The Minnesota Twins are a Major League Baseball team based in Minneapolis , Minnesota . The team came into existence in the year 1894, as Kansas City , Missouri franchise in the minor Western League. In 1900 the team moved to Washington , D.C. when that league became the American League. Byron "Ban" Johnson, president of the Western League, changed the name to the American League in 1900 and major league status was awarded a year later. The Minnesota Twins reached the playoffs three times from 1961 to 1970, during the franchise's first 10 years. Sam Mele was named manager in 1961 and in 1965 led the Twins to the AL pennant with sluggers Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Zoilo Versailles. Minnesota 's hitters, however, succumbed to pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.Minnesota Twins Jerseys