We’ve waited long enough to welcome back baseball into our lives. The hometown team has a lot to look forward to this season; with new pitchers and a dedicated front office, the Twins are serious about contending for a playoff spot. As the oldest professional sports franchise in the state, the Twins have won two world championships in 1987 + 1991, the most of any men’s professional team in Minnesota. MOA and the Twins have history together, and here’s how you know:
1. Met Stadium Seat
Have you ever come around the corner of the Log Chute to see a lone red stadium chair hung up on the wall? Or maybe it has caught your eye galivanting though Nickelodeon Universe®? If you haven’t, take a moment to check out the Harmon Killebrew Home Run Tribute Chair—marking the spot where Twins legend Harmon Killebrew smashed the longest homerun ever hit in Metropolitan Stadium on June 3, 1967, flying 522 feet into the second deck.
2. Killebrew Drive
Speaking of the legend himself, one of the four main roads accessing Mall of America just happens to be named Killebrew Drive. Coincidence? We think not. In his day, Killebrew became so popular that the street in front of Met Stadium was named after him, and has remained every since then. Former Twins star Kent Hrbek called Killebrew, “Paul Bunyan with a uniform on,” illustrating his baseball legacy in the state of Minnesota.
3. Home Plate
It is our way of commemorating the history of our property and the memories made here. Find this hidden gem in Nickelodeon Universe®, marking the spot where thousands of MLB players stood up to bat in Met Stadium from 1956 – 1981. This is also of course the spot where our beloved Killebrew hit that record setting homer. You can visualize just how far it went from plate to chair inside NU!
4. Baseball Gear
You can’t walk around the Mall this time of year without running into some Minnesota Twins baseball gear. No, I am not just talking about our millions of summer visitors rocking their baseball apparel, or all the fans taking the direct Metro Transit line from MOA to Target Field; we have all the Twins attire and memorabilia you could ever want at the following locations: Pro Image Sports, Lids, Goldy’s Locker Room, Champs Sports
5. Junior Announcer Sweepstakes
Calling all Twins fans + families to enter to win our annual Junior Announcer Sweepstakes! We work together with the Twins Organization to find the next junior announcers at Twins home games! Just another way you are never far from Twins Territory at the Mall. Find our Junior Announcer Desk located on Level 1, South near the entrance to Nickelodeon Universe. Snap a pic of your 6 – 12 year old child + share your photo using #JUNIORANNOUNCER + tag @MALLOFAMERICA on Instagram or Twitter.
Now you know you don’t have to be at Target Field to be in #TwinsTerritory. Let’s go Twins!