"With the Diamond Awards banquet scheduled for Thursday at Target Field and TwinsFest slated for this weekend at the Metrodome, team President Dave St. Peter said there is a lot of fan excitement around the Twins this week.

"[TwinsFest is] a benefit for the Twins Community Fund. I think we've gotten as good a player response as we ever have for this event," St. Peter said. "I think we're at like 62 or 63 current, or former, or even future Twins.

"Obviously there's a tremendous collectible show, an exhibit from the National Baseball Hall of Fame including the Bert Blyleven Hall of Fame plaque which is obviously new from last July. Just a tremendous opportunity to really be the unofficial kickoff for spring training, considering our pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers February 18th -- we're inside a month now on that.""