The Twins Almanac for July 11, 2025: Twins Take Commanding Lead into 1965 All-Star Break

[Matt Johnson]

Killebrew Hits Legendary Homer Heading into the Break
Trailing the Yankees by a run with two out in the bottom of the ninth, Harmon Killebrew hit a walk-off home run to give the Twins a five-game lead heading into the All-Star break on this date in 1965. They never looked back. (This is a big home run in Twins lore.) By Championship Win Probability Added (the same as in-game WPA, but it gives the change in the likelihood of a team winning the World Series based on a given play), it was the ninth-biggest regular-season hit in Twins history. The eight in front of it all came at the tail ends of seasons: three games in the final weekend of the great 1967 pennant fight with Boston, and Game 163 from 2009. Killebrew's homer, a midseason blast, increased the Twins' Championship WPA by 3.2%. (Thank you, Stathead, for existing and for that nugget.)

---

Birthdate of Bob Allison
Bob Allison was born in Raytown, Missouri on this date in 1934. The 1959 Rookie of the Year made the move with the Washington Senators to Minnesota in 1961, where he hit the first home run, first grand slam, and had the first three-home run game in Twins history.

In 1963, he led the American League with 7.4 WAR (retroactively calculated, of course), a .911 OPS, and 99 runs scored. He also led AL right fielders with four double plays started.

How intimidating a slugger was he? He drew 15(!) bases-loaded walks in his career.

---

Renick Homers off Lolich in First MLB At-Bat
Twins shortstop Rick Renick hit a solo home run off Detroit's Mickey Lolich in his first major-league at-bat on this date in 1968. The Twins won 5-4.

Dave McKay, Gary Gaetti, Andre David, Luke Hughes, and Eddie Rosario are the other Twins to homer in their first major league at-bats. Renick was the third base coach for the 1987 World Series Championship team.

---

Santana Has Double-Digit Strikeouts in Fifth Straight Game
Johan Santana notched double-digit strikeouts in his fifth consecutive game on this date in 2004. He had three previous three-game streaks, and once had double-digit strikeouts in 9 of 12 games. No other Twins pitcher has had double-digit strikeouts in even two games in a row! (In franchise history, Camilo Pascual and Walter Johnson each had a three-game double-digit strikeout streak with the Washington Senators.) 

View full article

[Obie]

I was in the left field bleachers near where Killebrew's '65 blast landed. If memory serves, there were two outs with no one on base when pinch hitter Rich Rollins drew a walk. The count on Killebrew went to 3-2 followed by several foul balls before he ripped a line drive into the bleachers, not his typical towering fly ball. The headline in a Mpls paper after his homer said "Forever Harmon." The homer also carried symbolic value as the Yanks were coming off their historic 14 AL championships in 16 years, and beating the Yanks in that game and that series was a "the king is dead, long live the king" moment as the Twins were in the process of dethroning the perennial champs. The all star game was in Minnesota two days later. Along with my dad and brother, we held up a sign quoting the "Forever Harmon" headline from our right field bleacher seats when Harmon hit a home run in that all star game.

[Matt Johnson]

1 hour ago, Obie said:

I was in the left field bleachers near where Killebrew's '65 blast landed. If memory serves, there were two outs with no one on base when pinch hitter Rich Rollins drew a walk. The count on Killebrew went to 3-2 followed by several foul balls before he ripped a line drive into the bleachers, not his typical towering fly ball. The headline in a Mpls paper after his homer said "Forever Harmon." The homer also carried symbolic value as the Yanks were coming off their historic 14 AL championships in 16 years, and beating the Yanks in that game and that series was a "the king is dead, long live the king" moment as the Twins were in the process of dethroning the perennial champs. The all star game was in Minnesota two days later. Along with my dad and brother, we held up a sign quoting the "Forever Harmon" headline from our right field bleacher seats when Harmon hit a home run in that all star game.

Very cool! Thanks for adding this. It was indeed Rich Rollins on base, but I'm not sure I knew it was a full count AND after spoiling multiple two-strike pitches. I'll have to read up on that and add on to this next year. Actually forgot about the All-Star Game being in Minnesota as I was typing this up yesterday. 

WAY before my time, but I've always gotten the impression this walk-off heading into the break generated A LOT of excitement across Twins Territory 

[Matt Johnson]

Ope! I originally wrote that Harmon's 1965 walk-off gave the Twins a seven-game lead heading into the All-Star break, but it was only five.