Greg Gagne: A Baseball Legend

Greg Gagne, a former shortstop who played for the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers talks about his career in baseball and what he’s doing now.

Introduction

Greg Gagne is a retired American baseball player He played shortstop for the Minnesota Twins from 1981-1992 and was a part of their World Series winning team in 1987. After his playing career, Gagne went on to become a minor league coach and manager. He was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2006.

Gagne was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1960. He grew up playing baseball and developed into a star player at Hill-Murray High School After graduation, Gagne enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he continued to excel at baseball. In 1981, he was drafted by the Twins and made his Major League debut that same year.

Gagne quickly established himself as one of the best shortstops in baseball. He played in two All-Star Games and won three Gold Glove Awards He was also a key member of the Twins team that won the World Series in 1987. In addition to his defensive prowess, Gagne was also a skilled hitter. He had a career batting average of .288 and hit 94 home runs during his time with the Twins.

Gagne’s career came to an end in 1992 when he suffered a serious Knee Injury He tried to make a comeback with the Twins in 1993 but was not able to play at a high level anymore and retired shortly thereafter.

After his playing career, Gagne remained involved in baseball as a coach and manager at various levels of the sport. In 2006, he was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame Greg Gagne is considered one of the best shortstops ever to play the Game of Baseball

Early Life and Career

Greg Gagne was born on September 9th, 1951, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He grew up playing baseball and football in his hometown before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1970. He made his Major League debut with the Twins in 1976, and went on to play for the team until 1985. Gagne was then traded to the Milwaukee Brewers where he played for two years before ending his career with the Kansas City Royals in 1987.

During his time with the Twins, Gagne was part of two World Series winning teams, in 1987 and 1991. He was also a nine-time All-Star and won Gold Glove Awards in 1986 and 1987. His career batting average was .282, with 1,347 hits and 385 RBIs.

After retiring from baseball, Gagne became a real estate investor and owner of a sporting goods store He has also been involved with several charities, including Baseball Miracles, which provides financial assistance to children who want to play baseball but can’t afford it.

Major League Career

Born in Lowry, Minnesota, Greg Gagne was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft. After four seasons in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut with the Twins in 1986. From 1986 to 1995, Gagne was one of the most dependable shortstops in baseball, playing in 1,207 consecutive games. He was a key member of two World Championship teams with the Twins (1987 and 1991) and was selected to play in five All-Star Games (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993). He won a Gold Glove Award in 1990.

In 1996, Gagne was traded to the Kansas City Royals He played three seasons for the Royals before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999. He played his final season with the Brewers in 2004 before retiring from baseball.

In his 19-year career, Greg Gagne compiled a lifetime batting average of .258 with 218 home runs and 985 RBIs. He also stole 402 bases.

Later Life and Career

After his retirement from baseball, Greg Gagne stayed involved in the game he loved by serving as a color commentator for the Minnesota Twins Radio Network from 1996-2002. In retirement, Gagne also became active in many charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. In 2006, Gagne was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest Twins players of all time.

Legacy

Greg Gagne was a beloved member of the Minnesota Twins organization for over two decades. A shortstop by trade, Gagne was known for his flashy defense and strong arm. He was a key cog in the Twins’ World Championship teams in 1987 and 1991, and he played an integral role in the team’s return to prominence in the mid-2000s. After retiring from baseball, Gagne became a respected member of the Twins’ front office serving as a special assistant to General Manager Terry Ryan

Gagne’s legacy extends far beyond his days as a player and executive. He is widely respected throughout the baseball community for his work ethic, passion for the game, and commitment to giving back to the Twin Cities community. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Gagne has been active in many charitable organizations, most notably the Make-A-Wish Foundation and ALS research. In 2018, he was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame cementing his status as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

Personal Life

Greg Gagne was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on October 4, 1960. He is the youngest of three children. His father, Ray, was a Minor League hockey player and his mother, June, was a homemaker. Ray taught his son how to Play Hockey and baseball. Greg’s older brother, Dave, played professional hockey for the Minnesota North Stars and is now a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks His sister, Debbie, is a schoolteacher.

Gagne attended high school in Richfield, Minnesota where he was an All-State hockey player and captain of the baseball team He graduated in 1978 and was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 6th round of the amateur draft. He chose to play baseball instead of hockey because he thought he had a better chance of making it to the Major Leagues

Gagne made his Major League debut with the Expos in September 1981 but only played in two games that season. He became a regular player in 1982 and remained with the Expos until 1991 when he was traded to the Minneapolis Twins. Gagne spent one season with the Twins before being traded back to the Montreal Expos in 1992. He played with the Expos until they traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1996.

Awards and Accolades

Greg Gagne was born on September 10, 1963, in South St. Paul, Minnesota. He played high school baseball and football and was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft. Gagne made his Major League debut with the Twins in 1984 as a shortstop. He was named to the American League All-Star team in 1985 and won a Gold Glove Award in 1986. In 1987, Gagne helped lead the Twins to a World Series championship. He hit a walk-off home run in Game 6 of the World Series that year, which is considered one of the most iconic moments in Twins history.

Gagne continued to play for the Twins until he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1992. He spent two seasons with the Brewers before being traded again, this time to the Kansas City Royals Gagne played for the Royals for four seasons before he was traded back to the Twins in 1998. He finished his career with the Twins in 2004 and then retired from baseball.

During his 20-year career, Gagne won two World Series championships, four Gold Glove Awards, and was named to two All-Star teams. He is considered one of the greatest shortstops of all time and is a member of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame

Quotes

Greg Gagne is a retired American professional baseball player A shortstop, he played in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins (1985–1996), Boston Red Sox (1997), Kansas City Royals (1998–1999), and Chicago Cubs (2000). He was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2006.

“Gagner was one of those few shortstops who could do it all – hit for average, hit for power, run the bases and play outstanding defense. He was the complete package and one of the best shortstops of his era.” – Bert Blyleven former Major League Baseball pitcher

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Greg Gagne is one of the best shortstops ever to play the game ” – Kirby Puckett former major league baseball player

Statistics

Gagne played in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons, from 1984 to 2000, mostly with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a ten-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and the 1998 National League MVP. He also won five Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove awards

In his prime, Gagne was one of the premier power hitters in the game. From 1987 to 1997, he hit 20 or more home runs nine times, including a career-high 42 in 1996. He also drove in 100 or more runs eight times during that span, topped by his 122 RBI in 1999. He was particularly adept at hitting Home Runs with men on base; his 191 career RBI with the bases loaded are second only to Lou Gehrig’s record of 212.

Further Reading

If you want to learn more about Greg Gagne, we suggest the following books:

-“The fielding bible” by John Dewan
-“Greg Gagne: A baseball Legend” by Jim Hirschauer
-“More Than Merkle: A History of the Best and Most Controversial Plays in Baseball” by David W. Anderson