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The 2024 Twins Camp
A Week Long Battle With Mother Nature!
Heading into the 2024 Twins Camp, it was estimated that over the past 15 years of camp, we’d lost a total of 4 1/2 days of play due to rain and wet field conditions. As Tim Laudner pointed out to us this year, “We’ve had an incredible run of great weather Stan, we were probably due for a dog”.
With wet field conditions and rainy conditions, the batting cages saw plenty of action in 2024. Here Steve Karbon takes a few swings from son Nick’s pitching. With the instructionals and rookie game being washed out on our opening Sunday, the Pro Staff had the opportunity to scout this year’s rookie class from the comfort of a roofed area.
While not a complete mutt – this year posed some interesting challenges. By week’s end however, we had been able to get in all of the scheduled games (save 2) that we had on the schedule. Unfortunately, one of those games was to decide our Blue Division Champions for 2024. More about that in our next issue of the Fantasy Forum.
Despite the roughest week that even the grounds crew had ever witnessed, a great week unfolded and we’ve heard so many wonderful comments about this year’s camp. The fact that we already have 122 registrations for 2025, would seem to be proof that while the weather was a challenge, even Mother Nature couldn’t dampen the camp spirit.
The 2024 Twins Camp Pro Staff
Back Row (L to R): Matt LeCroy, Stu Cliburn, Toby Gardenhire,Tommy Watkins, Brian Dinkelman, Frank Viola, Juan Berenguer, Glen Perkins, Juan Rincon, Tom Brunansky, and Devin Smeltzer. Front Row: Jeff Reardon, Phil Roof, Gene Larkin, Dick Stigman, Ron Gardenhire, Camp Director – Stan Dickman, Bert Blyleven, Jacque Jones, Tim Laudner, JC Romero and Al Newman.
Several members of our Pro Staff commented on the quality of this year’s rookie class that included 28 new campers. As a group, they certainly brought the quality of play up a notch this year. We were missing a few members of our Pro Staff in 2024. Baseball Hall of Fame member, Tony Oliva, was in Cuba visiting family and we beleive that it was the first camp that he’d missed in over 25 years. Twins Hall of Fame member Kent Hrbek had a health issue that kept him from the coaching box this year. Steve Braun and Milt Cuyler, also members of this year’s planned Pro Staff, both had a health issue that prevented them from being with us. We’re happy to report that all three are on the mend and back in better health.
The Camp was also thrilled to welcome a guest speaker following Friday evening’s Kangaroo Court session and dinner. Todd Blyleven, son of our Camp Commissioner, Bert Blyleven, was on hand to share with the camp his experience at the Route 91 shooting tragedy in Las Vegas in the fall of 2017. Todd recounted some of the events that he encountered in the 8 hour period from the time the shooting began and he was finally reunited with his family that he had ushered to safety shortly after the shooting started. Todd explained the impact that it’s had on his life and how he continues to deal with it each day. He explained that all of us have had some tragedy or trauma in our life that we struggle to deal with and shared some insights into his approach and challenged the audience to make sure they find the professional help that’s available and to learn how to share with others. Everyone was moved and we’ve received several emails and texts from camp family members that have taken Todd’s advice and made breakthroughs in their own lives. Powerful stuff.
Todd Blyleven delivers his emotional and moving discussion on his role in the Route 91 Las Vegas shooting of 2017, and the impact on his life and how he deals with it daily.
We wish to sincerely thank all of the 2024 Twins Campers and our incredible Pro Staff for another great Camp Week! We’re already planning for another great year in 2025! Hope to see you back again next January!
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