In 2010 the 50 greatest Twins list of all time was announced, commemorating the 50th season of franchise’s existence.

In early September that year, I spent a good part of the weekend watching the ’10 version of the Minnesota Twins play some great baseball vs. the Texas Rangers. The pennant race was heating up, and Twins on the field were playing like real ball players who like to play in October.

At Target Field that weekend, many of the greatest Twins of all time (many who played deep into cold weather of the Fall) reunited to play a “legends” game. It was pure pleasure to watch the “Boy’s of Summer” take to the new outdoor field in Minnesota and try to recapture their “Glory Day.”

The highlight of the Legends Game for me was watching Kent Hrbek put his own special mark on Target Field. T-Rex, as he was known back in the day, tried to make one of his patented foul ball catches near first base, but this time instead of getting Metrodome rug burn, he dented out a chunk of the new Twins infield grass. It’s a good thing Hrbie has a sense of humor.

The 50 Greatest Twins list was  voted on by a panel of print, radio, and television journalists, plus senior members of the Minnesota Twins staff.

Here is the entire list of players. I will create links to each player, as I blog about each one in the typical Sports Daddy story telling tone.

• Rick Aguilera
• Bob Allison
• Earl Battey
• Bert Blyleven
• Lyman Bostock
• Tom Brunansky
• Rod Carew
• John Castino
• Michael Cuddyer
• Gary Gaetti
• Greg Gagne
• Ron Gardenhire
• Dan Gladden
• Dave Goltz
• Jim “Mudcat” Grant
• Eddie Guardado
• Larry Hisle
• Kent Hrbek
• Torii Hunter
• Jim Kaat
• Tom Kelly
• Harmon Killebrew
• Chuck Knoblauch
• Jerry Koosman
• Corey Koskie
• Gene Larkin
• Billy Martin
• Gene Mauch
• Joe Mauer
• Sam Mele
• Paul Molitor
• Justin Morneau
• Jack Morris
• Joe Nathan
• Tony Oliva
• Camilo Pascual
• Jim Perry
• Kirby Puckett
• Frank Quilici
• Brad Radke
• Jeff Reardon
• Johan Santana
• Roy Smalley
• Rick Stelmaczek
• Kevin Tapani
• Cesar Tovar
• Zoilo Versalles
• Frank Viola
• Dave Winfield
• Al Worthington

In 2007, Ken Griffey Jr. asked permission to wear No. 42 on the annual Jackie Robinson Day. Commissioner Bud Selig loved the idea and invited other players to join in. On some clubs, one player wore No. 42. On other clubs, several players did. On still others, every player did.

This is what Los Angeles Angels outfield Torii Hunter said, to USA Today: “This is supposed to be an honor, and just a handful of guys wearing the number. Now you’ve got entire teams doing it. I think we’re killing the meaning. It should be special wearing Jackie’s number, not just because it looks cool.”

What upset Hunter, he says now, was this: The Houston Astros had no black players on their team last April, and yet the entire team wore No. 42. Said Hunter: “That got it away from, ‘OK, we don’t have any blacks,’ ” he said. To Hunter, a roster with no black players did not represent the progress for which Robinson stood, and baseball celebrated according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

That was fun seeing the big smile on Carlos Gomez as he ran through the traditional Twins post game high 5 line after a victory. Better yet, it was refreshing to see the Twins new center-fielder hustle out to his spot at the beginning of the game with a smile wider than a kid playing in his first tee ball game.

The grins and the hustle are all fine and dandy for someone breaking into Twins Territory, but when you add the speed, the bunts and the defense, it makes the acquisition of “Go Go” look like a steal. I don’t want to get carried away, but as debuts go, this new heir to the Throne of Twins Centerfield couldn’t have had a better night. He went 2-3, with a double, 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored.

After the game, “Go-Go” was interviewed as the Twins player of the game, and then went out and practiced catching pop-ups in the tough ceiling of the HHH Metrodome. Meanwhile, the Angels new millionaire Torii Hunter, and former Twin CF, wore a big 0-4 collar, and struck out in the 9th inning.

I wish Torii well in his new Disneyland concrete jungle.