The Twins Almanac for June 22: The Day the Twins Were Officially Sold

[Matt Johnson]

In Today's Almanac:

• The Twins have a buyer
• Two rookie pitchers outduel former Cy Young winners
• Pitcher hits for six total bases, scores twice
• Birthdays of two Minnesotan major leaguers

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Griffith Sells Twins to Pohlad

Billionaire financier Carl Pohlad bought the Twins from Calvin Griffith for a cool $38 million on this date in 1984, almost certainly preventing the team from leaving Minnesota. 

Donald Trump—who published The Art of the Deal just three years later—actually bid $50 million for the team, but Griffith elected instead to sell the club to Pohlad, leaving millions on the table from The Great Negotiator.

Pohlad enjoyed early success unprecedented in Minnesota men’s professional sports, winning a World Series in just his third full season as owner, and again four years later. That’s two more titles than the Vikings, Timberwolves, and Wild combined.

If you need to get anything off your chest about the Pohlads, the comments section is open at the bottom of the page. 

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Rookie Outduels Rocket

Rookie Francisco Liriano outdueled Roger Clemens in a much-hyped game on ESPN on this date in 2006. It was Clemens' first game back after coming out of retirement for the third time.

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Rookie Beats Cy Young Winner Twice

26-year-old rookie Kevin Tapani beat reigning Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen twice over a six-day span between June 17 and this date in 1990.

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Pascual Has Big Day at the Plate

Pitcher Camilo Pascual had a home run, double, three runs batted in, and two runs scored in an 8-3 Twins win over the Angels at Met Stadium on this date in 1962. He is one of five pitchers in Minnesota Twins history with six total bases in a game. 

Earl Battey homered off Angels starter Dean Chance, who of course pitched the second no-hitter in Twins history five years later. 

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Birthdays of Two Minnesotan Major Leaguers

University of Minnesota all-time great and 1903 New York Highlanders (Yankees) catcher Jack Zalusky was born in Minneapolis on this date in 1879.

And former Phillies pitcher Charlie Roy was born in Beaulieu, MN on the White Earth Reservation on this date in 1884. He attended the Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, PA. At least two other Minnesotan major leaguers attended Carlisle—Frank Jude (born in Libby, MN) and Hall of Famer Charles Albert Bender (born near Brainerd).

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[CharlieDee]

I remember how glad I was that Carl Pohlad had purchased the Twins. And then to win 2 world series just a few years later. Those were truly the good old days!