MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins, in partnership with the Minnesota Twins Group Fund and the Twin Cities Chapter of the Baseball Writers Affiliation of America, introduced as we speak that former Twins supervisor and Twins Corridor of Famer Ron Gardenhire has been named the winner of the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. Moreover, Michael Beier is that this 12 months’s Terry Ryan Play Ball! Minnesota Award recipient.
The duo will likely be honored alongside the Twins’ different 2024 award winners on the twentieth annual Diamond Awards introduced by Schneiderman’s Furnishings, set for Thursday, January 23, 2025 at The Armory in Minneapolis and benefitting analysis, training and care in mind, nerve and muscle issues on the College of Minnesota. Since its inception in 2006, the occasion has raised almost $4 million by way of a mix of company sponsorships and cash raised by way of public sale objects.
Gardenhire managed the Twins for 13 seasons from 2002-14 and compiled a document of 1,068-1,039 (.507) for the second-most wins in membership historical past, trailing solely Tom Kelly (1,140-1,244, .478). Previous to taking on the helm of the Twins, “Gardy” was the membership’s third base coach for 11 seasons, together with in the course of the crew’s 1991 World Collection run. Gardenhire managed the membership to 90-plus wins 5 occasions (2002, ’03, ’04, ’06 and ’10) and received the American League Central division title in six of his 13 seasons (2002, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’09 and ’10); he was additionally the primary supervisor in Main League Baseball historical past to guide his crew to the Postseason in six of his first 9 seasons. Gardenhire was named the American League Supervisor of the Yr in 2010 and completed as runner-up for the award in 2003, ’04, ’06, ’08 and ’09. He was additionally acknowledged because the Baseball America AL Supervisor of the Yr in 2008 and The Sporting Information AL Supervisor of the Yr in 2010.
Past his accomplishments on the sphere, Gardenhire’s ongoing legacy features a heartfelt dedication to these round him. Some of the revered leaders in crew historical past, he has been a mentor for generations of Twins gamers, discipline workers and entrance workplace executives, and stays an annual presence at TwinsFest, interacting with followers from throughout Twins Territory whereas elevating cash for the Minnesota Twins Group Fund. Gardenhire has been a supporter of, and participant in, the Black Woods Blizzard Tour for over 20 years, becoming a member of Twins alumni Kent Hrbek and Terry Steinbach in assist of these with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and analysis for a treatment. A local of Butzbach, Germany, Gardenhire was born on a military base and grew up in a army household, principally in Oklahoma, instilling in him a deep respect for the armed forces and legislation enforcement. Throughout his enjoying and training days, he visited hospitals and engaged with veterans and lively servicemembers every time he may. In 2022, Gardenhire partnered with native firm Grey Duck Spirits on a particular version vodka bottle, with $2 from each bottle bought benefitting the Minnesota Veterans of Overseas Wars (VFW). He additionally donated the funds to put in a brand new batting cage at his former highschool in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and has been identified through the years to become involved in numerous charity auctions every time a trigger touches his coronary heart.
Beier is in his twenty ninth season as an beginner coach, at the moment main 4 totally different groups – highschool, VFW, beginner and American Legion in Foley, Minnesota. He started his teaching profession as a pitching coach at Southwest State College in 2005 and joined the Foley applications in 2005 when he took over the Foley Excessive Faculty baseball crew. Within the 20 seasons since, Beier has remodeled this system from a small group with restricted sources and a poor enjoying floor to a baseball powerhouse. Because of his tireless efforts, the crew put in seats from the previous Metrodome within the grandstand and rebuilt the sphere to be probably the greatest within the space. Along with his highschool duties, Beier took over the realm’s American Legion crew, began a crew by way of the Minnesota VFW league and commenced one other youth beginner crew.
Since his time with the Foley applications started, Beier has managed over 150 video games per 12 months, guiding younger athletes whereas additionally serving as unofficial head groundskeeper, to make sure his groups have secure and appropriate fields to play on. The outcomes of his efforts communicate for themselves and his accomplishments embody eight convention championships (2015, 2017-19, 2021-24); Foley Excessive Faculty’s first state event look (2019); Part Coach of the Yr honors (2019, 2023-24); State Comfort Championship and probably the most wins by any crew in Minnesota (2019; 26 wins); Class AA Minnesota State Coach of the Yr accolades (2020); an ideal 20-0 common season (2021); a 43-game common season win streak (2019-22) and a Minnesota State Excessive Faculty League VFW state event second place end (2024).
The twentieth annual Diamond Awards will honor the Twins’ award winners from 2024, together with these awards voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the Baseball Writers Affiliation of America. All proceeds from the occasion will profit the College of Minnesota’s modern analysis and affected person care centered on ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Illness), ataxia, muscular dystrophy, a number of sclerosis and Parkinson’s illness. The twentieth anniversary version of the Diamond Awards introduced by Schneiderman’s Furnishings will happen on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at The Armory in Minneapolis. For extra info on the occasion, please go to diamondawards.umn.edu or name (612) 626-6430.
