It was 60 years ago Thursday that the Minnesota Twins took the field for the first time, after having moved here from Washington, D.C. They opened the season against the team we’d learn to hate - the Yankees - and behind the pitching of flashy Cuban hurler Pedro Ramos, punched out the Yanks, 6-0 for their first-ever Minnesota victory. They didn’t win many games in 1960, but were entertaining.

Fast-forward to July of that year. Oak Park neighbors of ours, Cornelius and Betty Stop, were treating their visiting nephew, Dick, to a Twins game. I was invited as the fourth attendee - and it was magical. Ramos was again on the mound for Minnesota and we saw him win again., as we beat the hated Detroit Tigers, 13 to something. Our seats were 30 rows back in the left field pavilion and a couple of home run balls came our way. We saw Bob Allison in left field and the tobacco-chewing Bill Tuttle in center field. Harmon, Reno Bertoia, Lenny Green, Camilo Pascual, Julio Bequer and others filled out the team. A good share of the original twins (former Senators) were with the team because the original ownership, the Griffith Family, recruited heavily into Cuba. That pretty much ended with the embargoes that began in 1959, with Fidel’s takeover.

Something magical about those memories. But, I miss today’s game badly. It needs to hurry back to us.

This Corona Stuff

Gov. Walz Wednesday announced a near shutdown for the state. We at the Citizen-Tribune will continue to perform our roles as essential services, going about the collection and assembly of important news regarding the Corona virus. And in this issue, we will provide important information — from Becker City to Wright County, to Becker Schools, to our local stores and businesses. We’re proud to take part in this important information sharing - and we hope you will avail yourselves of the information. One question about this protected retail products business. Liquor apparently has medicinal qualities, our leaders expose.

A Call For Support

This week, we are instituting a voluntary paid subscription program for supporters of the Citizen-Tribune. I never felt we would need to arrive at this level of asking for public assistance, but it is here. Businesses and organizations are choosing different paths in promoting their products and services. We know our newspaper is important to our readers and they engage with it weekly. But there remains a disconnect between reading it and using it. And that is where we lie. Many of you can read between the lines. And you should be.

It’s about the future of your newspaper.