Jim Kaat, All-Time Twins Great & Hall Of Famer, Might Be An Even Better Golfer

[Al from SoDak]

We all know about Jim Kaat's accomplishments on the diamond, but are you aware he's also an outstanding, ambidextrous golfer?

This entry into this series of articles, Remembering Random Twins, requires an explanation. Jim Kaat is the subject of this piece, but not how you would think. Kaat is an all-time great Twin, a Hall of Famer, and one of the best players to wear the Twins uniform. Kaat pitched for six teams in his 25-year career, won 283 games, was a three-time All-Star, and a 16-time Gold Glove winner. He helped the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series as a 43-year-old relief pitcher. Kaat’s 190 wins are the most in Twins history and second most in Washington/Minnesota franchise history after only Walter Johnson. 

After his playing career, Kaat served briefly as pitching coach for player/manager Pete Rose and the Cincinnati Reds in 1984 and 1985. But Kaat’s true post-career calling was as a baseball broadcaster. He was a brilliant analyst for the Twins, Yankees, and national baseball outlets such as CBS, NBC, ESPN, and MLB Network. He retired from broadcasting in 2022.

Despite all that, I want to talk about his expertise on the golf course. 

Jim Kaat was born November 7, 1938, in Zeeland, Michigan, a community settled by Dutch immigrants in 1847, driven by a desire for religious freedom. (As he and fellow Dutchman, fellow Twin, and fellow Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven are known to say, “If you ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much.”). But, surprisingly, for this article, golf was not a part of Kaat’s upbringing. He didn’t start golfing until the early 1960s – Kaat’s early 30s. Another Minnesota professional athlete, Vikings placekicker Fred Cox, introduced him to the sport. Because left-handed clubs were hard to come by, Kaat began playing golf right-handed. It wasn’t until 1994 that he started playing left-handed. Playing left-handed was a suggestion by a playing companion of Kaat’s while Kaat struggled with his short game, specifically chipping. He quickly became a better golfer, hitting from the left side as he could hit the ball further. 

In December of 2013, Jim Kaat was 75 years old. Golf Digest reported that on December 7, 2013, Kaat "shot his age" (referring to an 18-hole score less than or equal to the golfer's age) at McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, while playing right-handed. He had previously accomplished that rare feat three times while playing left-handed. To shoot under 75 for any golfer is quite an achievement. And to have done so at his age, plus three other times left-handed (at ages 70, 74, and 75), is simply unfathomable. Golf Digest speculated that he was the first golfer to have “shot his age” from both sides.

At the time of the Golf Digest article, Kaat’s golf handicap was six as a left-hander and ten or so from the right side. Keep in mind he was 75 at this time.

Globalgolfpost.com reported in 2022 that Kaat has made three holes-in-one in his life.

How can one guy have so much athletic ability? It’s a little unfair, don’t you think?

Thank you to Golf Digest for most of the golf content in this article. I encourage you to click the link and read their full story about Kaat’s golf abilities and accomplishments.

View full article

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Wow!  He’s better from the other side by a lot than I am with my natural side!   Sigh . . . I guess I better keep practicing.