The St. Paul illustrator who created the enduring Minnesota Twins logo of two players shaking hands across a river has died of cancer at age 80.

Ray Barton was paid $15 in 1961 to create the image, never thinking it would be the team’s official logo. Barton assumed it would be used on cups at Metropolitan Stadium.

Barton created art for advertising agencies and other companies in the Twin Cities, including Target, but it was his image of Minnie and Paul that has been most notorious. It’s displayed on the Twins’ uniforms and pennants and is a sculpture that looms over center field.

Barton’s son, Tony Barton, said his dad never really thought the image was that great and never considered it one of his “crowning achievements.”