Long before the Twins arrived in 1961, Minnesota was home to numerous professional baseball teams. The cross-river rivalry between the Minneapolis Millers and the St. Paul Saints raged for more than six decades. Future immortals like Ted Williams and Willie Mays, Duke Snider, and Roy Campanella thrilled legions of Millers and Saints followers. So did minor-league home run champ Joe Hauser and the post-war hero Eric Tipton. In its final decades the Saints and Millers echoed one of baseball's most legendary rivalries—the New York Giants vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers—because the Millers were the Giants' top minor-league affiliate and the Saints were the finishing school of future Dodgers. And the reborn Saints in the early 1990s reinvigorated the fun and soul of the game. Now officially affiliated with the Twins, they remain a sporting success beyond anyone's expectations.

But the seeds of greatness were sown in Minnesota even earlier. At the turn of the century, St. Paul was home ground for the nation's premier all-Black (pre-Negro League) baseball club—the St. Paul Colored Gophers—and Toni Stone, the first woman to play professional baseball full-time, learned the game on the St. Paul sandlots, just as Hall of Famers Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, and Jack Morris did later.

Minor Treasures brings that early sporting landscape back to life through a cornucopia of fascinating baseball memorabilia and the rich tales behind each artifact.

Taylor Simons is a passionate fan and hobbyist of the game. Taylor's interest in sports memorabilia began at the the age of 10. Growing up in the Twin Cities, Taylor spent many summer days at the ballpark, expanding his love for baseball. Through connecting with friends and fans at baseball games, Taylor began learning more about the history and roots of baseball in Minnesota. Desiring a way to bring himself closer to history, he later embarked on a journey collecting artifacts from the St. Paul Saints and Minneapolis Millers. As his collection grew, so did the stories.

Stew Thornley is a Minnesota baseball historian. He is an official scorer for the Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints and is a member of the Major League Baseball Official Scoring Advisory Committee.

Dave Kaplan was the founding director of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, and is an editorial consultant for the City of Baseball Museum and Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum. He teaches journalism at Montclair State (New Jersey) and Seton Hall Universities.

A note about in person events:

We are very excited to bring authors and readers back together in our space, and we know you are too!

As we all navigate the transition back to congregating in person, we ask that you use honesty, care, and understanding in interacting with fellow event-goers, staff, and authors.

Please note that Magers & Quinn will always comply with current city and state regulations, and reserves the right to change the below policies at any time. These are guidelines only, and if you have questions about the most up to date information, you can always call us at 612-822-4611.

For information about how our in-person events work, please read on:

Q: Are masks required?

A: Masks are not required to browse in the store. However, we strongly encourage masking while seated in the event area and waiting in the signing line.

For the health and safety of others, we strongly encourage you to wear a mask or face covering, especially for longer visits to the store such as events.

Q: Are in store events free?

A: Yes, Magers & Quinn events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Q: Do I need to RSVP?

A: Yes, please. Each event will now include a registration link.

As we navigate this step back to in-person events, we will be limiting event capacity to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all attendees and authors. By requiring pre-registration, we can easily communicate event updates and policies with those who plan to attend, and can contact attendees after the event with follow-up information.

We strongly suggest registering via the Eventbrite link provided on our website, but if you are unable to sign up online, please call or visit the bookstore and register with a bookseller.

We may or may not be able to accommodate unregistered walk-ins, and seating priority will always be given to registered customers. We appreciate your understanding of this process!