Minnesota Twins to honor former manager Tom Kelly with statue

The Minnesota Twins will honor former manager Tom Kelly with a bronze statue outside Target Field during the 2017 season, the team announced on Friday.

Minnesota did not detail a specific date or exact location for the statue of Kelly, who managed the club from 1986-2001. The 66-year-old Kelly guided the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.

"The Minnesota Twins are excited to have this opportunity to further celebrate and recognize the incredible career of the one and only Tom Kelly," Twins president and CEO Dave St. Peter said in a press release. "Tom's contributions to the Twins organization and Upper Midwest baseball community are quite significant. This statue will help memorialize Tom's greatness and ensure future generations are aware of the T.K. story."

Kelly initially dismissed the idea of the statue years ago, but changed his tune when the subject came up three weeks ago.

"I understand (St. Peter's) point of view about the history of the organization, which I respect immensely," Kelly told the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. "He feels it's important in the history of the Twins organization, that I may be a small part of that, and I understand that. He wants me to do this, and I'm going to do it because I'm one of those guys."

Kelly recorded franchise bests in wins (1,140) and games managed (2,384) and was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2002. His No. 10 jersey was retired in 2012.

Kelly's statue will join those of Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Calvin Griffith, Carl and Eloise Pohlad, Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek.