Gold Glove: One of Tony Oliva’s top achievements

There was never any doubt that Twins legend Tony Oliva could hit, but in his early days as a minor league baseball player, Tony could not catch.

“I was so bad!” Oliva joked with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Sports Director Joe Schmit. “I said ‘I got it, I got it’ and the ball go 20 feet over my head.”

Despite his struggles, Oliva kept working on his craft in the outfield and tried everything to get better. He even used a Willie Mays glove hoping that would help. Oliva did improve and even won a Gold Glove Award in 1966.

“That Gold Glove means a lot.”

The induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame will mean more, but that Gold Glove still holds a special place in Oliva’s heart.