Recollections of coldest baseball days

Terry Ryan, former Twins GM and current Phillies scout: "Sixteen, 17 years ago, I was in Edmonton when it was the Twins affiliate. It was early May and it was snowing so hard that I could hardly see the pitcher. I was pretty sure it was Juan Rincon, but I couldn't tell even though I was right behind the plate. And they finished that game."

Jim Kaat, pitching and broadcasting great: "Missoula, Montana, 1958. Jack McKeon was the manager. I pitched in snow flurries. We had some Cuban players — Bert Cueto was one — and they wouldn't leave the hotel. They had never seen snow and we're afraid to go out in it. Also, Fenway Park, April 18, 1961, my first Twins win. Flurries. We won 3-2. My roomie Billy Pleis saved it.''

Paul Molitor, Twins manager and Hall of Famer: "I'd say it was as a visiting player with the Brewers in the old Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. It was minus-3 Celsius and the winds were howling off the lake.''

Jack Hannahan, former Gopher and big-leaguer: "A series at Wichita State in 2000. We got snowed out in the ninth with Luke Appert at second and me at the plate. It was 29 degrees and snowing during the game. We beat them the next day.''

Glen Perkins, also a former Gopher and three-time AL All-Star: "I pitched at Michigan — 29 degrees and 12 degree windchill. I gave up two runs in the ninth and got a no-decision. That was the only game in my Big Ten career that I didn't get a win."

Billy Milos, Twins scout: "Late March 1996, watching eventual Red Sox first-rounder Josh Garrett in Vincennes, Indiana. Rare high school night game. It was too cold to play in the day, much less at night, but it also was our first chance to see Garrett that spring. Imagine a pile of scouts huddled in the stands trying to keep each other warm. I was wearing my big fluffy Russian hat. That thing saved me.''

PATRICK REUSSE