Article: Twins Bite-Sized History, Part 8: Magic

[John Bonnes]

The young core that previous owner Calvin Griffith had put together had experienced its share of growing pains, including a painful end to the 1984 season and the disheartening struggles of closer Ron Davis. But Davis had been traded and a bubbly kid by the name of Kirby Puckett had arrived.

 

There were changes off the field, too.  Part 5 of a 12-part series that breaks Twins history into fun-sized chunks.You can find more here:

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7  

 

The Pohlads hired 32-year-old Andy MacPhail in August of 1985 to be the vice-president of player personnel, eventually promoting him to general manager. Two years later, MacPhail pushed for 37-year-old Tom Kelly, who had been the interim manager in 1986, to take over full time for 1987.

 

During the offseason, the team added a new closer, Jeff Reardon, and outfielder Dan Gladden. MacPhail also brought in utility infielder Al Newman and reliever Juan Berenguer, both of whom would prove useful additions. Bert Blyleven and Roy Smalley had also returned to the team in 1985.

 

As they battled for their first postseason appearance in 17 years, the Twins were seemingly assisted by some magic in the reviled Metrodome. During the regular season, the team finished 56-25 at home and just 29-52 on the road. They went on a 16-6 tear starting August 29th to move from a first-place tie to leading the AL West by six games. During that critical stretch, Puckett carried the team, hitting .402 with 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and 18 runs.

 

In the American League Championship Series the Twins faced the AL East’s 98-win Detroit Tigers, one of four AL East teams with more than the Twins 85 wins. But the Twins were a more formidable playoff team than regular season team due to the one-two pitching punch of Frank “Sweet Music” Viola (2.67 ERA in 251.2 innings pitched) and Bert Blyleven (4.01 ERA in 267 IP). The Twins won their two at home and two more in Detroit, returning home to an impromptu gathering at a packed Metrodome, an emotional homecoming that many players still point to as the pinnacle of their Minnesota career.

 

In the World Series, the Metrodome and its “Homer Hankies” held serve once again, as the Twins won all four games played there, winning their first world championship. Throughout the playoff run, the noise that championship-starved Minnesotans generated under the Teflon-coated roof was a major story. That noise overflowed outside for a raucous celebration and into a parade a few days later.

 

The sounds coming out of the Metrodome the next couple of years were not as harmonious.

 

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[theBOMisthebomb]

Great memories, it is just that they are 25 year old stale memories and it would be nice to get another championship in the next decade or so.

[HitInAPinch]

New leaders, new players, new attitude.  If only we could locate some Sweet Music...

[Doomtints]

Nice looking ring.  

[Brandon]

It would also be nice if we had 2 starters throw more than 250 innings in a season