Legendary Twins Clubhouse Attendant Wayne 'Big Fella' Hattaway Passes Away

The Minnesota Twins sadly had to say goodbye to a team and MLB legend on Friday morning. Wayne "Big Fella" Hattaway passed away after a short bout with cancer. He was 80 years old.

Hattaway made a name for himself not on the diamond, but behind the scenes. He was a man who dedicated himself to the sport of baseball in a way that few people ever could. He began his career at the age of 12 in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, working as a bat boy for the Mobile Bears. It sparked a lifetime of promotions and excellence in service that's made him a beloved figure for the people of Minnesota.

In 1962, Hattaway became the equipment manager for the Dallas Rangers, a Triple-A Twins affiliate. 40 years later, he finally got his call-up to the bigs (in a way) and became the clubhouse attendant for the Twins.

Hattaway became a favorite among players for the lighthearted attitude he maintained in the clubhouse and for his incredible wit. Stew Thornley relayed a great Hattaway story, in which he once told a player who had a bad game, "hey, don’t worry about it. We don’t blame you. We blame the scout who signed you."

Hattaway retired from the organization in 2018, but his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of Twins players forever.

As he used to tell the pitchers whose arms he'd massage before games, "See you in the second inning, Big Fella."