US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
When you had to be a twin to be a Minnesota Twins bat boy
The promotion drew 74 sets of twins and turned the team’s name into a literal marketing stunt for the Twin Cities.
- On April 11, 1961, the Minnesota Twins played their first game in the state, auditioning 74 sets of twin boys to serve as the franchise's inaugural bat boys and ball boys.
- To represent the entire state after relocating from Washington, the franchise adopted the 'Twins' name and an interlocked 'TC' logo to unite Minneapolis and St. Paul.
- Brothers Richard King and Peter King, both 15, were among those hired and later appeared on the game show 'To Tell the Truth' with panelists Betty White and Tom Poston.
- Host Merv Griffin announced the boys would receive $750 in prize money, a moment their widows, including Susan King, continued sharing for decades afterward.
- By the early 1970s, Major League Baseball teams began hiring girls for these positions, including Debbi Sivyer, who later founded the Fields Cookies franchise.
Insights by Ground AI
16 Articles
16 Articles
When you had to be a twin to be a Minnesota Twins bat boy
MINNEAPOLIS — April 1961 was a month full of change and new beginnings. In world news, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. Closer to home, Fargo officially changed the name of 13th Street to University Drive, and about 230 miles to the southeast, Minneapolis was welcoming some new boys of summer to town. The new Major League Baseball team, the Minnesota Twins, played their first game in the state 65 years ago this spri…
·Fargo, United States
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left0Leaning Right9Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution69% Right
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources lean Right
69% Right
C 31%
R 69%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
