mauer's Amazing Season Earns Player of the Year Nod. October 29, 2009. Baseball America, Inc.. 2010-09-21.
2. The World Series Trophy was first awarded in 1967. In 1985, it was re-named the Commissioner's Trophy. From 1970 to 1984, the "Commissioner's Trophy" was the name of the award given to the All-Star Game MVP.