Minnesota Twins All-Time Lineup

2004: 20-6, 2.61 ERA, 228 IP, 156 H, 265 Ks, 0.921 WHIP

Rest of the rotation: Frank Viola (1988, 24-7, 2.64 ERA, 255.1 IP, 236 H, 193 Ks, 1.136 WHIP), Bert Blyleven (1973, 20-17, 2.52 ERA, 325 IP, 258 Ks, 1.117 WHIP), Camilo Pascual (1963, 21-9, 2.46 ERA, 3 shutouts, 248.1 IP, 202 Ks, 1.152 WHIP), Francisco Liriano (2006, 12-3, 2.16 ERA, 121 IP, 89 H, 144 Ks, 1.000 WHIP)

The Twins have a rich pitching history in the last 50 years. There are five guys who won 20 games who are not in this rotation. Leading off with Santana, who won the first of his two Cy Young awards in 2004. Viola was "Sweet Mucic" throughout the 1980s, and won the Cy Young in 1988. Then you go to the lone Hall of Famer in Blyleven, who won 20 games on a .500 team in 1973. Pascual is probably the best Cuban to ever pitch in the majors, and he had a great season in 1963. And Liriano finishes the group from his fantastic (pre-arm surgery) rookie season, when he was pretty much unhittable down the stretch.

2009: .365, 28 HR, 96 RBI, 1.031 OPS

Backup: Earl Battey (1963, .285, 26 HR, 84 RBI, .845 OPS)

You'll be hard pressed to find any season for a catcher better than Mauer in 2009. He's showed Hall of Fame potential early in his career, but health issues have derailed him a bit. The backup is Battey, a three-time Gold Glove winner and a four-time All-Star.

1977: .388, 14 HR, 100 RBI, 23 SB, 1.019 OPS

Two MVP seasons at first base in team history make this the call, led off by the incredible line-drive bat of the Hall of Famer Carew, who also had solid seasons as a second baseman, but was at his best in this season, two years before leaving for California. The backup won the AL MVP in 2006.

1996: .341, 13 HR, 72 RBI, 45 SB, .965 OPS

Backup: Todd Walker (1998, .316, 12 HR, 62 RBI, 19 SB, .845 OPS)

Knoblauch flamed out earlier than expected in his career thanks to some fielding woes, but he certainly could hit when he was in Minnesota. With Carew out of the way at first base, it opens things up for Walker as the backup, who took over for Knoblauch after he was traded to the Yankees.

1969: .276, 49 HR, 140 RBI, 1.011 OPS

Backup: Gary Gaetti (1986, .287, 34 HR, 108 RBI, 14 SB, .865 OPS)

Killebrew played first base and left field as well, but with Carew at second, it's appropriate to put this Twins legend at third base, where he played in 1969. The backup is Gaetti, who was part of the Twins first championship team in 1987 and enjoyed a 20year career with 360 career homers.

1988: .356, 24 HR, 121 RBI, .920 OPS

Backup: Torii Hunter (2002, .289, 29 HR, 94 RBI, .859 OPS)

A no-doubter with a Hall of Famer, as the late Puckett hit for power and average in 1988, but somehow lost out on the MVP to Jose Canseco and even finished behind Mike Greenwell that season. The backup picked up the mantle admirably after Puckett's premature retirement because of glaucoma.

1970: .325, 23 HR, 107 RBI, .878 OPS

Backup: Bob Allison (1963, .271, 35 HR, 91 RBI, .911 OPS)

The Cuban-born Oliva was one of the best players of the 1960s, getting MVP votes in every season from 1964-71. The three-time batting champ was second in the MVP voting in 1970 behind Boog Powell. The backup is Allison, a teammate for most of that time who was in right field in 1963, before Oliva took over.

1996: .341, 9 HR, 113 RBI, 18 SB, .858 OPS

Backup: Jim Thome (2010, .283, 25 HR, 59 RBI, 1.039 OPS)

Molitor, a Hall of Famer and St. Paul native, finished out his 21-year career with three years as the DH in Minnesota, and set a career-high with 225 hits at age 39 as the Twins DH. The backup is also a likely Hall of Famer who excelled in the DH role in 2010.

2006: 7-0, 1.58 ERA, 36 saves, 68.1 IP, 38 H, 95 Ks, 0.790 WHIP)

Backup: Rick Aguilera (1991, 4-5, 2.35 ERA, 42 saves, 1.072 WHIP)

Nathan, the Twins' all-time saves leader, had one of the great seasons in history for a relief pitcher in 2006. His backup is second on the team's saves list in Aguilera, who closed for the Twins' 1991 championship team.