Tony, the Killer, and Carew

I recently received an email asking where I picked the name for the TwinsCards blog. It then dawned on me (I’m a bit slow sometimes) that maybe not everyone knows where the title originated from. It’s not at all creative…but I wish it was. If I had to make up a story, it would be about the time I was a guest of the Twins at Spring Training back in 1972 and was invited to dinner with Tony O, Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. As we sat around the dinner table downing shots of Tequila, the four of us came up with the idea to create this thing called a blog and in honor of my guests at the table that night, we decided to call it Tony…the Killer and Carew. Of course, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. I was only 6 in 1972 and we all know that you don’t develop a tatse for Tequila until your eight!

In all actuality, the title derives from Twins version of Talkin’ Baseball, the famous baseball anthem written by Terry Cashman in 1981. Terry did several team versions and in 1996 created one for the Twins. Tony…the Killer and Carew is from the chorus of the song and replaced the popular, Willie (Mays)…Mickey (Mantle) and the Duke (Snider) from the original 1981 version. For your reading (and singing) pleasure, here are the full lyrics:

When the Senators stopped playin’ ball
The Twin Cities got the call
Minnesota joined the American League
With Mele at the reins

The Twins made instant gains
In ‘65 they had the flag and MVP

I’m talkin’ baseball….
Allison and Perry
Twins Baseball
Kitty Kaat and Jerry
Don Mincher and Mudcat comin’ through
Jimmy Hall and Davey Boswell too
Just like Tony….the Killer and Carew

Rod was rookie of the year
There was a Chance, no hitter here
Under Rig and Billy the Kid they won the West
But though Harmon kept on cloutin
Tony’s knees were givin’ out
And he was never the same but he always came and gave his best

I’m talkin’ baseball…
Roseboro & Ulander
Twins baseball…
Tovar, Reese & Campbell
Perranoski and Darwin in the crew
Lyman Bostock, and Bert Blyleven too
Just like Tony….the Killer and Carew

Talkin’ baseball in Minnesota
Bernie Allen, Red Worthington
Kralick had a no hit game
Danny Thompson what a shame
Hisle, Landreaux, Goltz what can we say?
We love to watch ‘em play

Well ‘96 is another year and if the Twins can get their game in gear
T.K. will answer to the call
New names join the old
Another team unfolds
They’re right at home in the Metrodome so let’s play ball

I’m talkin’ baseball…
Aguilera is a starter
Twins baseball…
Kirby Puckett’s not the part
Cordova, Meares & Knoblauch comin’ through
There’s Molitor and David Hollins too

Just like Tony…the Killer & Carew
There was Tony…the Killer & Carew
There was Tony…the Killer & Carew

(Kirby, Kirby, Kirby)

Talkin’ baseball, the Killer & Carew

(Kirby, Kirby, Kirby)

Talkin’ baseball, baseball…the Minnesota Twins…

(Kirby, Kirby, Kirby)

They had Tony… the Killer & Carew…