Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tim Nelson
St. Paul, Minn.

Twins name Paul Molitor next manager

2011 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Hall of Famer Paul Molitor will be the next manager of the Minnesota Twins. Here, Molitor is introduced during the induction ceremony.
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images 2011

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

St. Paul native and Hall of Fame baseball player Paul Molitor will be the next manager of the Minnesota Twins, the team announced Monday.

Molitor, 58, served as a Twins coach in 2014 and had been widely expected to get the job, replacing fired manager Ron Gardenhire.

He served for more than 10 years as a coach in the minor leagues, as well as earlier coaching stints with the Twins and the Seattle Mariners.

Paul Molitor
In this May 27, 2014, file photo, Minnesota Twins coach Paul Molitor watches in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Minneapolis. The Twins say, Monday, Nov. 3, 2014, they will hire Molitor as manager after four straight seasons of 92 or more losses. The Twins said the 58-year-old Molitor will be introduced at a news conference Tuesday and given a three-year contract. He replaces Ron Gardenhire, who was fired five weeks ago.
Jim Mone / AP

As a player, Molitor was one of baseball's best. Following a decorated playing career at St. Paul's Cretin High School and the University of Minnesota, he entered the big leagues in 1978 as a middle infielder with the Milwaukee Brewers.

When he retired in 1998, Molitor was only the fifth player in Major League Baseball history with at least 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases, and only the third player (along with Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner) with at least 3,000 hits, 600 doubles and 500 stolen bases, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Molitor's expected to be formally introduced at a Tuesday press conference. The Twins said he's been signed to a three-year contract.

He'll become the 13th manager in Twins history and third since 1986. He'll have plenty of challenges ahead. The Twins have lost more than 90 games in the last four seasons, and have seen former stars go on to success elsewhere.

Top 3 Paul Molitor baseball highlights

1) Oct. 12, 1982: Molitor sets a World Series record with five hits in game 1.

2) October 1993: Molitor's Toronto Blue Jays team wins the World Series. He's named series MVP after hitting .500 and driving in eight runs.

3) Sept. 16, 1996: Molitor gets his 3,000th hit, a triple. He's the first player in MLB history to triple while reaching that Major League milestone.

Sources: MLB; National Baseball Hall of Fame

Past Twins managers

• Ron Gardenhire (2002-14, record of 1068-1039)
• Tom Kelly (1986-2001, record of 1,140-1,244)
• Ray Miller (1985-86, record of 109-130)
• Billy Gardner (1981-85, record of 268-353)
• Johnny Goryl (1980-81, record of 34-38)
• Gene Mauch (1976-80, record of 378-394)
• Frank Quilici (1972-75, record of 280-287)
• Bill Rigney (1970-72, record of 208-184)
• Billy Martin (1969, record of 97-65)
• Cal Ermer (1967-68, record of 145-129)
• Sam Mele (1961-67, record of 522-431)
• Cookie Lavagetto (1961, record of 25-41)