Kent Hrbek
A burly, beloved hometown hero whose powerful bat and slick glove at first base anchored the Minnesota Twins to two unforgettable World Series championships.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 21·Baby Boomers
Biography
Kent Hrbek wasn't just a player for the Minnesota Twins; he was the embodiment of them. A native of Bloomington, Minnesota, who grew up in the shadow of the old Metropolitan Stadium, Hrbek lived every local kid's dream. He debuted for the Twins in 1981 and immediately became a fixture, a left-handed slugger with a deceptively smooth glove at first base. His folksy, blue-collar persona resonated deeply in the Upper Midwest. Hrbek's legacy is cemented in the franchise's twin peaks of 1987 and 1991. In the '87 Series, his grand slam was a pivotal moment. In the epic '91 battle, it was his controversial (to Braves fans) wrestling move on Ron Gant that became folklore. Despite numbers that flirted with Hall of Fame consideration, Hrbek never played for another team, retiring at 34 after 14 seasons as the ultimate hometown hero who delivered the ultimate prize, twice over.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kent was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kent Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Kent's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played his entire 14-year Major League career with the Minnesota Twins, leading them to World Series victories in 1987 and 1991.
- Hit the first home run ever in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome during an exhibition game in 1982.
- Finished his career with 293 home runs and a .998 fielding percentage, widely regarded as one of the best defensive first basemen of his era.
Did You Know?
He was an avid and skilled fisherman, often spending his off-seasons on Minnesota lakes.
His jersey number, 14, was retired by the Minnesota Twins in 1995.
He famously wrestled a 450-pound bear on a local television show as a publicity stunt early in his career.
“I was the luckiest guy in the world. I got to play for my hometown team and we won two World Series.”
