Reardon is looking forward to seeing the guys again (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-twins-reunion), calling it his best year in baseball.
I'll be at the Metrodome with my family for the game on Saturday... I'll give a full report of any RBIer sightings (I'd assume most of the surviving '87 players will be there). In a wonderful coincidence, Boof Bonser, my son's favorite player, is the scheduled starting pitcher.
Which bobblehead is Saturday? I really want the Juan Berenguer bobblehead.
I think the only bobblehead that's being given away is Gaetti on Friday - the Berenguer and others are part of a commemorative set that you have to buy. Saturday is commemorative Homer Hankies for everyone (well, unless they somehow draw over 40,000) and mini-Metrodomes to the first 10,000 fans over 21 (because it's sponsored by a casino).
With two little kids, we decided that trying for a Gaetti was a bad idea, but I'm hoping to add to my bobblehead collection next week at a Sioux Falls Canaries game - they're having George McGovern bobblehead night.
I just looked up the '87 bobblehead set, and it went on sale for just under $400 and sold out in 15 minutes. But anyway, here's a picture of Senor Smoke:
(http://www.startribune.com/blogs/randball/wp-content/uploads/000000000000000001Juan.JPG)
That and the Niekro bobblehead are the two I'd most be interested in.
Any particular reason he's going on a bedroom safari?
senor flasher?
That's what he was wearing when they were at the Metrodome celebrating the 87 Championship.
i was thinking inspector gadget outfit.
the 87 twins were always one of my favorite world series winners, considering they were barely over .500 (even in the old alignment mind you and still made the playoffs).
hopefully fsn covers this.
I got to see 16 RBIers this past weekend - there were five '87 Twins who couldn't make it (two had prior commitments, one had a death in the family, two are dead), but all the living RBIers were there. Most of them were pretty recognizable, just with more Dark Side-esque hair. The game started about a half-hour late, as they had a ceremony before the game in which the players rode in pickups around the field waving to everyone, followed by formal introductions, short speeches from Brunansky, Viola, and Tom Kelly, and a little "In memory" video for Herb Carneal (the longtime radio announcer), Bob Casey (the longtime public address announcer), Joe Niekro, and Kirby Puckett.
Gaetti's bobblehead day and induction into the Twins Hall of Fame was actually Sunday, not Friday. Gaetti is the fifth RBIer in the Twins Hall of Fame, joining Puckett, Hrbek, Blyleven, and Viola.
The program included a "Where are they now?" page, so I will be posting the Mother of All WATN Updates in a subsequent post on this thread.
This probably won't mean much to anyone but Attezz... The Twins had Mike Casey, Bob Casey's son, as a guest PA announcer, introducing the '87 team and staying on for the rest of the game. He sounds EXACTLY like his father, even on the recognizable calls like Lombardozzi, Puckett, and Hunter - about the only difference was that he didn't mispronounce any opposing players' names (and Saltalamacchia was playing for the Rangers). The Twins should hire him immediately, no matter how much money he asks for.
Copied verbatim from the program, although I have put them in RBI order (with the exception of Baylor, since he's not on the RBI Twins)...
Dan Gladden: Play-by-play/analyst for the Twins Radio Network, lives in Eden Prairie, MN.
Gary Gaetti: Hitting coach for Tampa Bay's Triple-A affiliate, lives in Houston.
Kirby Puckett: Still dead.
Kent Hrbek: Host of Kent Hrbek Outdoors, a local TV show, lives in Bloomington, MN.
Tom Brunansky: Baseball coach at Poway High School in Poway, CA. Also plans golf events.
Greg Gagne: High school baseball coach, lives in Somerset, MA.
Tim Laudner: Works as a baseball clinician, lives in Hamel, MN.
Steve Lombardozzi: Owns an advertising specialty distributorship, lives in Fulton, MD.
Roy Smalley: Senior VP/Wealth Advisor for Morgan Stanley and Twins TV studio analyst, lives in Edina, MN.
Mark Davidson: Works in the graphic arts industry and lives in Statesville, NC.
Randy Bush: Assistant General Manager for the Chicago Cubs, lives in New Orleans.
Gene Larkin: Investment advisor, lives in Eden Prairie, MN.
Frank Viola: High school pitching coach, lives in Orlando.
Bert Blyleven: Color analyst for the Minnesota Twins TV broadcast.
Juan Berenguer: Works in car sales and lives in Chanhassen, MN.
Jeff Reardon: Lives in Palm Beach, FL.
Don Baylor: Spokesman for Strike Out Cancer, living in La Quinta, CA.
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j141/ECKoolAid/lolsports/hrbek-ordering-babies.jpg)
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j141/ECKoolAid/lolsports/hrbek-eats-babies.jpg)
I have no idea where those pictures come from, but the second one is mildly close to becoming my wallpaper.
http://loljocks.blogspot.com/
nice find, fighton, and good job with the "still dead" beefy. a good monday morning chuckle.