Throwback Thursday: Twins Homer Hanky Debuted This Week in 1987

While our Minnesota Twins just missed the playoffs this year, 28 years ago this week, they had just defeated the Detroit Tigers and were bound for the World Series. And a free giveaway item -- one that would go on to be a classic -- was born.

Yes, it was October 7th, 1987, when the Homer Hanky was first introduced by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune as a promotional giveaway item to be handed out before the first game of the 1987 World Series. The Twins noted the anniversary Wednesday on their Facebook page.

According to this story, the Home Hanky was the idea of  Terrie Robbins, who worked on the Star Trib's promotional staff. And while giveaway items like the Homer Hanky are common today, back then, it was a different story. In fact, the story says, originally, both the Twins and Major League Baseball weren't too fond of the idea. "Twins officials were convinced  they were going to be the 'laughing stock of baseball.' They even threatened that the white hankies were going to distract hitters and force the umpires to cancel the games and the playoff series," the story said.

Well, of course, that didn't happen. The Homer Hanky was a huge success. So much so, that you could only get them from the Star Trib -- and they had a tough time keeping up with the demand. "The lines were blocks long and some people waited six hours for a new delivery. The Hankies were delivered in unmarked vehicles and they were stored overnight in the same safe where we kept paychecks.  An incredible 2.3 million hankies were distributed in 1987 and another 1.9 million were distributed in 1991," the story says.

And it all started this week almost 30 years ago. Almost makes me want to grow that 80's mullet I rocked back then and bust out my Gary Gaetti souvenir bat. And, just to relive the fun of winning the 1987 World Series, here's a clip of the classic Game 7, when our Minnesota Twins won it all...