Don Baylor - Twins World Series Contributor

[wavedog]

Hearing of Don Baylor's passing brought back memories of his stint on the Minnesota Twins 1987 World Series team.   On September 1st of 1987, Boston traded Don Baylor to the Twins for P Enrique Rios.  Unfortunately, Twins Daily was not around at that time to weigh in if we overpaid for acquiring him.   He played in 20 games the rest of the season batting .286 and interestingly enough getting Hit By Pitch (of which he was a master) 4 times.   Baylor had 2 hits in 5 official plate appearances - to go along with another HBP against in the Detroit ALCS.    In the World Series against St. Louis he batted .385 with another HBP and 3 RBI's.  All 3 of those RBI's came in the crucial and exciting Game #6.    The memorable hit in that game was Hrbek's Grand Slam - (Baylor had been intentionally walked ahead of Brunansky who popped to short and then followed by Hrbek).   The Twins were up 6-5 at that time and that Grand Slam put the Twins safely ahead.    The 2nd top play of that game came in the bottom of the 5th inning - with MInnesota down 3-5,  Baylor came to the plate and hit a 2 run HR  off of John Tudor which tied the ballgame up and gave a big momentum boost.   

 

This would be the only World Series he would win as a player as he sandwiched World Series losses around that win with Boston losing to the NY Mets in 1986 and Oakland losing to the Dodgers in 1988.   While his stint with the team was very short, it is nice to recognize and remember Baylor's contributions to the 1987 World Series team.  RIP Don.   

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

For all his long career, I think of him as a Twin. RIP friend

[goulik]

I am saddened by this news. He seemed to me to be very influential in his short time here. He was the consumate veteran leader type, consumate professional and a good ball player. I rooted for him in each of his managerial stops. May God bless and comfort his family in this time of sorrow.