Chart: Paul Molitor career highlights

1974: After graduating from Cretin High School in St. Paul, he was selected in the 28th round of the free-agent draft by St. Louis, but opted to attend the University of Minnesota.

1977: After three seasons with the Gophers, he was drafted by Milwaukee with the No. 3 overall pick. After signing, he batted .346 in 64 games at Class A Burlington.

1978: After only one minor league season, he won a job with the Brewers in spring training, and batted .273 with 30 stolen bases.

1982: Helped lead Brewers to AL title, batting .302 and leading league with 136 runs scored. Brewers lost World Series to Cardinals in seven games, but Molitor batted .355, collecting Series-record five hits in Game 1.

1984: During the trial of a Milwaukee drug dealer, Molitor was named as a customer. He admitted a few months later that he had used cocaine and marijuana early in his career.

1986: Landed on the disabled list for the sixth time since 1980. He played in only 13 games in 1984 before undergoing elbow surgery.

1987: Hit in 39 consecutive games, the fifth-longest streak in modern-day baseball — the longest since Pete Rose hit in 44 in a row games in 1978. He batted .353 for the season, but played in only 118 games, nonetheless leading the league with 114 runs scored.

1992: In final season as a Brewer, batted .320 with 31 stolen bases.

1993: Played on his only World Series championship team after signing with Toronto, winning the Series MVP award by batting .500 (12-for-24). He had hit .332 with 111 RBI during the season, leading the league in hits with 211.

1996: After signing a free-agent deal with his hometown Twins, Molitor batted .341 with 113 RBI and a league-leading 225 hits, one of them the 3,000th of his career in September.

1997: He batted .305 in his second season with the Twins, the 12th time in his career he batted over .300.

1998: Retired after batting .281 with 69 RBI.

2001: After Kelly retired, Molitor interviewed for the manager's job that ultimately went to Ron Gardenhire.

2003: Became Twins minor league baserunning/infield coach.

2004: Elected to Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility; left Twins to become Seattle's hitting coach, but lasted only one season after Bob Melvin was fired as manager.

2005: Rejoined Twins as a minor league instructor, holding the position through 2013.

2014: Named to Gardenhire's coaching staff.

Dennis Brackin