Saint Paul Saints to Retire Strawberry’s Number, Honor Twin Cities’ Baseball Pioneers

On Saturday, August 12th, the St. Paul Saints, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, will retire former St. Paul outfielder Darryl Strawberry’s number 17.

Strawberry–who enjoyed a stellar career with the New York Mets, including capturing a World Series Title in 1986–smashed .435 with 18 homers and 39 RBI in just 29 games with the then-independent Saints in 1996.

Strawberry’s impressive numbers prompted the New York Yankees to sign him, and he helped the Yankees win a World Series Championship that same year.

Strawberry joins Wayne “Twig” Terwilliger (#5), Kevin Millar (#15), and George Tsamis (#22), as those that have donned a Saints uniform and had their number retired.

The first 1,500 people in attendance will receive a one-of-a-kind Darryl Strawberry pennant print.

Additionally, the Saints will honor Mike Veeck, Marv Goldklang, Bill Murray (famous actor and former Saints minority owner) and Van Schley, who all helped bring the “no one believed in us” organization to the Capital City. 

For more than 30 years, under the direction of these men, the organization was the blueprint for how Minor League Baseball teams operated, focusing on the fan experience, introducing unique promotions, and emphasizing community involvement.

While Veeck, Goldklang, Murray, and Schley gave the Twin Cities so much joy, it’s now the organization’s turn to thank them for their three decades of fun they brought to the Twin Cities baseball community as the team honors them with a celebration fit for these men.

— Jerry Del Priore