Paul Molitor remains one of baseball’s most accomplished figures, and he’s still deeply involved in the game today. The Hall of Famer currently serves as Special Assistant for Baseball Operations with the Minnesota Twins while adding select radio commentary. At 69 years old, Molitor’s legacy includes 3,319 career hits (10th all-time), a World Series MVP award, and the distinction of being the only player in MLB history with 3,000+ hits, a .300+ batting average, 500+ stolen bases, AND 200+ home runs. His estimated net worth is around $10 million.
Biography
Paul Leo Molitor was born on August 22, 1956, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His baseball journey began at Cretin High School, where scouts first noticed his talent. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 28th round in 1974, but Molitor chose a different path—heading to the University of Minnesota to develop his skills further.
Playing shortstop for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, he earned All-American honours in his sophomore year. However, his college career hit a serious setback when he broke his jaw between his sophomore and junior years. The injury required an eight-week recovery, during which he dropped 40 pounds. Despite this challenge, Molitor’s collegiate performance impressed the Milwaukee Brewers enough to select him third overall in the 1977 MLB draft.
He didn’t waste time proving their choice right. With the Class A Burlington Bees, Molitor posted a .346 batting average with eight home runs, 50 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases across just 64 games. That performance fast-tracked him to the majors, where he’d spend 21 seasons becoming one of baseball’s most versatile players.
Today, Molitor resides in Minneapolis/St. Paul is married to his wife, Destini, whom he married on February 14, 2004. He has four children: Blaire and Joshua from earlier relationships, plus Julia and Benjamin with Destini.
Career
Molitor’s MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1978 was promising—a .273 batting average, six home runs, 45 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases as a rookie. He began as a shortstop but moved to second base and eventually settled at third, adapting wherever his team needed him most.
The Brewers experimented with him in the outfield during 1981 to reduce injury risks, though injuries would plague him throughout the early 1980s. A significant elbow issue in 1984 required Tommy John surgery, but Molitor bounced back stronger than before.
In the 1987 season, he had a 39-game hitting streak, the fifth-longest in modern baseball history and the longest in the American League since Joe DiMaggio’s iconic 56-game streak in 1941. That year also earned him the first of four Silver Slugger Awards.
In 1993, Molitor signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The move proved golden. He led the Blue Jays to a World Series victory, batting an incredible .500 (12-for-24) with two home runs, eight RBIs, and a Series-record-tying 10 runs scored. At 37, he also posted his first 100+ RBI season with 111, making him the oldest player to reach that milestone at the time.
Molitor returned home to Minnesota in 1996 for his final three seasons. On September 16, 1996, he became the first player to reach 3,000 career hits with a triple. He finished his playing career in 1998 with verified statistics that place him among baseball’s elite: 3,319 hits, a .306 batting average, 504 stolen bases, and 234 home runs.
His Hall of Fame induction came in 2004 on his first ballot, with 85.2% of the vote (431 of 506). Honouring a promise made during his Milwaukee jersey retirement ceremony, Molitor entered the Hall wearing a Brewers cap.
Managerial Career
The Minnesota Twins hired Molitor as manager in November 2014. His four-season tenure (2015-2018) produced a 305-343 record with dramatic highs and lows. After a respectable 83-79 debut season, the 2016 Twins posted a franchise-worst 59-103 record.
Then came 2017’s remarkable turnaround. The Twins became the first team in MLB history to reach the playoffs after losing 100+ games the previous season, finishing 85-77 and earning an AL Wild Card berth. Molitor won American League Manager of the Year, becoming only the second Hall of Fame player, after Frank Robinson, to also win that honour.
Despite this success, the Twins dismissed him on October 2, 2018, following a 78-84 season. Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey cited a desire for “a change in voice” with younger players. Molitor responded graciously, expressing gratitude for the opportunity.
Current Role
Since rejoining the Twins organisation in 2021, Molitor has served as Special Assistant for Baseball Operations. He works with minor league players across Triple-A St. Paul, Double-A Wichita, and Class-A Cedar Rapids.
In 2024, he added radio broadcast commentary for select Twins games, bringing his Hall of Fame perspective to fans. Current manager Rocco Baldelli praised his involvement: “He’s a very special guy and an extraordinarily special baseball mind.”
Molitor’s 2024 appearances included travelling to Cooperstown for Joe Mauer’s Hall of Fame induction in July and announcing at Target Field that the Twins will build a Joe Mauer statue outside the ballpark in 2025. He’s part of the remarkable “St. Paul Four”—four Baseball Hall of Famers from St. Paul, Minnesota, alongside Dave Winfield, Jack Morris, and Mauer.
Personal Life
Beyond baseball, Molitor overcame significant personal challenges. In the early 1980s, he struggled with cocaine and marijuana addiction while playing for Milwaukee. Christmas Day 1980 became his turning point when his absence from family celebrations alarmed loved ones. His fiancée, Linda, discovered him after a night of heavy drug use.
Reconnecting with his Catholic faith at the University of Minnesota provided the foundation for his recovery. Molitor later stated, “I believe that God answered my prayers.” Rather than hide his past, he became an anti-drug advocate, visiting schools to share his story and caution others about substance abuse dangers.
His charitable work includes significant support for Camp Heartland (now One Heartland), which serves children affected by HIV/AIDS. During the Twins’ contract negotiations, he requested that owner Carl Pohlad contribute $250,000 toward the purchase of the organisation’s permanent 80-acre facility in Willow River, Minnesota.
In 2024, Molitor was inducted into the German-American Hall of Fame.
Net Worth
Paul Molitor’s net worth is estimated at approximately $10 million.
His career earnings from playing are approximately $39 million. His 1990 three-year, $9.1 million contract with Milwaukee ranked among baseball’s largest deals at that time. The 1993 three-year, $13 million contract with Toronto followed, then approximately $7 million total with Minnesota from 1996-1998. His 1992 salary peaked at $3,453,333 with the Brewers, whilst his 1995 Blue Jays salary reached $4.5 million.
His 21-season playing career saw substantial salary growth. Starting at just $21,000 with Milwaukee in 1978, his earnings jumped to $65,000 in 1979 and $210,000 in 1980 after his All-Star selection.
Current income sources include his salary as a Special Assistant with the Twins, radio broadcasting work, and speaking engagements. His dismissal from his managerial contract in 2018 included approximately $3.25 million remaining, though settlement details weren’t publicly disclosed.