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The year before Arkansas native Torii Hunter was a first-round draft pick by the Twins, he was selected to play for the 1992 United States Junior Olympic team. Family finances made the $500 team fee impossible. Hunter tried another avenue, writing the governor asking for help. Luckily for him, Governor Bill Clinton took up his cause and mailed in a check.

Minnesota drafted him in ’93 and watched him progress through their minor league system. Hunter made his big league debut in ’97 and was the Twins regular centerfielder in 1999. Two years later he had a breakout season, slugging 27 homers and driving in 97 runs. His dWAR was a stellar 2.4 and Hunter was rewarded with the first of nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards. He also received consideration for the 2001 AL MVP Award.

The following season Hunter was even better, upping his batting average by 28 points and increasing his home run and RBI totals. That year he became the first Twins centerfielder to start the All Star Game since Kirby Puckett in 1995. He made the most of his appearance.

In the bottom of the first inning with two outs, Barry Bonds hit a towering fly ball that looked like a home run off the bat. Hunter sprinted to the wall, leaped high, and brought the ball back from over the wall. It remains one of the greatest catches in All Star Game history. As Hunter jogged in from the field Bonds intercepted him. The home run king laughed, picked up the 6’2″, 220-pound Hunter, and playfully tossed him over his shoulder.

In addition to his defensive prowess, Hunter could mash. He swatted 20 or more homers in 11 seasons. A solid run producer, Hunter drove in at least 80 runs 13 times, topping the 90-RBI plateau eight times.

Hunter was a fixture in the postseason. From 2002-2006 he helped the Twins play into October four times. In 2007 Hunter signed a 5-year deal with the Angels. His production continued in Anaheim where he hit .286 and averaged 21 home runs and 86 runs batted in per season. With Hunter, the Angels reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2008-2009.

When the deal with Anaheim expired, Hunter moved on to Detroit where he received the last of his five All Star nods. The 2013 campaign he featured his second Silver Slugger Award. Hunter and the Tigers reached the playoffs in both of his seasons in the Motor City.

Fittingly Hunter returned to Minnesota for his final big league campaign in 2015. When he called it quits after 19 seasons at baseball’s highest level, Hunter claimed 2,452 hits, 353 homers, and 1,391 RBI. In addition to his five All Star rings and 9 Gold Gloves, his trophy case includes a pair of Silver Sluggers and the 2009 Branch Rickey Award.

In the collection is this lineup card from the 2002 Home Run Derby. It’s signed by the Derby winner Jason Giambi and All star skipper Bob Brenly.