And It’s A Home Run!!
As the exciting Minnesota Twins enter the second half of their baseball season seeking another division pennant and perhaps more, it’s fun to recall the pivotal roll that Kent Hrbek played in the past with the Twins and the connection he had with Local 340 and the gas company.
Kent grew up in Bloomington and was a temporary sea-sonal employee in C & M at Minnegasco before joining the Twins. In his first game played for the Twins at Yankee Stadium in 1981 he hit a home run in the 12th inning to win the game for the Twins. He would later help lead the Twins to two World Series championships in 1987 and 1991.
Kent’s Dad, Ed Hrbek, was a long time Minnegasco employee and Local 340 member working in Stores before moving to management. (He was the editor’s first boss in 1973, and a good one). Of course his brother, Kevin Hrbek, is at present a 27 year member of Local 340 working in C & M. out of the South Yard.
In a recent interview Kent reflected on the privilege it was to play baseball. When asked what he would be doing had he not played baseball he replied without missing a beat that he probably would be working in the street at the Gas Company and would be quite happy at that!