News
Radke inducted into Twins HOF
Veteran hurler spent entire 12-season career with Minnesota
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
07/11/09 9:05 PM ET
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brad Radke was always a man of few words during his playing days with the Twins. But when given the honor of being inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame on Saturday night, Radke was a little more long-winded than usual as he tried to sum up what it meant to him. "All I can say is, 'Wow'," Radke said during an on-field ceremony at the Metrodome before the Twins-White Sox game. "This is by far one of the greatest honors I've ever had. It might be about me tonight, but I feel like it's about everybody that helped get me to a Major League baseball field and to be successful." One of the most consistent pitchers in Twins history, Radke compiled a career record of 148-139 and a 4.22 ERA over his 12 seasons. He spent his entire career with the organization, retiring after the 2006 season. "He's your professional player," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He went about his business, did his job and always did his work. He was under the radar screen, for the most part, but solid in everything he did, the way he handled himself, teammates -- the whole package. He's a package deal as a pitcher." Radke was one of two people inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame on Saturday night. He was joined in the 2009 induction class by former club farm director George Brophy, who was with the organization from 1961-85 and passed away in 1998 at the age of 72. A highlight video of Radke's 12-year playing career was shown before the induction. Bert Blyleven then said a few words as he introduced Radke, who received a standing ovation from the Metrodome crowd. Radke's former teammates and coaches gathered in the dugout to watch the ceremony. White Sox catcher and former Twin A.J. Pierzynski stood in the visiting bullpen and clapped while Radke took the podium. Flanked by other Twins Hall of Famers such as Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Bert Blyleven and his former manager Tom Kelly, Radke thanked many of the people who had an impact on his career. "In my rookie year in '95, there were a few guys I watched on and off the field -- Kirby Puckett, Rick Aguilera and Paul Molitor," Radke told the crowd. "If it wasn't for those three guys, there is no way I would be standing here right now. Those three guys played with their heart and nothing but their heart. That's what this game is all about. You can have all of the ability in the world, but if you don't have heart, you don't have anything. I learned that from them." Radke endured some of the lean years for the Twins in the mid-to-late 90s. Some have credited Radke with playing a key role in the organization's turnaround earlier this decade, as he signed a contract extension in the summer of 2000 and chose to forgo free agency to stay in Minnesota. "We were hoping for things to get better -- signing some young guys and hopefully crossing that line and start winning some championships," Radke said when speaking with reporters. "I wanted to stay here. My family loved it here. It was really a dream come true that I spent my whole career with this organization." A workhorse during his time with the Twins, Radke pitched more than 200 innings in nine of his 12 seasons. He ranks second in franchise history in starts (377), third in wins (148), third in innings pitched (2,451) and third in strikeouts (1,467). "When he played, he didn't really get the recognition that I think he deserved," said teammate Michael Cuddyer. "But he didn't care if he got recognized as being a great pitcher or anything like that. It didn't matter to him. So I think it's great to see somebody like him honored in this way." While not overpowering, Radke was able to shut down opponents, something that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen witnessed against his own club. "I hate that guy," Guillen said jokingly on Saturday. "Rad would get you 0-for-4 and you'd go home wondering, 'How did he do it?' That's the type of guy he was. He was one of the best pitchers they had in a long time." Radke retired following the 2006 season at the age of 34. He spent the final two years of his career pitching through a torn labrum and, in perhaps his biggest show of heart and determination, he pitched through a stress fracture in his shoulder during the final month of the 2006 season. On Saturday, Radke was asked if he ever has regretted not having surgery to fix the torn labrum and continuing his career. "No, that was the end," he said. "I was just so mentally burnt out and physically too. There was no way that I could have gotten myself better and whatever I had to do with my shoulder and stuff like that. The last couple years was pretty tough, it really was. It really took a lot out of me. That was it. It was time. It really was." Since retiring, Radke has spent the majority of his time at home in Florida with his wife Heather and sons Kasey and Ryan, who were also on hand for the induction ceremony. He said that he's been enjoying life, but still tries to keep up on the Twins when he has a chance. "I look at the paper every day if I don't catch them on TV," Radke said. "I don't really watch a whole lot of baseball. When I do have a chance to sit down and flip on a game, it's nice to see how the team is doing." For Radke, baseball is now a thing in his past, but he appreciated getting one last opportunity to remember what he felt was a wonderful career. One that he made sure to emphasize in the ceremony was done the right way. "I never cheated the fans, my teammates or the game of baseball," Radke told the crowd. "I just want to thank everyone once again for this honor. I never expected anything like this or anything else. I just went down there and played every fifth day and did my best for the team."Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
