The Minnesota Twins franchise has had an interesting history. Between the Hall of Famers that have called the franchise home, a relocation from Washington, D.C., and being a potential contraction candidate, it’s been an interesting ride for the Twins. But, have the Twins ever won any World Series titles? The franchise has, and here’s a look at the team’s biggest successes.
Minnesota Twins World Series history
The Twins franchise has won three World Series titles in its history. However, one of those came while the franchise was still located in Washington, D.C.
The Twins’ first title actually came in 1924, while the franchise was known as the Washington Senators. That Senators team featured phenom pitcher Walter Johnson, who still remains the franchise’s all-time leader in cumulative bWAR (164.9). Washington won 92 games in 1924 to win the AL pennant and then proceeded to defeat the New York Giants in seven games.
The Senators moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season and nearly won its first title in the Twin Cities just five years later in 1965. Minnesota, led by Zoilo Versalles, Mudcat Grant, Tony Oliva, and Harmon Killebrew, won the pennant that season and squared off with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But despite winning 102 games in the regular season, the Twins failed to beat the Dodgers. Los Angeles defeated the Twins in seven games.
Over twenty years later, Minnesota would finally win its first World Series title as the Twins. In 1987, the Twins squeaked into the playoffs after winning 85 games. From there, the Twins would beat the Tigers in the ALCS. After beating Detroit, the Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games to win the franchise’s first crown.
Four seasons later, the Twins would do it again. Led by Tom Kelly once again, Minnesota won 95 games in the regular season to clinch a playoff birth. In the American League playoffs, the Twins took down the Toronto Blue Jays and met up with the Atlanta Braves in the Fall Classic.
And in that World Series, Minnesota came back from a 3-2 series deficit to beat Atlanta. Game 7 of that series was forced by a game-winning shot by Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett.
Between the franchise’s time in Minnesota and DC, the Twins/Senators have won three World Series titles out of six appearances.