Paul Molitor

Paul Molitor, nicknamed "Molly" and "The Ignitor," is a Hall of Fame baseball player and manager renowned for his exceptional hitting, speed, and leadership. Molitor emerged as one of Major League Baseball’s most consistent and versatile offensive players over a 21-year career

Molitor played college baseball at the University of Minnesota where he earned All-American honors as a shortstop, despite overcoming a significant injury—a broken jaw that required his jaw to be wired shut for eight weeks. His resilience and talent caught the attention of MLB scouts, and he was selected third overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1977 MLB Draft.

Molitor debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1978, embarking on a career that spanned three teams: the Brewers (1978–1992), Toronto Blue Jays (1993–1995), and Minnesota Twins (1996–1998). He compiled a .306 career batting average, 3,319 hits (ranking 10th all-time), 234 home runs, 1,307 RBIs, and 504 stolen bases. Notably, he is one of only five players in MLB history with over 3,000 hits, a .300+ batting average, and 500+ stolen bases.

In 1993, at age 37, Molitor joined the Toronto Blue Jays and led the majors with 211 hits and 111 RBIs, becoming the oldest player to record his first 100-RBI season. His performance earned him the World Series MVP as he batted .500 with two home runs and eight RBIs, leading the Blue Jays to a championship.

After retiring in 1998, Molitor transitioned into coaching, serving in various roles with the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners. In 2015, he became the Twins' manager, and in 2017, he was named American League Manager of the Year after leading the team to a playoff berth following a 103-loss season—the first team in MLB history to make the postseason after such a record.

Molitor was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004 on his first ballot, receiving 85.2% of the vote. The Milwaukee Brewers retired his No. 4 jersey.