Twins announce they'll retire former manager Tom Kelly's No. 10 jersey
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Tom Kelly is about to join rare company.
The Minnesota Twins announced late Thursday they'll retire their former manager's uniform No. 10 as part of Tom Kelly Day before their Sept. 8 game against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field.
"Few, if any individuals have had as much direct impact on the success of the Twins franchise as Tom Kelly," Twins CEO Jim Pohlad said in a statement issued by the team.
"Over a 41-year career with the Twins organization, Tom has helped ensure high standards on and off the field and has always demonstrated the utmost respect for the game. It is our honor to celebrate Tom's remarkable career by forever retiring his famed No. 10."
Kelly, 61, will become only the seventh person in Twins history to have his number retired, joining Harmon Killebrew (No. 3, 1975), Rod Carew (No. 29, 1987), Tony Oliva (No. 6, 1991), Kent Hrbek (No. 14, 1995), Kirby Puckett (No. 34, 1997) and Bert Blyleven (No. 28, 2011).
A Graceville, Minn., native, Kelly joined the organization as a free-agent player in 1971 and made his major-league debut with the Twins in 1975. He began his coaching career as player/manager for Tacoma in 1977, worked his way through the minors and eventually became the Twins manager, leading the team to a pair of World Series titles as manager in 1987 and '91.
Kelly now provides instruction in the Twins organization as special assistant to general manager Terry Ryan.
