Minnesota Twins slugger hit his 600th home run tonight against the Detroit Tigers, putting him at number four on the all time home run list and almost certainly into the Hall of Fame. Found at ESPN.

Minnesota Twins slugger Jim Thome’s 598th carer home run was about the only highlight in last night’s dismal 7-1 loss to the Angels, which heightened the prospect of Thome hitting the 600 milestone at Target Field. Found at YouTube from X.

This is a pretty good highlight, too. Some fan caught the entire at-bat of Jim Thome’s crushing 490 foot, 596th home run at Target Field. Found at YouTube from johnnykool327.

Twins centerfielder Ben Revere kicks it into high gear and takes a tumble on his way to third base. Found at YouTube from twinkie57401.

Minnesota Twins are the 12th most popular team

According to a Harris Interactive poll, your Minnesota Twins are the 12th most popular team in Major League Baseball. They are first, of course, in our hearts.

Circle Me, Bert!

Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven, a former Minnesota Twins pitcher and their current television color commentator had a habit of circling fans on screen. And fans, of course, have reacted by bringing Circle Me, Bert! signs to the ballpark.

Minnesota Twins OF/IF Michael Cuddyer knocks in the Twins first run en route to a 8-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday, June 11, 2011. During a complete game performance, pitcher Scott Baker gave up only one run on five hits. Rookie centerfielder Ben Revere went 2-5, scoring two runs and making a highlight reel diving catch of a fly ball in center and shortstop Alexi Casilla had three hits and scored two runs, one on a wild pitch. Michael Cuddyer RBI from David Erickson.

We know that Minnesota Twins superstar catcher Joe Mauer can’t seem to stay healthy but did you know he’s a horrible singer, too? Yep, he is. Found at YouTube from ExploreMinnesota via @MariaEnergia.

Did’ja ever notice when a fan runs out onto the field during a Twins game that the television broadcasters Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven tsk tsk the fan for such a foolish move and talk about what a wrong thing it is to do? One time, Bremer even went so far as to suggest that the fans were booing the break in the action when you could actually hear them cheering. Whatever. That’s his job, I guess.

I think most fans are like me: They find it a welcome and amusing diversion. That’s why the following video from a Houston Astros game this year is so awesome: It shows a great fan escape and the crowd reacting with enthusiasm.
Found at YouTube from megamark09 via Arik Hanson.

I was so sad to hear that Harmon Killebrew is entering hospice care after losing his fight to esophageal cancer. A good friend of mine died of it; it’s nasty.

My first memory of Harmon Killebrew is my first iconic boyhood memory: It was my first ballgame with my father at the old Met Stadium. The Twins were hosting the Baltimore Orioles. We went with a neighbor and our seats were along the third base line, so our neighbor kept telling me to keep an eye on the great Orioles third baseman of the time, Brooks Robinson.

I remember fat men standing around on the concourse drinking beer and the smell of their thick cigar smoke. I remember Tony Oliva breaking a bat by pounding it on home plate after disagreeing with the umpire’s called third strike.

In the bottom of the ninth the Twins were behind by a run. Harmon, in his last years as a Twin and relegated to DH duty, stepped up to bat to the thundering feet of the crowd, stomping in expectation.

Crack. The ball arched high across the sky down the third base line and settled into the upper-deck stands…just foul. Harmon ended up striking out and the Twins lost but I was astonished that a human being could hit the ball so hard and so far.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Harmon Killebrew but from afar he always came off as a kind and gentle man. Thank you, Harmon. Found at YouTube from kosterfilms.

Found at YouTube from CTVnorthsuburbs.

Found at YouTube from CTVnorthsuburbs.