The Twins Almanac for June 9

[Matt Johnson]

Today's Almanac is all about home runs: Five in one inning, four in one game, the 250th of a career, three-straight to start off a game against a future Cy Young winner, and a very "nice" career total. 

June 9, 1966: Twins Hit 5 HRs in One Inning
The Twins set an American League record by hitting five home runs in a single inning on this date in 1966.

The Kansas City Athletics erupted for four runs in the top of the first inning off Camilo Pascual, who only lasted 2/3 of an inning. Facing Catfish Hunter, the Twins pulled within 4-3 on a Bob Allison RBI double in the fifth and a two-run Harmon Killebrew homer in the sixth. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Rich Rollins and Zoilo Versalles connected for back-to-back homers off Hunter to take the lead. Reliever Paul Lindblad retired Sandy Valdespino before allowing back-to-back homers to Tony Oliva and Don Mincher. The Athletics then turned to John Wyatt who allowed the Twins’ third consecutive home run—and fifth of the inning—to Harmon Killebrew (his second of the game).

The story goes that Jimmie Hall nearly hit a sixth home run in the inning, but doubled off the top of the wall. 

The Twins were the only American League team to hit five home runs in a single inning until the Yankees tied the record in 2020, and the Astros in 2022. 

Five National League teams have hit five home runs in an inning. Remarkably, the first four instances (spanning 1939 to 2006) all came against the Cincinnati Reds. 

On a related note, the Twins are tied for the MLB record with four consecutive home runs in Kansas City on May 2, 1964.

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June 9, 1977: Bass Hits Four Homers at Triple-A Tacoma
Tacoma first baseman Randy Bass had the first of just three four-home run game in Twins organization history at the Phoenix Giants on this date in 1977.

Bass led the Tacoma Twins with 25 home runs that season. Tom Kelly was second on the team with 12.

Bass made his MLB debut the Twins in 1977. In 1983, he went to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers with whom he won four-straight batting titles. He still holds the Japanese single-season record with a .389 average in 1986. In 1985, Bass was close to tying the legendary Sadaharu Oh's single-season record of 55 home runs. He was at 54 going into the final game, which just happened to be against the Yomiuri Giants who were managed by none other than Sadaharu Oh himself, and they intentionally walked Bass four times!

Bass later became the Oklahoma State Senate minority leader. 

The other four-home run games in Twins organization history were by Lew Ford at double-A New Britain on August 19, 2001, and Garrett Jones at single-A Quad Cities on July 14, 2002.

While playing at double-A El Paso in the Angels organization, Tom Brunansky hit four home runs on June 18, 1980.

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June 9, 1992: Hrbek Hits 250th Home Run
Kent Hrbek hit his 250th career home run in the top of the ninth of a 4-2 Twins win in Kansas City on this date in 1992. Fun Fact: He led off the seventh inning with a bunt single.

This was the penultimate game of a 15-game hitting streak over which Hrbie went 22-for-54 (.407), with five home runs, 17 RBI, and 13 runs scored.

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June 9, 2022: First Three Twins Batters Homer Off Cole
Luis Arráez, Byron Buxton, and Carlos Correa ambushed Yankees starter Gerrit Cole with three-straight home runs to begin the bottom of the first on this date in 2022. Cole wound up surrendering seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings of work, but the Yankees still beat the Twins, because of course they did.

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Bonus Baseball Fact for 6/9:
Hall of Famer King Kelly hit 69 career home runs. Nice. 

 

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[D.C Twins]

Great read as always... Thanks!

[RpR]

EXCELLENT

Sadly that bit about Cole amplifies the Brain Worm that infects the Twins against New York since Gardenhire was here.