Twins winter caravan stops at Thorne Crest, Sibley Elementary

The Minnesota Twins made an extra stop on their way through Albert Lea Tuesday morning.

The Twins winter caravan was scheduled to stop at Sibley Elementary School, but Thorne Crest Sales and Marketing Director Catherine Buboltz said someone on Thorne Crest’s staff was able to ask for an additional stop at Thorne Crest, and the Twins winter caravan obliged.

“A lot of them are huge sports fans and fans of the Twins,” Buboltz said of the residents.

Members of this year’s winter caravan included pitcher Alan Busenitz, utility player Eduardo Escobar, manager Paul Molitor and former pitcher Jack Morris. Radio host and former player Dan Gladden facilitated the event, which included questions from Gladden and questions from the audience of approximately 50 people.

Resident Dianne Jensen invited Everett Jensen when she found out the Twins were coming. Everett Jensen said he has been watching the Twins for 10 to 15 years now.

“I just knew that I had to ask him,” Jensen said. “I had to invite him.”

During the event, topics ranged from Busenitz’s experience going professional and what he does in the off-season, to Morris’s induction into the hall of fame, to whether or not the players chew bubblegum off the field as much as they do on

“I’m still thrilled,” he said of the hall of fame question. “I still kinda walk around with a permanent grin on my face and in my heart.”

Molitor also spoke about the Twins’ strategy when it comes to fundamentals of the game — specifically, bunting.

“We know there’s a lot of value in being able to do the little things,” he said.

Resident Doris Callahan said she enjoyed seeing the Twins at Thorne Crest.

“I loved it,” Callahan said. “I could have sat there for another half hour.”

Her love of baseball came from constant time on the field.

“I taught country school for 13 years, and I played softball with the kids all the time,” Callahan said. Eventually, she took the umpire position because her team would always win, she said.

Attending the event with her was her bobblehead of Dan Gladden, which she showed to him during the event.

“I’m so glad I had him look at his bobblehead,” Callahan said. “He was surprised I had that.”

That bobblehead is one of five that Callahan sets up on her countertop every Twins season. “When they lose, I have them huddle up in a circle,” she said. This way, they can confer about their choices before the next game. She keeps track of every game’s inning and final scores in a notebook.

The Twins winter caravan was next headed to Preston.

“I know you have all spent a lot of time being Twins fans, and we thank you for that,” Morris said to the group gathered. “And hopefully, you’ll have a lot more years to be Twins fans.”