Twins Almanac: Killer's Birthday, Mauer's Grand Slam, & Denard Span's Triples Record

[Matt Johnson]

June 29th has been quite an eventful day in Twins history. Read my notes featuring Moonlight Graham, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Bobby Darwin, Nolan Ryan, Andre David, Jack Morris, old friend Jim Eisenreich, Joe Mauer, Denard Span, and Nowthen Knights manager Terry Olson. 

Image courtesy of © Jody Gomez-USA TODAY Sports

June 29, 1905: Moonlight Makes Lone MLB Appearance

27-year-old Archibald "Moonlight" Graham got into his only major league game with the New York Giants on this date in 1905, playing right field for half an inning. He did not get a defensive chance or an at-bat.

The North Carolina native went on to practice medicine in Chisolm, MN, for over 50 years. 

1976 Sauk Rapid graduate and St. Cloud State all-time great Bob Hegman played half an inning at second base for the eventual World Series Champion Royals on August 8, 1985. Like Moonlight, Hegman did not touch the ball or get an at-bat.

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June 29, 1936: Birthdate of Harmon Killebrew

Twins legend and fourth-ballot Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew was born in Payette, Idaho, on this date in 1936.

Comment at the bottom of the page with your favorite memory, stat, or fun fact about the great man.

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June 29, 1969: Oliva Gets Eight-Straight Hits

Right fielder Tony Oliva collected eight consecutive hits in a doubleheader in Kansas City on this date in 1969, including a 5-for-5 performance with two home runs, a double, and five RBI in Game 2. One of those home runs was a 517-footer that flew over the upper deck and out of Municipal Stadium. 

He reportedly nearly had a three-run game, with his double bouncing off the top of the wall.

He was lifted for pinch-runner Charlie Manuel in the eighth. Otherwise, he would have had a chance for a six-hit game when his spot came up again in the ninth. (Of course, only one player in Twins history has six hits in a game.)

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that Tony O's eight straight hits in one day is a team record.

Bonus Trivia: Oliva hit a pinch-hit grand slam on this date in 1975.

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June 29, 1973: Grand Slam Beats Ryan

Bobby Darwin hit an eighth-inning grand slam off Nolan Ryan for the only runs in a 4-0 Twins win in Anaheim on this date in 1973. 

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June 29, 1984: Rookie Homers on First MLB Swing

26-year-old right fielder Andre David's first major league swing resulted in a two-run homer off Hall of Famer Jack Morris on this date in 1984. It was the only home run of David's career.

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June 29, 1987: Eisenreich's Return to Minnesota

In just his fourth game back after being out of the majors dealing with previously undiagnosed Tourette's Syndrome, St. Cloud legend Jim Eisenreich got his first hit with the Royals, doubling as part of a game-winning rally in his first-ever game against the Twins on this date in 1987.

Eisenreich went 4-for-11 (.364) with three doubles, a home run, five RBI, and three runs scored in the series, including a pinch-hit walk-off double in Game 3. (He was also caught stealing once.)

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June 29, 2007: Mauer's First Grand Slam

Joe Mauer hit his first career grand slam off Justin Verlander in an 11-1 win in Detroit on this date in 2007. Johan Santana earned the win for the Twins.

Mauer hit four career home runs off Verlander—his most against any pitcher.

Bonus Trivia: Mauer appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on this date in 2009. 

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June 29, 2010: Span Ties Triples Record

Twins center fielder Denard Span tied the modern (since 1900) record with three triples on this date in 2010, going 4-for-4 with a walk, five RBI, and two runs scored altogether in an 11-4 win over the Tigers at Target Field.

Ken Landreaux also hit three triples in a game in 1980.

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And last but not least, happy birthday to Nowthen Knights manager Terry Olson. 

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[Matt Johnson]

I'm curious what that emblem is in the middle of Denard's bat.

Hard to tell for sure, but looks like that might be a model I13, which is a big bopper of a bat! 

[Doctor Wu]

Didn't realize that Span had 3 triples in one game! But I do remember that Christian Guzman set the team record for triples in one season. Just had to look it up; he had 20 triples in 2000, tying him with Goose Goslin with Washington ... in 1925!

[Otaknam]

I was at the game where Span had three triples. A memorable game for me because of that. 

[tim5189]

My fondest memory of Harmon was when I was at a game in 1964 at the age of 10 with my Dad. Back then the players parked way out in the parking lot. For some reason we were still in the lot and Harmon and Oliva came walking toward us. About ten feet away Harmon stuck his hand out and said 'Hi I'm Harmon Killebrew and this is Tony Oliva.' I just stood there with my jaw on the ground and shook his hand. He was a real gentlemen and my hero!!!

[Melissa]

Thanks for putting these Almanacs together, I really enjoy reading them.

I grew up a Braves fan in Milwaukee, never much of a Brewers fan after the expansion Seattle Pilots came to town when I was in high school. But I did attend some games - it was fun to see some stars from the “Junior Circuit,” and I saw the Twins a few times in County Stadium. 

One thing that seemed to happen every time - Harmon Killebrew would launch a massive home run to win the game. It wasn’t possible to hate a man like him even when he beat us. Same went for me when the stars from other National League teams would play the Braves. I have memories of seeing Stan Musial and Ernie Banks, two other opponents a kid could only admire, like Harmon.

Puzzled to this day that the Killer wasn’t elected to the Hall of Fame in his first or second year of eligibility.