The Twins will honor Bert Blyleven prior to their July 16 game against Kansas City at Target Field. Club executive Patrick Klinger told Sports Headliners details have yet to be planned but likely will include a giveaway for fans.
Blyleven, who received the news last week that he has been voted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame, will be inducted during a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York on July 24. He waited 14 years before finally earning the votes to be elected to the hall of fame.
Klinger said that during the season the franchise will look for various opportunities to celebrate Blyleven’s hall of fame selection. “We will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1991 World Series championship team,” he said.
With a limit of 25,000 tickets, the Twins have sold out TwinsFest January 28-30. The annual three-day fan event was moved to the National Sports Center in Blaine because of the collapsed roof at the Metrodome. Instead of working with about 100,000 square feet at the dome, the Twins will have about 40,000 less footage in Blaine, according to Klinger.
More than 60 current, former and future Twins are expected to attend including Blyleven who will sign autographs. Harmon Killebrew, who recently announced he has esophageal cancer, will not attend TwinsFest, among the most popular fan events in major league baseball.
The franchise drew a record season attendance during its first year at Target Field. Klinger said season ticket renewals are “close” to 95 percent. “Unless people move or die they’re not dropping their tickets,” he said. “Many are upgrading (their seat locations).”
The club will again limit season ticket sales to about 25,000, allowing single game buyers and groups to purchase tickets also.