Historical Play Through of the Minnesota Twins on OOTP 24 - Modern Day Free Agency About to Begin!
Entry posted by Vanimal46 in Twins Historical Sim OOTP ·
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Twins Video
Twins Video
Introduction of the series here
Part 2: 1961-1962 Offseason MLB expansion here
Part 3: 1964 World Series Champs! here
Part 4: 1967 World Champs! here
Hello everyone! It's been a minute since we last checked in on this series. Let's catch you up since we've all been in a coma for 7 years.
1967-68 Offseason:
Tony Oliva wins his 2nd Gold Glove in RF, and Lou Brock wins his first Silver Slugger in CF.
Twins SP Bob Veale wins his first Cy Young after a career best 18-1 record, 2.25 ERA in 240 innings.
We have back to back MVPs in both leagues with Al Kaline and Dick Allen earning the award again.
SP Early Wynn and C Yogi Berra are 1st ballot Hall of Famers for the 1968 class.
The Twins could upgrade at SS since Versalles plummeted with his bat, hitting .184 with a .527 OPS.
Jose Cardenal and Phil Niekro were traded for SS Larry Brown.
Zoilo Versalles was traded to Oakland Athletics for 3B Graig Nettles (9th overall pick in 1965)
1968 Season:
32 year old RP Ron Perranowski tore his UCL in spring training, and it was career ending for him.
33 year old OF Al Kaline accomplishes his 2,500th hit this season for the Detroit Tigers.
5 Twins were named to the All Star team - Bob Veale (3x), James Kubes (1st for 23 year old), Harmon Killebrew (9x), Rod Carew (first for 22 year old), and Lou Brock (3x).
A trade was made with Ashbury to acquire minor league depth at C and a AAAA pitcher for 2 underperforming Twins players.
The Twins enter September tied with the Detroit Tigers with a 80-58 record. During this month, 1B Harmon Killebrew hit his 400th career HR! It was a rough September for the Twins, and as a result, they were eliminated on September 25th, 1968. They finished 90-72, 5 games back of the AL champion Detroit Tigers. The Tigers go on to face the Giants once again in the World Series, and the Giants win the series 4-1. This will be their 3rd WS title in this series.
@ashbury finished his 1st season as Cincinnati's GM with 100 wins.
1968-1969 Offseason: League Expansion and The Introduction of Divisional Play
The MLB has expanded from 20 to 24 teams, and as a result, divisions were formed. In the AL, the KC Royals and Seattle Pilots were added to the league. In the NL, the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres were added to the league.
Prior to the Rule 5 draft, the Twins added SP Ray Miller, RF Roger Freed, CP Michael Peschel, SP Rob Gardner, RP Carl Finfarock, and SS Don Money to the 40 man roster. The Twins were decimated from the expansion draft, and needed as much help as they could from the minor leagues.
RF Tony Oliva is a 3 time Gold Glove winner. 1B Harmon Killebrew, 2B Ron Carew, and LF Lou Brock won Silver Slugger Awards. SP Bob Veale has won back to back Cy Young Awards.
The Rule 5 draft was particularly busy this year because of the league expanding. The Twins skipped their selection, and ended up losing minor league 3B Dave Nelson to the Pilots.
The offseason was quiet for the Twins for transactions. 2B Sandy Alomar was traded to the Seattle Pilots for a minor league RP.
The 1969 HOF class is highlighted by 3 players - SP Robin Roberts who made it first ballot, RF Enos Slaughter who was in his 5th year of eligibility, and SS Vern Stephens in his 8th year of eligibility.
1969 Season: Record-setting 109 wins!
With the 19th pick in the 1969 Amateur draft, the Minnesota Twins selected 20 year LHP Doug Rau from Texas A&M University.
The Twins are cruising to the All Star Break with a 67-31 record. As a result, 6 players were named to the All Star Team. The 6 players were SP Jim Kaat (2x) SP Bob Veale (4x) RP James Kubes (2x) 1B Harmon Killebrew (10x) 2B Rod Carew (2x) and LF Reggie Smith for the first time in his age 24 season.
The 1969 season was full of individual milestones for players around the league. LA Dodgers SP Don Drysdale records his 200th win, Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits his 500th HR at 35 years old, and RF Al Kaline hits his 400th career HR.
Heading into September, the Twins lead the AL West with an 89-42 record, a virtual lock to win the first AL West Division title. In fact, they clinched it on September 20th, a couple of days after the Giants clinched the NL West title.
The Twins face off in the 1st annual AL Championship Series against the 94-win Detroit Tigers and win the series 3-1. The Twins face a familiar foe in the World Series. The 112 win San Francisco Giants were not a match for the Twins this time, as Minnesota swept 4 games to 0 for their 3rd WS title in the series. Tied with the Giants for most since 1961.
@ashburyand @USAFChief are both looking to take down the Goliath in the NL West. Maybe next year!
1969-70 Offseason:
The best player of the series, Mickey Mantle, retired in the offseason at 38 years old. He finishes as a 6 time MVP, 16 time All-Star, and 656 career HRs.
Baltimore and Boston fired their General Managers. RF Tony Oliva wins his 4th gold glove award. 35 year old Pirates legend Roberto Clemente now has 9 gold glove awards.
Ashbury's Reds had 4 silver slugger award winners! 21 year old Johnny Bench, 2B Don Buford, 3B Tony Perez, and CF Jimmy Wynn. Will he trade some offensive talent for the pitching the team desperately needs?
Twins 2B/3B Don Money won Rookie of the Year for the AL, and Cubs 18 year old LF Jeff Burroughs wins it for the NL. Tigers RF Al Kaline wins his 4th MVP award, and Phillies 1B Dick Allen wins his 3rd.
Calvin Griffith continues to lower our budget, even after a World Series victory... As a result, the Twins were forced to trade their highest paid player Bob Veale to the Boston Red Sox for 4 pitching prospects.
Cardinals legend Stan Musial and Dodgers legend Duke Snider were the lone members of the 1970 HOF class.
1970 Season:
The AL West has 4 teams that are projected to do well. White Sox with 93 wins, Twins with 92, Angels with 89, and Athletics with 87. Pitching is going to be the biggest challenge for the Twins to repeat as World Series champions. Not only did they lose Bob Veale to trade in the offseason, George Stone endured a season ending shoulder injury in spring training.
Rod Carew also caught the injury bug when he tore his hamstring on April 29th, 1970.
With the first pick in the 1970 June Amateur draft, the San Diego Padres select SS Mike Schmidt! George Brett will be a future AL West star, except on the Milwaukee Brewers.
Star/Legendary Player Watch: Willie Mays has 3,000 hits and is chasing 600 HRs in his age 39 season. 10 time All-Star Frank Robinson is still on the Reds and eclipsed 460 HRs in his age 34 season.
6 Twins players were named to the 1970 AL All-Star team - SP Jim Merritt (4x), CP James Kubes (3x), 1B Harmon Killebrew (11x), SS Don Money (1st time), CF Reggie Smith (2x), and RF Tony Oliva (4x)
The Oakland Athletics dominated the AL West and eliminated the Twins by mid September. The Athletics finish the regular season with a 110-52 record and make their first appearance in the World Series since relocating to Oakland. Oakland faces off against the Pittsburgh Pirates, their first WS appearance in the series, and Oakland wins the series 4-2!
1970-71 Offseason:
Award Season:
Tony Oliva wins his 5th Gold Glove. Harmon Killebrew wins a silver slugger award at 1B.
Rookie of the Year: CWS RP Don Gullett and LAD SP Steve Dunning
Cy Young: Tom Hall for the Angels went 27-0! Phillies Fergie Jenkins had a great season himself.
MVP: Harmon Killebrew wins his 2nd MVP of the series at 34 years old. Meanwhile, 36 year old Roberto Clemente wins his 1st MVP, which seems absurd.
The AI... errr... I mean @ashbury is going off the rails. Perhaps he is also under budget constraints? Whatever happened, resulted in RF Pete Rose being traded to @USAFChief Houston Astros for a modest return...
After 10 years with the Twins, 2B/3B Rich Rollins was released from the team.
Whitey Ford is the lone member of the 1971 HOF class making it as a first ballot.
1971 Season:
During spring training, SP Jim Merritt was lost for 3 months due to a shoulder injury. The rotation is led by 32 year old Jim Kaat, and 4 other players under 24 years old - Joe Coleman, Doug Rau ('69 R1), George Stone ('65 R1), and Steve Kline ('66 R3).
Milestone Watch: CIN RF Frank Robinson (age 35) and Harmon Killebrew (age 34) approaching 500 HRs... DET RF Al Kaline (age 36) gets hit #3000! 40 year old Willie Mays hits HR #600 on May 18th! Pirates legend Roberto Clemente gets hit #3000 on July 30th!
Old friend OF Bob Allison retired on May 1, 1971 at 36 years old. He spent the rest of his career with the Pirates after our trade at the deadline in 1965.
At the All-Star Break, the Twins are in 1st place with a 53-37 record. 6 players were named to the All-Star team - SP George Stone (1x), CP James Kubes (4x), 1B Harmon Killebrew (12x), 2B Rod Carew (3x), CF Reggie Smith (3x), and RF Tony Oliva (5x).
Minnesota ends the year with 100 wins and another AL West division title. They were eliminated by the eventual champions Cleveland Guardians.
1971-72 Offseason:
RF Tony Oliva (6x) is the lone Twins player to win a Gold Glove.
Oliva wins his 1st MVP award. Roberto Clemente was the NL MVP.
Once again, the Twins did nothing in free agency. We were out of money thanks to penny pinching Calvin Griffith.
In the Rule 5 draft, the Twins selected 22 year old RP Steve Leubber from the Orioles.
The lone selection in the 1972 HOF class is Pee Wee Reese in his 9th year of eligibility.
1972 Season:
21 year old SP Ray Burris (1x), 33 year old SP Jim Kaat (3x), 2B Rod Carew (4x), and CF Reggie Smith (4x) were named All-Stars for the 65-32 Twins.
Milestone watch later in the season... Hank Aaron hits his 600th HR in his age 38 season. Harmon Killebrew is showing signs of decline in his age 35 season chasing 550 HRs.
During the ALCS, Jim Kaat blew out his elbow. He will be out for the 1973 season at a minimum.
Boston Red Sox win their first WS title since 1908, beating the 106-win Houston Astros 4-2.
1972-73 Offseason:
The offseason begins with a blockbuster trade. The California Angels traded 24 year All Star pitcher Tom Hall and 20 year old LF prospect Jerry Mumphrey to San Francisco for 28 year old All Star closer Masanori Murakami and 22 year old 2B prospect John Harbin.
Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Chicago White Sox will all be looking for new GMs.
The Twins had a banner year in the awards department. CF Reggie Smith won AL MVP, SP Joe Coleman won his 1st Cy Young Award, and SS Kenneth Bruno won AL ROY.
3B Eddie Matthews and SP Sandy Koufax are both 1st ballot Hall of Famers in the 1973 class.
Calvin Griffith continues to tighten the belt on the budget. We have enough depth at OF, and decided to trade away LF Lou Brock to the New York Yankees for 23 year old SP prospect Jim Willoughby and 20 year old 2B Leonard Bonk.
1973 Season:
Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits a new milestone, with 3,500 career hits on May 25th.
Top picks in the 1973 draft:
CF Lonnie Smith 1st overall to Montreal, 1B Mark Lucich 2nd overall to Milwaukee, C Dale Murphy 3rd overall to Kansas City, CF Willie Nelson 4th overall to San Diego, and LF Steve Henderson 5th overall to San Francisco. Old real life friend Roy Smalley went 8th overall to the St Louis Cardinals. With the 22nd overall pick, the Minnesota Twins selected switch hitting C Butch Wynegar.
3 Twins were named to the 1973 All Star team. SP Randy Jones (1x), 2B Rod Carew (5x), and CF Reggie Smith (5x).
At the trade deadline, the Twins are in a tight AL West race, only leading the division by 1 game. Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva have declined dramatically, and the rotation is not as strong without Jim Kaat leading the way. Unfortunately the budget isn't available to add MLB talent.
The Twins and Athletics have been in a battle for the AL West title all season long, and that hasn't changed on September 1st. The Twins remain 1 game ahead of them with a 85-49 record.
The Twins finish 1st again in the AL West race. And end up losing in the WS to the Phillies 4 games to 1.
1973-74 Offseason:
Harmon Killebrew retired after a 20 year career with the Twins. He finished with 570 HRs, 3 time WS champion, 2 time MVP, 1 Gold Glove in 1972 hilariously, 11 time All Star, and 5 time Silver Slugger. We offered him a manager position with our AA team, and he accepted. In the next year or two, who knows, maybe he will be the next manager of the Twins.
3B Graig Nettles and SS Kenneth Bruno win Gold Glove Awards.
Jim Kaat suffered a setback in his rehab from a torn elbow flexor. With his return looking unlikely, Sid Hartman swung for a blockbuster trade with the Orioles. 22 year old SP Bert Blylevin will head to the Twins for 5 prospects. 23 year old SP Ray Burris who started 29 games last year for the Twins, #1 org prospect 1B Randy Bass, #3 org prospect C Terry Mappin, #5 prospect RF Jim Fuller, and #9 prospect LF Raymond Castaldi.
Nobody was voted into the 1974 HOF class.
1974 Season:
Willie McCovey hits his 500th HR and 2,000th hit this year. As well as Roberto Clemente clearing 3,500 hits. Cincinnati Red legend Frank Robinson achieved his hit #3000 and 600th HR. Baltimore Orioles 1B Boog Powell hits his 400th HR.
1974 Draft:
MON: 1B Willie Aikens
MIL: C Dale Murphy (unsigned from last year)
KC: 1B Jason Thompson
KC: 3B Lou Whitaker
SF: LF Andre Dawson
With the 28th overall pick in the 1st round, the Minnesota Twins select HS pitcher Dave Rozema.
Jim Kaat returned after his elbow injury and recorded win #200 in his illustrious career.
6 Twins were named All Stars for the 74 campaign. SP Bert Blylevin (3x), SP Randy Jones (2x), C Milt May (1x), 2B Rod Carew (6x), SS Kenneth Bruno (1x), and LF Phillip Zahn (1x).
At the trade deadline, the Twins sit at 68-41 and in 1st place by 2 games over the Oakland Athletics. The Twins stood pat and continued to rely on their young talent to carry them to another postseason.
The Twins win the AL West comfortably with a 99-63 record. The Tigers challenged them in the ALCS, but the Twins advance to another WS.
This go around, the Twins win their 4th WS in the series 4 games to 3. Game 7 was very tight on scoring. Bert Blylevin was the hero throwing a 1 hit shutout in a 2-0 victory!
1974-75 Offseason:
Award Winners:
Gold Glove to C Milt May and 2B Rod Carew
Rod Carew also won a Silver Slugger Award.
Bert Blylevin is the AL Cy Young Award winner.
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