Minnesota Twins Logo PNG
One of the oldest baseball clubs in Minnesota uses a logo that reflects the brotherhood of two cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul. The “Minnesota Twins” logo represents an important feature of the club – its connection with two cities, sports, and commitment to its history.
Minnesota Twins: Brand overview
Founded: | 1901 |
Founder: | Pohlad family |
Headquarters: | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Website: | mlb.com |
“Minnesota Twins” is an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team was founded in 1901.
Originally, the team was called Washington Nationals, as well as the Senators. This is because, for the first half of their competitive career (almost 60 years), the franchise was in Washington. First, under the leadership of Ban Johnson and Fred Postal (1901-1903), Thomas Noyes bought the franchise in 1904. He owned the baseball club until 1912, when he sold it to Benjamin Minor. Eight years later, he transferred ownership to Clark Griffith, who owned the “Senators” until his death in 1955.
Calvin Griffith organized the relocation of the “Minnesota Twins” after 60 years in Washington in 1961 to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The team was warmly received in its new location, as it had several brilliant players. Carl Pohlad owned the team from 1984 to 2009. After his death, his heir, Jim Pohlad, took over all duties and still owns the franchise.
The “Twins” are named after the twin cities area, including Minneapolis and St. Paul, where they are currently based. Right after the move, the team was called Twin Cities Baseball. The name “Twins” came from the popular name of the region – “Twin Cities,” as the team was usually called “Twin.”
Meaning and History
The “Minnesota Twins” had a huge number of logos at different times. Starting as “Washington Senators,” the club changed its name several times. Moreover, the debut logo is radically different from today’s. In the early versions, the predominant letter was “W” – from the name of the state of Washington. Now, a form of seal with a diagonal inscription in the middle is used.
What is Minnesota Twins?
Minnesota Twins is a baseball club named after Minneapolis and St. Paul, which are considered twin cities due to geographical proximity. It is part of the professional sports organization Major League Baseball and the American League Central Division. As of 2021, the team has won three World Series titles, four Western Division titles, and eight Central Division titles.
1901 – 1904
Originally, the team was called “Washington Senators,” and their emblem was a classic dark blue letter “W.”
1905 – 1935
The team’s nickname changed to “Washington Nationals.” Over the next 20 years, the emblem continued to be the blue letter “W,” which underwent minor changes.
1936 – 1937
The dark blue letter “W,” representing Washington, acquired a thick red outline.
1938 – 1947
Designers removed the red outline from the logo, and the dark blue letter became larger.
1948 – 1952
The dark blue letter “W” again with a red outline, but now it became thinner.
1953 – 1956
In 1953, the “Washington Nationals” first used a full-fledged design on their logo. The dome of the US Capitol emerges from a white and red baseball. In the background – a white baseball bat with a red outline. A dark blue baseball cap with the small letter “W” is at the top of the Capitol dome.
Subsequently, the “Senators” used the same logo as the final logo of the “Nationals,” which depicted the dome of the US Capitol, a baseball, a bat, and the team’s cap.
1957 – 1960
The new emblem depicts a caricature of a US senator preparing to pitch, the team name behind a blue and red circle, and the Washington Monument also in the background.
1961 – 1975
When the team was renamed the “Minnesota Twins,” the logo also changed. Illustrator Ray Barton created the iconic image of “Minnie” and “Paul” in baseball uniforms with the initials of Minneapolis and St. Paul, shaking hands over the Mississippi River, on a light blue drawing of the state of Minnesota in the late 1960s and a white baseball. Nevertheless, Griffith decided to turn the drawing into the team’s official emblem. Barton was paid $15 for his work.
1976 – 1986
The tenth Minnesota Twins emblem is similar to the previous one, but there are some changes. Twins “Minnie” and “Paul” shake hands over the Mississippi River with the inscription “Win! Twins!” In addition, the light blue color has become dark blue.
1987 – 2009
The 1987 Minnesota Twins logo is a red inscription “Twins” with the word “win” underlined on a large red and white baseball. Above it is depicted Minnesota in black.
2010 – 2022
Now, the club has switched to a version based on a classic rondel: a transparent circle with a wide stripe, border, and central ring, in which the main element is located. To indicate the direction of the sport, the developers placed a baseball with two stripes in the characteristic “herringbone” pattern in the center. They are followed by two inscriptions: “Minnesota” at the top and “Baseball Club” at the bottom. They complete all lines along the edge – blue and white.
The word “Twins,” denoting the original name of the team, runs horizontally across the ball. It is made in dark red with lower shadows that make the inscription convex. The letters “T” and “s” extend beyond the inner circle, giving the Minnesota Twins emblem stylistic integrity. This logo was adopted in 2010.
2022 – today
Sports clubs use logos that are somehow related to their official name. In 2022, the “Minnesota Twins” became an exception to the rules, placing the TC monogram on their coat of arms. The fans then had a valid question: What does the letter “C” have to do with it?
The fact is that the abbreviation “TC” stands for “Twin Cities.” This term refers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolis, where the franchise moved from Washington in 1961. At the same time, he began using an alternative logo with intertwined letters “T” and “C,” which became the basis for the official logo in 2022.
The modern monogram looks almost the same as the original version. It also contains a large dark blue letter “T” and a flattened red letter “C” in the form of a thymus. Their intertwining symbolizes the unity of the independent municipalities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The abbreviation “TC” also reminds us that Calvin Griffith wanted to name the club Twin Cities Twins, but he was dissuaded from this idea.
The rebranding was announced in November 2022 at the Mall of America shopping center. The choice of location is very symbolic, as it was there that the former home of the “Minnesota Twins” – Met Stadium was located. The new logo began to be used in the 2023 season.
Minnesota Twins: Interesting Facts
The Minnesota Twins are a baseball team from Minneapolis with a long and exciting history in Major League Baseball (MLB) that’s been going on for over 60 years. Here are some cool things about them:
- How They Started: They became the Washington Senators in 1901. In 1961, they moved to Minnesota and became the Twins, named after the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
- Winning Big: The Twins have won the World Series twice, in 1987 and 1991. Both times were exciting, especially in 1991 when Kirby Puckett hit a game-winning home run in Game 6.
- Kirby Puckett: Speaking of Puckett, he’s one of the team’s most loved players. He played all 12 years of his MLB career with the Twins and entered the Hall of Fame in 2001. Sadly, he had to stop playing early because of an eye problem.
- Harmon Killebrew: Another great Twin, Killebrew was famous for his power-hitting. He played 22 seasons in the MLB, 14 with the Twins, and led the American League in home runs six times.
- Target Field: This is where the Twins play their home games now. It opened in 2010 in downtown Minneapolis and is known for being a nice place to watch a game, with awards for its design and fan experience.
- Logo and Uniforms: The Twins’ logo shows two characters, Minnie and Paul, shaking hands over the Mississippi River, representing the Twin Cities. Their uniforms are famous too, especially the ones with pinstripes and the “TC” cap logo.
- Homer Hanky: In the 1987 and 1991 playoffs, Twins fans started the tradition of the “Homer Hanky,” a white handkerchief they wave to support the team. It’s still a big part of their playoff games.
- Joe Mauer: Mauer was picked first in the 2001 MLB Draft and spent his 15-year career with the Twins. He won three batting titles as a catcher, which is hard to do, and was the AL MVP in 2009.
- Amazing Pitching: The Twins have had several no-hitters and one perfect game pitched by David Wells in 1998. Jack Kralick, Dean Chance, Scott Erickson, Eric Milton, Francisco Liriano, and Joe Ryan have also pitched no-hitters for the Twins.
- Rod Carew: Carew was one of baseball’s best hitters and played for the Twins from 1967 to 1978. He won seven batting titles and was the American League MVP in 1977. He was amazing at hitting and playing different positions.
The Minnesota Twins have a great story with awesome players, big wins, and a deep connection to their fans and community.
Font and Colors
Before the appearance of the modern version, there was a logo that directly reflected the essence of the club’s name. It depicts two athletes, one in the “Minneapolis Millers” uniform, the other – “St. Paul Saints.” They shake hands on opposite banks of the Mississippi River. A baseball and an administrative map of the state of Minnesota are used as the background.
According to the designers’ idea, two twin cities were presented, which served as an excellent sports platform. Now, this option has moved from the main to the alternative. The “Minnesota Twins” also had other logos in cartoon style.
The modern logo includes two types of fonts. The words “Minnesota” and “Baseball Club” are set in a strict serif font. All letters in them are uppercase. The central word, “Twins,” is set in a fancy cursive font with underlining and double shadows.
The emblem has white, red, scarlet, and navy blue colors. The silver color is also used, not among the official ones, and the brand Minnesota Kasota gold, on the contrary, is absent.
Minnesota Twins color codes
Navy Blue | Hex color: | #002b5c |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 26 46 90 | |
CMYK: | 100 64 0 60 | |
Pantone: | PMS 200 C |
Scarlet Red | Hex color: | #d31145 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 211 30 71 | |
CMYK: | 0 100 63 12 | |
Pantone: | PMS 289 C |
Minnesota Kasota Gold | Hex color: | #cfac7a |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 207 172 122 | |
CMYK: | 20 32 58 0 | |
Pantone: | PMS 465 C |
FAQ
What does the “Minnesota Twins” TC logo mean?
The alternative Minnesota Twins logo with the TC monogram denotes twin cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul. The fact is that the team is based in Minneapolis but plays for both cities. The intertwined T and C badges adorn the baseball caps.
What was the “Minnesota Twins” team called before?
In the past, the “Minnesota Twins” had many different names. At the beginning of its history, it was known as the “Washington Senators” (1901-1904), then it was renamed the “Washington Nationals” (1905-1955). In 1956, the old name Washington Senators returned. It was used until 1960, when the club finally turned into the “Minnesota Twins.”
Did the “Minnesota Twins” change their logo?
As of 2021, the “Minnesota Twins” team has not made any changes to its logo. It still uses the version adopted in 2010: a baseball in a blue ring with the inscriptions “MINNESOTA BASEBALL CLUB” and “Twins.”
When did the “Minnesota Twins” change their logo?
The Minnesota Twins logo has changed several times – mainly in connection with the renaming of the club. However, the last logo update was not related to a name change. It took place in 2010 – actually, 23 years after the previous redesign.