Molly Manages Minnesota

Tell them I'm through, "for love of the game"
--Billy Chapel (For Love of the Game)

Belated congrats to Paul Molitor on being named manager of the Minnesota Twins. Extra sweet for him certainly as Molly is from the Twin Cities area.

Molitor was a staple on the Milwaukee Brewer teams I enjoyed at County Stadium during my time in Wisconsin. He was the leadoff hitter and played third base. I liked his style. Good contact hitter. Compact swing with some pop. Athletic and fast.

In the early 1990s Molitor signed with Toronto, where he led the Blue Jays to the World Series in 1993 and was Series MVP. Molly finished his career by returning to his hometown. With the Twins, he logged his 3000th hit and had a 200 hit season at the age of 40 while batting .340.

Storybook style.

A first ballot Hall of Famer (he chose to enter as a Brewer), Molitor is one of only four major league players with at least 3000 hits, a .300 career average, and 500 stolen bases.

My top memory of Molly was his hitting steak of 39 games in 1987. I was in the midst of what would turn out to be my final season as a player, and Brewer games on the radio were the backdrop while traveling around the state for games. I remember one weekday night in particular playing in the small town of Elroy. Molitor's hitting streak was into the thirties by then and excitement was high. We were out on the field for pregame warmups. The sun was setting and the ballpark lights were waking up. The weather was warm for a summer Wisconsin evening. Grandstand radios cackled with Molitor drama. After gunning a rather strong practice throw to third, I remember standing in centerfield, gazing around, and relishing in what a great game it was.

Thanks for the memories, Molly.