RIP Pohlad.
What does this mean for the twins then? Who inherits the twins franchise?

…also go out to Carl’s family. Carl and Eloise are now together and will be with each other on opening day, 2010. May God be with them and their family during these next days and weeks.

Long time reader, first time poster.

I just want to thank everybody here for showing some respect and common decency for Carl Pohlad’s passing. I was just on the Trib site and I couldn’t believe some of the things people were posting. It was very disappointing.

As a fan, I emphasize with much of the frustration felt over some of the things the organization has or hasn’t done over the years, but I’ve never felt the need to trash the man himself – especially not now. I always saw him has a businessman doing whatever he deemed was best for his business. I can’t possibly imagine how anybody could think he would be capable of anything else.

Somebody, mentioned the contraction year. While I agree that it is a blemish, I also believe that it is a perceived blemish and not a real one. To this day, I don’t think he ever really intended to close up shop. At the time, it seemed more of a last ditch ruse to get a new stadium built than anything else. Whether or not people agree with me isn’t important. It also isn’t important who gets credit or blame for what happened, how it happened, or how it turned out. The important thing is, in the end, the Twins didn’t go anywhere and Carl got the Stadium approved. Ultimately, Carl got what he needed to insure the best possible success for the team for many years to come. And, as a life long Twins fan, I’ll always be grateful for that.

So, thank you everybody for the respect and kindness you all have shown to the memory of this man and to the family members that survive him. You are a class act.

I have been a franchise (Senators/Twins) fan, probably longer than anyone who posts here. That doesn’t mean anything other than I am probably older than most. As a kid, I saw my First game(s) in old Griffith Stadium, a double-header with the Yankees, I think the year was 1957. I have a couple memories of that experience, 1st I was rooting for the Yankees. My Father & Uncle took me to the game, AND a foul ball came in our direction. Everyone stood up trying to catch the prize, yet my father remained seated AND the ball landed in his lap. I played with that baseball for a year or two until the cover was shreaded.

About this time Last year, I posted on a blog or two that I thought my father was the longest, continual supporter of the Senators/Twins franchise, his first game being July 4, 1936.

Anyway it was a bit through serendipity that we continued with the franchise’s move to Minnesota, as My fathers job took him to Texas at the same time, AND the closest baseball teams were in KC & St. Louis.

Anyway, to the meat of the story, in late January/early February the idea hit me, MAYBE I could get the Twins to write a letter to my father recognizing his lifelong fandom. I wrote 2 e-mails, one to Seth and the other to La Velle, asking whom I should contact with the Twins to see if this letter was possible.

Within 2 days Seth forwarded an e-mail from Mr. St. Peter requesting more info; a day or two later I received an e-mail from a Ms. Glo Westerdahl of the Twins (through LaVelle) requesting similar info.

To cut to the chase, a couple of weeks later, I got a package from the Twins. Remember I hoped for a letter, This treasure trove included a signed picture of Harmon Killabrew (my father’s favorite player), a Walter Johnson bobble-head (Dad lived near Walter Johnson and met him on a number of occasions as a kid), a Twins hat and various other information/books on Twins history etc.

Also, a note card in caligraphy thanking my father for his lifelong support of the Senators/Twins.

When my father got his package, it was better than a child opening Christmas presents.

Did Mr. Pohlad personally do this for my father? Probably not, YET it was his organization/business who made a very special day/event for a fan, who to my knowledge has never set foot in the state of Minnesota, living in Roanoke, Virginia. What’s the percentage with that?

One year later later, my father often mentions his treasure, we kids buy him the MLB cable TV package and he watches the Twins religiously (he knows the religious stuff as he is a retired minister) to routine complaints of my mother.

The Twins, an extension of Mr. Pohlad, made a difference, and brought much joy, in the life of an 82 year-old man, and 10+ year survivor of Leukemia.

You are fondly remembered Carl Polhad.

Regards,