Lefty swinging outfielder Lyman Bostock had a very solid, but short, career with the Twins. He had a monster year with the Twins in 1977. In 1977, Bostock played in 153 games for the Twins in which he was 199 for 593 (.336 avg, .897 OPS) with 104 runs scored, 14 homers, 90 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Bostock also had 36 doubles and 12 triples in 1977 as he finished 27th in the voting to the A.L. MVP Award that year. Bostock played in 379 games in three years with the Twins and he was 456 of 1,436 (.318 avg, .812 OPS) with 231 runs scored, 18 homers, 179 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Bostock signed on with the California Angels for the 1978 season. On September 23rd, 1978, Bostock was 2 for 4 with a double, walk and a run scored in a day game that the Angels lost 5-4 to the White Sox. Later that night, Bostock was shot in the temple in a car by a jealous husband who was aiming at his wife and missed. Bostock died two hours later.

Rick Aguilera was converted to a closer with the Twins as he came up as a starting pitcher with the Mets. Aguilera fit well in his new role with the Twins. He pitched in 490 games (30 starts) in his career with the Twins and he was 40-47 with 254 saves, a 3.50 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Aguilera’s best season came back in 1991 when he pitched in 63 games (0 starts) in which he was 4-5 with 42 saves, a 2.35 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Aguilera made 3 All-Star teams in his 11 years with the Twins. He is also the Twins’ all-time leader in saves with 254 of them (Joe Nathan is only 5 saves behind him). Aguilera is also #3 in games pitched (490) and #5 in WHIP (1.18) in Twins’ history. Aguilera was one of the best relievers in team history.

Lefty starting pitcher Jim Kaat was a very solid pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He pitched in 483 games (433 starts) in his 15 years with the Twins/Senators, and he was 190-159 with 6 saves, a 3.34 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He was a 2-time All-Star with the Twins and he won 12 consecutive Gold Gloves with them. His best season came in 1966 with the Twins. Kaat pitched in 41 games (all starts) for the Twins in 1966 and he was 25-13 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He led the American League in innings pitched (304 2/3), complete games (19) and games started (41) in 1966. Kaat is #2 in Twins’ history in wins with 190 of them. He is also #4 in games (483), #2 in games started (433), #2 in innings pitched (3,014 1/3), #4 in strikeouts (1,851), #5 in complete games (133) and he’s tied for 4th in shutouts (23) with Dutch Leonard in Twins’ history. Jim Kaat is not in the Hall of Fame despite winning 283 games in his 25-year major league career.

74-year old Harmon Killebrew has entered hospice care as he has called off all treatment for esophageal cancer. His life will likely end in the next few days. Killebrew was a legend for the Minnesota Twins because of his big time power. The righty swinging Killebrew won the MVP Award in the American League in 1969. He played in all 162 games in 1969 for the Twins and he was 153 for 555 (.276 avg, 1.011 OPS) with 106 runs scored, 49 homers, 140 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Killebrew walked 145 times that year while only whiffing 84 times as he was not an all or nothing power hitter. Killebrew played in 2,329 games in his 21 years for the Twins/Senators and he was 2,024 for 7,835 (.258 avg, .892 OPS) with 1,258 runs scored, 559 homers, 1,540 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Killebrew is the Twins’ all-time leader in games played (2,329), OPS (.892), homers (559), RBIs (1,540) and walks (1,505). He is also #2 in runs scored (1,258) and #6 in hits (2,024) in Twins’ history. Killebrew also made 11 All-Star teams in his 21 years with the Twins/Senators. Killebrew was elected into Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1984, where he will live forever. Fans should be praying right now for Killebrew and his family.

Hulking lefty swinging 1B Kent Hrbek burst onto the scene for the Twins in 1982 when he finished 2nd in the A.L. Rookie of the Year Voting. It was also the only time Hrbek made the All-Star team. Hrbek played in 140 games in 1982 for the Twins and he was 160 of 532 (.301 avg, .848 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 23 homers, 92 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Hrbek’s best season with the Twins came back in 1984 when he finished 2nd in the voting for the A.L. MVP Award. Hrbek played in 149 games in 1984 for the Twins and he was 174 of 559 (.311 avg, .906 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 27 homers, 107 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Hrbek played in 1,747 games in his 14 years with the Twins and he was 1,749 of 6,192 (.282 avg, .848 OPS) with 903 runs scored, 293 homers, 1,086 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Hrbek is #8 in Twins’ history in games played with 1,747. He’s also #10 in runs scored (903), #6 in doubles (312), #2 in homers (293), #2 in RBIs (1,086) and he’s #5 in walks (838) in Twins’ history. Hrbek was a key player for the Twins’ World Championship Teams of 1987 and 1991.