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Acquired from the Yankees in a 1982 deal for Roy Smalley, Gagne won Minnesota's shortstop job in 1985. He hit two inside-the-park homers in the Metrodome on October 4, 1986. Though he led AL shortstops with 26 errors that year, in 1987 he set a club shortstop record with 47 straight errorless games, and helped the Twins to their first World Championship. Despite knocking just 10 home runs in 137 regular-season game, Gagne hit solo homers in Games Three and Four of the LCS and in Game Four of the World Series vs. St. Louis. He also singled in the go-ahead run in Game Seven.

In general, Gagne's glove did more talking than his bat, though he did belt a career-high 14 round trippers in 1988. He never hit above .272 for the Twins, but with stars like Kirby Puckett, Gary Gaetti and Kent Hrbek around to carry the offense, Gagne's steady work in the field was a key to Minnesota's six-year run from 1987 through 1992 which saw the club claim two World Championships (the second coming in 1991) and win at least 90 games in two others seasons. His departure via free agency after the 1992 season coincided with the start of a rapid slide into perennial ineptitude for the franchise.

After his tenure with the Twins, Gagne spent three seasons with Kansas City. He put together his best season for the Royals in 1993, setting career-best with a .280 batting average and 57 RBIs while leading the league with a .986 fielding percentage. He signed another free-agent deal with the Dodgers in November 1995, and finished his career with two seasons in Los Angeles. (JCA/AGL)