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Twins' 'Little Piranhas' Unleashed Summer Fun
31 Jul
Summary
- Twins earned the 'Little Piranhas' nickname in July 2006.
- Enigmatic skipper Ozzie Guillen coined the memorable nickname.
- A popular 'Smell 'em' gesture inspired merchandise and t-shirts.
The 2006 Minnesota Twins crafted legendary moments in July of that year, marking a significant turnaround. A key series against the Chicago White Sox saw the Twins sweep all three games, prompting White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to label them 'Little Piranhas' for their intelligent and opportunistic style of play.
This moniker, initially a source of frustration for opponents, evolved into a term of endearment for the team and its fans, spawning unique merchandise and a memorable commercial. During this period, backup catcher Mike Redmond popularized the "Smell 'em" gesture after key RBIs, which also inspired popular t-shirts.
The Twins concluded July with an impressive 15-2 record, highlighted by an 18-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Despite their strong performance, the team remained in third place in the AL Central, trailing the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers.
