The Twins Almanac for May 11: Birthdays, Brunansky, and Big Games

[Matt Johnson]

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Birthdate of Frank Quilici
Former Twins player, coach, manager, and broadcaster Frank Quilici was born in Chicago on this date in 1939. 

As a rookie in 1965, he tied a World Series record by connecting for two hits in one inning off Don Drysdale in Game 1.

An all-time great guy and a Twins lifer, Quilici received the “Kirby Puckett Award” in 2013, honoring community service by Twins alumni.

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Chance One-Hitter
Dean Chance pitched a one-hit shutout against the Kansas City Athletics at Met Stadium on this date in 1967.

Chance got his no-hitter on August 25 of that season.

21-year-old Catfish Hunter, already in his third season, gave up eight runs (seven earned) in just five innings for Kansas City. He got his revenge, though, 363 days later, pitching a perfect game against the Twins in the Athletics’ first season in Oakland.

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Happy Birthdate, Kerry Ligtenberg
Happy 54th birthday to 1989 Park High School (Cottage Grove, MN) and 2000 University of Minnesota graduate Kerry Ligtenberg, born in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1971.

After pitching for the independent Minneapolis Loons, Ligtenberg signed with Atlanta on the recommendation of Loons manager and former Atlanta All-Star catcher Greg Olson. (Fun Fact: Ligtenberg was teammates on the Loons with old-timer Juan Berenguer.)

He pitched in five postseasons with Atlanta from 1997 to 2002 before spending one season each with the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Diamondbacks. 

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Gladden's Triples Streak
Dan Gladden tripled in his third straight game as the Twins beat the Tigers 5-4 at home in the Dome on this date in 1991.

Four Twins have tripled in three straight games: Rod Carew (June 15–17, 1977), Gladden, Delmon Young (May 18–20, 2008), and Eddie Rosario (July 28–30, 2015).

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Twins Acquire Brunansky
The Twins traded Doug Corbett and Rob Wilfong to the Angels for Tom Brunansky, pitcher Mike Walters, and $400,000 cash on this date in 1982.

Brunansky, a southern California native, was drafted by the Angels in the first round out of high school in 1978. 

Bruno was, of course, an integral part of the Twins’ 1987 championship season, hitting 32 home runs with 85 RBI and 83 runs scored.

The following year, Andy MacPhail ill-advisedly traded him to St. Louis for clubhouse cancer Tommy frickin’ Herr. 

 

 

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[nclahammer]

I wept when the Twins traded Bruno.