Twins Bat Boys: A Tale of Unity and Novelty in Minnesota Baseball History
In April 1961, the Minnesota Twins, a new Major League Baseball team, played their first game in the state after relocating from Washington, D.C. The team aimed to represent the entire state, not just one city, by choosing the name "Twins" and incorporating symbols of unity between Minneapolis and St. Paul. As part of a unique marketing strategy, the team hired only identical twin boys as bat boys and ball boys for the players during their inaugural season.
Dozens of twin boys from the region auditioned for the roles, with 74 sets of twins showing up at Metropolitan Stadium for the opportunity to work with the team. Among them were Richard and Peter King, two farm boys from Rosemount, Minnesota, who won the job and became the first bat boys for the Twins. Despite their lack of baseball knowledge, the King brothers brought enthusiasm and novelty to their roles, wearing matching uniforms and charming sportswriters and fans alike.
The King brothers' experience as bat boys for the Twins included appearances on a popular TV game show, where they successfully fooled panelists trying to guess the real Twins bat boys. Despite the national attention, the highlight for the brothers was the relationships they built with the players, including visits from pitcher Camilo Pascual and interactions with Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew. After their season as bat boys, the King brothers returned to their normal lives, with Richard joining the U.S. Army and Peter becoming a principal in the Burnsville school district.
Decades later, the memories of the King brothers' time as bat boys for the Twins are still cherished by their widows, who recall the unique experience and the lasting impact it had on their husbands' lives. The Twins' decision to hire twin boys as part of their team not only added a touch of novelty to the game but also symbolized unity between Minneapolis and St. Paul, bridging the gap between the two cities in a simple yet meaningful way.