TheOfficialStar Tribune Homer Hanky is ahandkerchief-likerally towel printed for theMinnesota Twins. It was first introduced during the 1987 pennant race by the MinneapolisStar Tribune as a promotional item when the Twins won theAmerican League Western division (AL West).[1] Homer Hankies have been reprinted with different designs over the years to commemorate various occasions, including division titles, the inaugural opening day atTarget Field, and the 2014All Star Game. The Homer Hanky has been manufactured by several companies over the years, including Bensussen, Deutsch & Associates LLC andWinona, Minnesota based company, WinCraft Inc.[2][3]
Star Tribune promotions manager Terrie Robbins thought up the idea of a Homer Hanky as a way to promote the newspaper during the Twins' 1987 playoff run.[4] In a 2010 article, Tim McGuire, managing editor of the Star Tribune, contended that the beginnings of the Hanky were not without opposition from the Twins.[5] He cites the organization's concerns from distracting players to being "the laughing stock of baseball". After handing out 60,000 Homer Hanky and a second inningGary Gaetti home run in Game 1 of the ALCS, Terrie recalls, "I get teary-eyed and get goose bumps just telling you this, but when I looked, the stadium was awash with hankies cheering the Twins." In the coming weeks, a total of 2.3 million hankies were distributed.
The October 7, 1987 debut of the Homer Hanky was ranked #11 on the Top 100 Metrodome Moments[6]
Occasion: AL West Champions
Image: Red, baseball-shaped logo
Slogan: "Championship Drive"
Printed at the end of the season
Twins wonWorld Series (4–1ALCS def Detroit Tigers, 4–3 WS, def St. Louis Cardinals)[7]
Before the start of the 1988 season, the Star Tribune and the Twins developed their own versions of a new white hanky, though there were talks about merging the ideas.[8] Since the Star Tribune owned the Homer Hanky trademark, its version became the official Homer Hanky, while the Twins sold separate white hanky with the team's 1988 logo.
Occasion: Celebration of 1987 World Series Championship and hopes of a repeat
In 2002 there seems to be two sizes of the Homer Hanky "Proud and Loud". A larger and "normal" size of 151⁄2 inch square and a smaller size of 131⁄2 inches square with "hanky stitching" on the edge.
The Star Tribune announced, in celebration of the Twins winning the AL Central regular season division championship in 2019, that a new Homer Hanky would be released. They noted that the new hanky will not be white, as in previous years. This was the result of Major League Baseball adding a new rule forbidding whiterally towels.[9] It also took on a different fabric, changing to a thicker towel rather than a thin handkerchief. On April 19, 2020, in the midst of theCOVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the Twins would use leftover 2019 Homer Hankies to make CDC compliant face masks and donate them to health care and grocery workers.[10] This was done in conjunction withCub Foods,Love Your Melon, andFaribault Woolen Mill Co.
The 2020 Homer Hanky retained the thicker towel fabric from 2019, but it did return to the traditional white color. Since fans were not allowed in the stadium during the playoffs, there would be no violation of MLB's white towel rule.[11]
Occasion: AL Central Champions
Image: White outline of Minnesota with a red house at the bottom
