The Six Twins who Scored and Drove in 100 Runs in one Season

[stringer bell]

Dozier is set to join another elite group when he exceeds both 100 runs scored and 100 RBI, which could happen tonight. Bremer mentioned that only six players in Twins history had accomplished that feat, two of whom had done it twice. Working with my phone last night I found five players, including the two repeaters. Does anyone know all six?

 

It is a pretty rare achievement and probably takes other good hitters to accomplish. I wouldn't say Dozier has had much help, but he has scored and driven himself in 41 times. Unbelievable!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Hmm... I'm just guessing.  Mauer came close in 2009 (90s in both categories), but even in that career year he didn't do it.

 

Pretty sure Nick Punto had to have done it in the mid 2000s, right?

[stringer bell]

I found the last guy! Some of my all-time favorites. Three guys, including the "multiples" had their numbers retired and are in the MLB Hall of Fame. The other three-solid performers, but not considered the best player on the team.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Gotta think Killer is on the list.  Wouldn't be surprised if Carew and Oliva were too.  Those are HOF type players...  I'm just spitballing, but did Hrbek ever do it?

[bird]

Larry Hisle?

 

[Bill Brown69]

I know Cuddy was the last but not sure on any of the others.

 

[Craig Arko]

Bob Allison?

[stringer bell]

I'll reveal this slowly--first the two guys who did it twice. Twins icon Harmon Killebrew had great seasons in 1967 and 1969. Harmon tied for the league lead in homers in '67. Scoring 105 runs while driving in 113. The Twins lost out for the AL pennant on the last day, losing to Boston in Fenway in what may have been the best pennant race I remember ( four teams in the race until the final week, three until the final day). 1969 was the first year of divisional play. The Twins, under Billy Martin, cruised to an easy divisional crown. Harmon had his MVP year hitting 49 homers, driving in 140 and scoring 106 times. Great seasons for the Twins first Hall of Famer.

 

Kirby Puckett tallied two seasons where he exceeded both 100 runs scored and driven in. Ironically both of the fine seasons occurred the year after the Twins won the World Series. In '88, Kirby hit 24 homers, drove in 121 and scored 109 times. In '92, he tallied 19 homers, 110 RBI and scored 104 times.

[big dog]

Kirrrrrrrrbeeeeeeeeee PUCKett!

[stringer bell]

Third Hall member--Rod Carew! Always more of a table setter, Carew reached 100 RBI once in his career, his MVP season of 1977. The Twins that year were a (much better) version of this year's team--very good offense, questionable run prevention. Carew was at the forefront of the offense, hitting a career-high .388. Rodney hit 14 homers, drove in exactly 100, and led the league with 128 runs scored. The Twins started hot that year, but wilted to a third place finish IIRC.

[stringer bell]

Get in your way back machine for the first Twin to score and drive in 100 runs in a single season. Bob Allison accomplished the feat in 1962. JFK was president, the Twins were still a novelty and Bob Allison was the second half of the Twins 1-2 punch. Allison was a more complete player than Harmon, ran well for a big man, fine throwing arm, good batting eye and plenty of power. The Twins were a first division team in '62 and Allison was a big reason why. He hit 29 homers and scored 102 runs, while also driving in 102.

[stringer bell]

Number 5 on this list is the "big dumb Canadian". Corey Koskie arrived in Minnesota as a project. He developed over a few years and had his best season when that group of Twins came of age. 2001 was the year that Twins' fortunes took a sharp U-turn for the better. The United Nations infield, Soul Patrol outfield and AJ behind the dish meant a young and exciting lineup.

 

Koskie hit .276, crashed 26 homers and drove in 103 while scoring exactly 100 times. In addition Koskie swiped 27 bases, making it one of the top power-speed seasons in Twins history!

[Guest]

Corey Koskie

[stringer bell]

The last Twin to both drive in and score 100 runs in a single season is my personal favorite. Michael Cuddyer bounced through many positions and roles with the Twins before establishing himself as the right fielder in 2006. The team started slow that year, but had a torrid second half and won the division on the last day. Probably my biggest disappointment as a Twins fan was their loss in the playoffs that year. They had the Cy Young (Santana), MVP (Morneau) and batting champ, but fizzled against Oakland.

 

Cuddyer had his best season with the Twins, hitting .284 with 24 homers and 109 RBI. Cuddy scored 102 times, the only time he reached 100 in either runs scored or RBI.

[stringer bell]

As I said earlier, some players on this list are personal favorites. That would include Koskie and Cuddy in particular. Oliva never made it, to my surprise. Mauer never got that many plate appearances when he was a great player and the big first sackers, Morneau and Hrbek didn't make this select list. Good on Dozier for adding his name. I think it just reinforces how good a season BD has had, historically good!

[Kwak]

I thought Larry Hisle--but he scored only 95.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The way Gardy played him, I'd have thought Punto did it. 

[big dog]

Thanks, very fun.  I would have guessed 20 players before I got to Koskie.

[ScottyB]

Healthy number in the "just missed" category with either 100+ RBI and 95 Runs or vice-versa -

 

Killer - '70 (113 RBI, 96 R); '64 (111 RBI, 95 R)

Kirby - '86 (96 RBI, 119 R)

Tony O - '65 (98 RBI, 107 R); '69 (101 RBI, 97 R); '70 (107 RBI, 96 R)

Hisle - '77 (119 RBI, 95 R)

Morneau - '06 (130 RBI, 97 R); '08 (129 RBI, 97 R)

Gaetti - '87 (109 RBI, 95 R)

Molly - '96 (113 RBI, 99 R)

 

Just a little more trivia