Twins Almanac: Drafting Hrbie, Drew Butera Scores A Winning Run

[Matt Johnson]

The Twins Almanac for June 8 spans 122 years of Minnesota baseball history, beginning with the first four-home run game in professional baseball history. Today we also revisit a few interesting draft notes, including the younger brother of a Twins World Series hero and a hall of fame quarterback. 

June 8, 1889: St. Paul Native Makes Home Run History

Did you know that the first four-home run game in professional baseball history happened in St. Paul? And it was a St. Paul native who did it . . . but he was playing for the visiting team. 

Playing for the Western Association Omaha Omahogs on this date in 1889, St. Paul native Jack Crooks went 5-for-5 with four home runs versus the St. Paul Apostles at Athletic Park, located on the riverfront on St. Paul’s west side.

There is one known prior instance of a player hitting four or more home runs in a single game. In the pre-professional era, 21-year-old Philadelphia Athletics lefty Lipman Pike—standing at all of 5-foot-8, 158 pounds—hit five home runs from the nine-hole on July 16, 1866.

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June 8, 1971: Twins Draft a Quarterback

The Twins drafted Notre Dame shortstop (and quarterback) Joe Theismann in the 39th round (773rd overall) on this date in 1971.

Spoiler: He did not sign.

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June 8, 1978: Twins Draft Hrbek

The Twins drafted Willmar native Wade Adamson in the fourth round out of South Dakota State on this date in 1978.

They drafted Jack Morris's brother Tom in the 10th round. (He didn't sign.)
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Then, way down here in the 17th round, they selected Bloomington high schooler Kent Hrbek. 

Hrbek didn't accept Calvin Griffith's initial contract offer, but his play that summer with his local American Legion team convinced the Twins to find a little extra money for him. 

The Twins' first-round draft pick in 1978 was Lenny Faedo, with whom Hrbek and Tim Laudner shared a 1982 Topps "Future Stars" card.

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June 8–9, 1984: Luzinski Hits Grand Slams in Back-to-Back Games

White Sox cleanup hitter Greg Luzinski hit a first-inning grand slam off Frank Viola, who only recorded one out in a 6-1 Twins loss in Chicago on this date in 1984.

The next day, the Twins brought in Mike Walters to face Luzinski with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of seventh, and the Bull hit the final of his seven career grand slams, driving in Julio Cruz, Carlton Fisk, and Harold Baines. The White Sox won 8-4.

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June 8, 2011: Hannahan Hits Game-Tying Home Run

St. Paul native and Golden Gophers all-time great Jack Hannahan was nearly a hero versus his hometown Twins on this date in 2011, hitting a two-out game-tying homer off closer Matt Capps in the bottom of the ninth in Cleveland.

Ben Revere drove in Drew Butera in the top of the tenth, however, to salvage a 3-2 Twins win.

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[Seth Stohs]

Lenny Faedo... whose nephew has been a member of the Detroit Tigers pitching staff for the past several years. 

I'm often in awe of the first 10-15 years of the MLB Draft. It's obvious not a science and will never be perfect, but there were some awful first-round pick (and Faedo made it to the big leagues), many didn't come close. 

[mikelink45]

I really enjoy these dips into our history. There was a Vic Power HR that is still locked into my memory and some of the moments that made 1961 such a special time.  I loved Pedro Ramos even though he will never be a Twins great and Pascual was the coolest of the players I saw. 

[Matt Johnson]

2 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Lenny Faedo... whose nephew has been a member of the Detroit Tigers pitching staff for the past several years. 

I'm often in awe of the first 10-15 years of the MLB Draft. It's obvious not a science and will never be perfect, but there were some awful first-round pick (and Faedo made it to the big leagues), many didn't come close. 

I'm not a big draft guy, but I feel like when I do glance over the first-round picks from any particular year, it's always surprising how many don't even make it to the majors at all. 

In the ninth round in 1978, the Twins took 12-year major leaguer Tony Fossas, and in the 12th they got nine-year MLBer Scott Bradley.