Paul Molitor | |||
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![]() Molitor at the White House
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Minnesota Twins – No. 4 | |||
Designated hitter / Infielder / Manager | |||
Born: Saint Paul, Minnesota |
August 22, 1956 |||
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MLB debut | |||
April 7, 1978, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 27, 1998, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .306 | ||
Hits | 3,319 | ||
Home runs | 234 | ||
Runs batted in | 1,307 | ||
Stolen bases | 504 | ||
Managerial record | 142–182 | ||
Winning % | .438 | ||
Teams | |||
As player As manager
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Career highlights and awards | |||
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Member of the National | |||
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Inducted | 2004 | ||
Vote | 85.2% (first ballot) |
As player
As manager
Paul Leo Molitor (born August 22, 1956), nicknamed "Molly" and "The Ignitor", is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and current manager of the Minnesota Twins, who is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. During his 21-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1978–1992), Toronto Blue Jays (1993–1995), and Minnesota Twins (1996–1998). He was known for his exceptional hitting and speed. He made seven All-Star Game appearances and was the World Series MVP in 1993.
Molitor grew up in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota before beginning his MLB career. Molitor served as a coach for the Seattle Mariners and the Twins after his retirement as a player. In 2004, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, becoming one of the first players enshrined after spending a significant portion of his career as a designated hitter. He was a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. On November 3, 2014, Molitor was announced as the 13th manager for the Minnesota Twins.
Molitor was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After graduating from Cretin High School, he was selected in the 28th round of the 1974 free agent draft as a pitcher by the St. Louis Cardinals, but opted instead to attend college at the University of Minnesota. He was a three-year starter for the Golden Gophers, earning All American honors as a shortstop for his sophomore and junior years. Between his junior and senior seasons, Molitor suffered a broken jaw. With his jaw wired shut for eight weeks, Molitor lost 40 pounds.