University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher alum Jim Rantz retiring from Minnesota Twins Organization
10/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Oct. 15, 2012
Gopher baseball alum and longtime Minnesota Twins senior director of Minor League operations Jim Rantz will retire at the end of the year, the club announced, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. Rantz has been with the organization since its arrival from Washington in 1961.
Rantz signed with the Washington Senators in 1960 and joined the Twins front office in 1965. After a four-year stint as an assistant public relations director, Rantz moved into the Minor League scouting department. In 1986 he was named the director, a title he held until his retirement. Elected into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2007, Rantz, 75, has been with the organization for 52 years.
A St. Paul, Minn., native, Rantz was a letterwinner in 1959 and 1960 with the Gophers. He earned the win in the deciding game of the 1960 College World Series, Minnesota's first NCAA championship under legendary coach Dick Siebert. With a 2-1, 10th inning win over Southern California, Rantz pitched a gem. Pitching all 10 innings, Rantz allowed just four hits, one earned run, nine walks and six strikeouts to lead the Gophers to the championship.
Minnesota Twins contributed to the release
