Twins named Baseball America's Organization of the Year

GM Terry Ryan Named Executive of the Year

Minnesota Twins Press Release

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN -- For the second time in the last three seasons, the Minnesota Twins have been named Baseball America's Organization of the Year. The recognition comes two seasons after the Twins were similarly honored in 2002. The announcement of the Baseball America awards, which will be included in the new issue of the publication on newsstands this week, will be made today in conjunction with the MLB Winter Meetings in Anaheim.

The Twins are only the sixth team in the 22-year history of the award to be honored multiple years, and it is the first time since the Montreal Expos won the award in 1988 and 1990 that an organization has captured the award two times in a three-year span.

In addition to the team honor, Twins General Manager Terry Ryan was named Baseball America's Executive of the Year. Ryan was honored for the work in constructing the Twins' back-to-back-to-back American League Central Division Championship teams. It is Ryan's first such citation from Baseball America in the seven seasons that the publication as given an Executive of the Year award. Ryan was named Sporting News Executive of the Year in 2002.

The article in Baseball America cites the Twins' continued success and the work of Ryan, in addition to all facets of the organization, as major reasons for the honor.

"It's not necessarily the work of myself as much as it is the people who work for this organization who have been loyal and accountable," said Ryan. "And they produce things that help get these types of awards, which is very flattering. It's a great thing for us, working together as a team, to experience."

The Twins were honored by Baseball America, USA Today and SportsTicker in 2002 as Organization of the Year.