At tonight’s game the Twins are selling Schweigert hot dogs for $1 at Hennepin Grille, Taste of Twins Territory, Mill City Grill, Halsey’s Sausage Haus and other locations at Target Field.
Twins fans remember former owner Calvin Griffith as a character but he couldn’t match Charlie O. Finley who owned the Athletics in Kansas City and Oakland from 1961 to 1980. Charley Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball’s Super Showman is a new book that will be out next month, according to the June 16-22 issue of USA Today Sports Weekly. Authors G. Michael Green and Roger Launius admit to a favorite among Finley’s many wacky ideas: installing an elevator under the pitching mound to deliver relief pitchers.
Bruce Krinke and other Gopher football supporters hope to have a bronze bust of Bruce Smith placed in the hall of fame area at TCF Bank Stadium. The bust has been completed by Faribault artist Ivan Whillock but hasn’t been bronzed yet. Smith, a Faribault native and the only Gopher ever to win the Heisman Trophy, helped Minnesota to national championships in 1940 and 1941. The Gophers sports hall of fame will open later this year at the stadium.
Best thoughts and prayers to Lynx president Conrad Smith for his recovery from surgery to remove a malignant tumor in his head. Conrad has been a sports executive in town for many years working not only for the Lynx but the Timberwolves, Twins and North Stars.
For the first time in franchise history the Wild are selling partial season ticket packages. With a waiting list of over 7,000 for full season tickets, the franchise has a target market for the partial packages that are expected to help the Wild continue its streak of 409 consecutive home sellouts, the longest in the NHL. The all-time longest streak is 452 by Detroit.
The Wild will host the NHL Entry Draft next year on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25. A crowd of 15,000 or more is expected the evening of June 24.
The franchise is discussing plans for recognizing former North Stars forward Dino Ciccarelli who recently was selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Dallas Stars’ Mike Modano, who was the North Stars’ No. 1 draft choice in 1988, might play next season for the Wild, Detroit, Los Angeles or Dallas, according to an NHL source.
Eight MIAC football players have been named to the D3 Senior Classic preseason watch list. The classic is a post-season all-star game showcasing Division III players and played annually at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia. The MIAC players include running back Ben Wartman, center Josh Ostrue and defensive tackle Brian Villar from St. Thomas. Also on the list are quarterback Joe Boyle and outside linebacker Jeff Gilbertson from St. John’s. Others being considered are Carleton tackle Brad Eckelmann, Bethel defensive tackle Andrew Johnson and Concordia safety Zach Debeltz.