Minnesota Twins Owner Carl Pohlad Dead at Age 93

Carl Pohlad, a billionaire banker whose Minnesota Twins won two World Series titles during nearly his nearly quarter-century as owner, died Monday. He was 93.

In this Jan. 20, 1988, file photo, Carl Pohlad, owner of the Minnesota Twins, looks at three views...

In this Jan. 20, 1988, file photo, Carl Pohlad, owner of the Minnesota Twins, looks at three views of the World Series rings in Minneapolis following the Twins' World Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Pohlad has died at age 93, a baseball official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, because the family had not yet announced Pohlad's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, file)

(AP)

The Twins and Major League Baseball each issued a statement confirming his death. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig called Pohlad "a true leader in our sport for the past 25 years."

"Since the day Carl Pohlad entered Major League Baseball, he made significant contributions to our game," Selig said. "His devotion to the Minnesota Twins, the Twin Cities and Major League Baseball was remarkable. In my long career, I have never met a more loyal and caring human being. We will miss Carl and all of baseball joins me in sending our deepest condolences to the Pohlad family for the loss of our friend and partner."

According to 2008 rankings by Forbes.com, Pohlad's net worth of $3.6 billion was second among Minnesotans and 102nd in the nation. Still, his teams often had some of the lowest payrolls in baseball.

"We've loved and respected him and are enormously proud of his accomplishments. And we will all miss him deeply," read a joint statement from Pohlad's three sons, Bob, Jim and Bill.

They continued: "We want to assure everyone that we will continue Dad's work and his legacy, just as he would have wanted and as he has prepared us to do."

The Twins said Pohlad's "leadership, vision and passion" inspired the franchise to win two World Series championships, two American League pennants and six division titles.

"That on-field success would never have been possible without the loyalty and support from Mr. Pohlad and his family," the team said in a statement.

When Pohlad bought the Twins from Calvin Griffith in 1984, he was widely credited for saving baseball in Minnesota. With the purchase, he inherited a promising group of young players that included Gary Gaetti, Kent Hrbek and future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett.

Minnesota won World Series championships in 1987 and 1991, triumphing in tense seven-game showdowns against the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.