Well, That Explains It

No wonder they lost the first two!

St. Paul Pioneer Press: TWINS' 'BIG FELLA' IS BACK

The Minnesota Twins will have a familiar face back in their dugout today.

Wayne Hattaway is again with his beloved team in Oakland, Calif., likely pacing the clubhouse and ribbing the players in his Southern drawl. 'Big Fella,' as Hattaway is known, is a team legend, a clubhouse guy and the organization's most outlandish cheerleader.

Sidelined by cancer surgery, he's had to watch games from the clubhouse or his living room for the past two weeks. Players and coaches who cared for him since his rare diagnosis of breast cancer have missed his ubiquitous presence.

"We miss his cackle," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We need that cackle back. He's been our good luck charm."

A slight, nearly blind man of 66, Big Fella has been a familiar figure with the minor leagues and the Minnesota Twins for more than 50 years. He was hired in 1963 to help Twins minor leaguers, and, for the past five years, he's worked part time to keep the clubhouse running from day to day.

"It's been depressing me to not be there," Hattaway said. "I'm more upset about that than I am the cancer. There ain't nothing I could do about my illness, but I could be there for the team."

Read the whole article. It's great.