The ticket box office at Hammond Stadium opened Saturday morning for the Twins' 30th spring training in Fort Myers, Fla. There were 100-some people waiting for the 9 o'clock start, with the Twins providing the traditional coffee and doughnuts for this version of an opener.
Patty Creem, in her office in the ticket facility, waved toward the 150 yards-plus of parking lot between the big-league and minor league clubhouses and said: "There were years when people were lined up to the minor league facility when we opened. We'd get here at 4 in the morning, and people would start knocking on the windows, asking, 'When are you going to bring out the coffee?' "
Creem has been with the Twins since that first spring training in 1991. Her business card reads: Spring Training Box Office Supervisor. "IDK; ask Patty'' might be a better title.
"We moved down here in 1986 and I was bored out of my mind,'' Creem said. "I called the Twins as soon as it was announced in 1989 that they would be moving here for spring training.''
Patty was put through to Tom Mee in media relations. Tom's answer was, "We don't need anyone.'' Then, Joe Mee, ticket manager and Tom's son, went to Fort Myers and found a vacuum in preparation.
Tom Mee suggested that he call "that woman who has been bothering us all the time.'' Thus was the start of Ask Patty.
"My first job was answering phones,'' she said. "Five lines, going constantly. The Twins were moving here and people wanted information about everything.''
Creem went to work in the ticket office — then a tiny room with four windows — in 1992. The Twins were defending World Series champions. People were lined up for two football fields.
