• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Twins logo ripe for more racially sensitive update

by Charles Hallman
July 29, 2020
262
SHARES
5.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Courtesy of Dr. Charles Crutchfield (l-r) Current logo; proposed ‘refreshed’ image

The Minnesota Twins quietly removed Calvin Griffith’s stature from in front of their stadium last month in response to a national groundswell of doing away with past racist images. Will the team’s longtime logo be next?

Lifelong Twins fan Dr. Charles Crutchfield III recently revived his idea of several years ago about redoing the team’s “Minnie and Paul” logo that looms large in the Twins’ ballpark—two White players dressed in white, shaking hands in front of a white ball across a white Mississippi River.

“I simply wanted a respectful and subtle, yet very significant update to this logo that honors and reflects the team, the fans and players of different backgrounds,” the longtime dermatologist, MSR contributor and Twins season ticketholder said.

The 60-year-old logo, which is also a patch worn on players’ uniforms, is a throwback to the days when Griffith owned the Twins and the club was virtually all-White. It stands 46 feet tall at centerfield and lights up whenever Minnesota hits a homer. If longtime corporate brands Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben can be permanently retired in recent weeks, why not good old Minnie and Paul, if not retired at least modified or redesigned?

Crutchfield earlier this month conducted an informal poll on Facebook on whether the Twins’ logo should be changed, stay the same, or be done away with altogether. He also presented his own proposed new logo for review. He received around 150 responses: 85 percent like a modified logo, 12 percent want something new, and three percent prefer to keep it as is.

- ADVERTISEMENT -
Brace Hemmelgarn Dave St. Peter

“It’s tough to get 97 percent on anything,” said Crutchfield of the results, “so there’s an overwhelming support for a refresh.” He reported this to Twins President Dave St. Peter.

“I’m very familiar with the results,” said St. Peter last week. “The Minnie and Paul [logo]…is a fan favorite and one our fans love.”

Asked if the logo might need a makeover given its racially insensitive design by current standards, St. Peter said, “It’s an ongoing conversation inside our organization. We are going through right now a brand identity study. We don’t want to make this decision [on the logo] in a vacuum and want to do it as part of that study.”

The Twins president told us that if any changes are made, it won’t happen until 2022 at the earliest. Crutchfield commented when he heard the proposed timeline that at least Twins officials have listened and taken his poll seriously. He said he believes the team will do the right thing and add some color to the two White players.

“It would be nice to look at that scoreboard and see Kirby Puckett, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew and Torii Hunter—the sooner the better,” concluded Crutchfield.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Twins display front-office diversity

Earlier this month in our multi-part series on front office diversity we challenged the Twins’ diversity and inclusion efforts. Last week the team hosted a “Minnesota Twins Front Office Diversity Roundtable” that featured Black employees in their front office.

Amateur Scouting Director Sean Johnson, Senior Scouting Advisor Deron Johnson, Pro Scouting Fellow Navery Moore and Advance Scouting Analyst Josh Ruffin talked about their careers in baseball and took viewers’ questions during the July 21 webinar. Their comments will be featured in a future column.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

‘Hamilton’ distorts history as Blacks play slave owners

Next Post

John Lewis’ contribution to U.S. democracy should not be forgotten

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Lawsuits pile up against companies who failed to honor DEI pledges after murder of George Floyd
Local

Lawsuits pile up against companies who failed to honor DEI pledges after murder of George Floyd

Twins new scoreboards
Sports

Twins new scoreboards

Twins’ one Black coach takes some flak
Sports

Twins’ one Black coach takes some flak

Saints pitcher says he’s right where he wants to be
Sports

Saints pitcher says he’s right where he wants to be

How Blacks in baseball get pigeonholed
Featured

How Blacks in baseball get pigeonholed

Gordon sticks with the bigs this season
Sports

Gordon sticks with the bigs this season

Next Post
John Lewis: Making a way out of no way

John Lewis’ contribution to U.S. democracy should not be forgotten

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

Bees can learn, remember, think and make decisions

Bees can learn, remember, think and make decisions

Black woman shopping for produce

The impact of food insecurity on Black women’s mental health

Plenty of action at St. Paul City Conference track and field meet

Plenty of action at St. Paul City Conference track and field meet

 Lynx rookie forward finds much to learn

 Lynx rookie forward finds much to learn

Call of the wild: Hunting for edible mushrooms is not just a White man’s hobby 

Call of the wild: Hunting for edible mushrooms is not just a White man’s hobby 

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

Minneapolis
◉
79°
Partly Cloudy
5:30 am8:51 pm CDT
ThuFriSatSunMon
88/68°F
88/68°F
88/68°F
90/66°F
86/64°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Apr 6
April 6 @ 7:30 pm-June 3 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

Jun 1
10:00 am-4:00 pm Recurring

Preserving Nature Photos by Walter Griffin: REFLECTIONS

Jun 1
5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Metro State University one 1 Open House

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...