The Twins Almanac for June 2nd

[Matt Johnson]

Today's Almanac is a less than two-minute read • Team-record four triples in 1964 • Team-record losing streak in 1982 • Carew retires in 1986 • and Lenny Webster homers in first two games of 1991 call-up. 

1964: Team-Record Four Triples

Johnny Goryl, Bernie Allen, Don Mincher, and Earl Battey combined for a team record four triples in a 6-2 home win over the Yankees on this date in 1964.

It was Allen and Battey's only triple of the season!

Rookie right fielder Tony Oliva went 3-for-5 with a double and run scored, raising his average to .392. He finished the season with a league-leading .323 and was named American League Rookie of the Year. 

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1982: Team-Record Losing Streak

The Twins fell 4-2 in Cleveland for a team record 14th-straight loss on this date in 1982. They were in last place (obviously) in the seven-team American League West—TWENTY games behind the Angels. They finished the season with 102 losses—33 games behind the Angels. 

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1986: Carew Retires

After failing to receive a suitable contract offer, Rod Carew officially announced his retirement on this date in 1986. It was later determined that owners had colluded against Carew and other free agents, essentially agreeing not to offer contracts to other teams' free agents, thereby helping each other retain their own players while keeping salaries low.

In 1995, Carew was awarded $782,035.71 in damages for lost wages. 

Carew's comments to Harmon Killebrew after connecting for his 3,000th hit against the Twins in 1985 are particularly interesting in light of the collusion scandal. 

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1991: Webster Homers in Call-Up

Lenny Webster only got 34 at-bats with the Twins in 1991, but he hit three home runs, including in his first official major-league at-bat of the season on this date. (He drew a walk in his first plate appearance earlier in the game.)

But wait, there's more: He homered again in his second MLB game of the season on June 5th.

Webster spent most of the 1991 season at triple-A Portland, but was brought back to Minnesota to serve as a bullpen catcher during the postseason. 

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