GERMAN-AMERICAN HALL OF FAME

Paul L. Molitor

Year of Birth: 1956

Area of Achievement: Sports

GAMHOF Year Inducted: 2024

Paul L. Molitor was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 22, 1956, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility, after a 21-year career in the Major Leagues. He is one of only three players with over 3,000 hits, a lifetime batting average of over .300, 600 doubles, and 500+ stolen bases. He was the Most Valuable Player in the 1993 World Series, played in seven All Star games, and was selected by the Sporting News as one of the “100 Greatest Baseball Players of all-time.”

Molitor stole home ten times during his career, and among the elite fraternity of those who have amassed 3,000 career hits (Paul garnered 3,319), he is one of only two players to reach that milestone by hitting a triple. His 39-game hitting streak remains the fifth longest in baseball history, and Paul is the first player to achieve five hits in a World Series game.

Prior to playing professional baseball, Paul won “All American” honors as a player for the University of Minnesota.

Molitor played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, and returned to his hometown Minnesota Twins to end his playing career. His Brewers teammate Jim Gantner referred to Paul as the “smartest player” he ever saw. After stints as a coach with Seattle and Minnesota, Paul served as the field manager of the Minnesota Twins for four seasons, winning the American League’s “Manager of the Year” award.

Only Paul Molitor and Frank Robinson have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame based on their achievements as players, yet also went on to win the coveted “Manager of the Year” award as well.

Paul’s German ancestors arrived in the USA in the late 1800s, with his paternal great-grandfather entering through Ellis Island. His maternal roots are in the Rhineland area.

Molitor continues his involvement with Major League Baseball as a Special Assistant in the Twins organization, focusing on minor league operations.

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