Countdown to Opening Day

[ashbury]

 

Even the colors of the rainbow were washed out during this dreary era.

[snepp]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zTTiHQyQm7k/TIeqmIJ4SpI/AAAAAAAAAvM/UzWmooVrVoM/s1600/perrymudcatlineup.JPG

[gil4]

'67 season, 20-14. Led the league in games started, complete games, and innings pitched.

 

Had a nearly identical '68 season statistically, finished 16-16.

 

 

 

He also has the distinction of making this list.

 

http://www.baseballnation.com/2011/12/28/2666109/top-ten-list-worst-hitting-pitchers-of-all-time

 

 

 

 

My network is blocking the photo, but I knew right away who you were talking about. (The photo probably wouldn't have helped unless it showed the name - I've got no idea what he looked like.) I used to have the old Cadaco All Star Baseball game with the disks and and spinners. The number 10 was a K, and his player card had BY FAR the biggest number 10's of any player card. If I knew at the time that he used to play for the Twins I probably would played him anyway, but I was probably 8 at the time (if that) and had no idea.

 

 

The biggest problem with the game was that pitchers' skill was not a factor, except for their ability to hit. It was still fun, and it was better than the game we came up with using baseball cards and dice - 12=Hr, 11=E, 10=2B, 9=FO, 8=1B, 7=GO, 6=FO, 5=Go, 4=K, 3=BB, 2=3B. I'm sure you can see some mathematecal problems with that game, along with the fact that every player has the same skill level and pitching was no factor, but it was fun, too.

It was also portable - you just needed a pair of dice, a notebook to use as a scorecard, and a flat area to roll the dice (a small game lid worked great.). You could play darn near a whole season on a drive from CT to MN and back (speaking from experience).

[ashbury]

'67 season, 20-14.

 

The biggest problem with the game was that pitchers' skill was not a factor, except for their ability to hit.

 

This guy was not an asset, then.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

 

Pride of Rothsay, MN, and the best pitcher out of Northwestern MN since Charlie Bender. Dave Goltz pitched for the Twins from 1972-79. Los Angeles signed him as a free agent in 1980, where he pitched for three years, including the 1981 World Series, when the Dodgers defeated the NY Yankees. A twenty-game winner in 1977, Goltz pitched 303 innings that season, and averaged 253.2 innings pitched over a five year span.

 

From Goltz's SABR biography: "(Gene) Mauch has been quoted as saying that Dave Goltz was the best starting pitcher he ever managed. That is high praise because Mauch had managed a couple of good pitchers in Philadelphia, Chris Short and Jim Bunning, and some equally talented ones in California, such as Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana." http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/9b82bd05

[Thrylos]

http://store.dougjohnsonsports.com/images/TerryLeach8x10B.jpg

[snepp]

http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Minnesota+Twins+v+Los+Angeles+Angels+Anaheim+-G-1FhPjtmRl.jpg

 

One of the most under-appreciated players in recent Twins history.

[Squirrel]

http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Minnesota+Twins+v+Los+Angeles+Angels+Anaheim+-G-1FhPjtmRl.jpg

 

One of the most under-appreciated players in recent Twins history.

 

I wish I could like this more than once!

[snepp]

I wish I could like this more than once!

 

Well, you could un-like it, then you could like it all over again.

 

[Squirrel]

Well, you could un-like it, then you could like it all over again.

 

 

Okay ... did that 5 times. hehehe

[Guest USAFChief]

Well, you could un-like it, then you could like it all over again.

At my age I'm happy just to like something once.

[ashbury]

At your age there's a chance you've liked it more than once but forgot.

[ashbury]

 

This amounts to trolling, I know.

[twinsnorth49]

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/371246-mar-1999-outfielder-brian-buchanan-of-the-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=OCUJ5gVf7YdJQI2Xhkc2QMhRQ0lr8NhSESlZyXZ66%2FSTIQsF3uk1nci%2BtqAa4LKAL5H%2Fv0%2BRXjlHOfQPv7bbKw%3D%3D

 

Thank Chuck.......

[snepp]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1107/mlb-top-all-star-vote-getters/images/rod-carew-001253151.jpg

 

 

Does anyone really need a better view of the number? I didn't think so.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

 

Sir Rodney slides into third, under the tag of Charlie Hustle. The moment: It was the 1978 All-Star game, Carew's last Mid-Summer Classic in a Twins uniform. Carew led off the game with a triple to the gap in leftfield off of Vida Blue. He went on to score on a double by George Brett.

[thetank]

I saw that Steve Howe wore 29 in 1985 as well as 30.

[JB_Iowa]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6630[/ATTACH]

 

Sir Rodney slides into third' date=' under the tag of Charlie Hustle. The moment: It was the 1978 All-Star game, Carew's last Mid-Summer Classic in a Twins uniform. Carew led off the game with a triple to the gap in leftfield off of Vida Blue. He went on to score on a double by George Brett.[/quote']

 

 

1978 ... the Twins uniform version of the leisure suit.

 

Great memories of Mr. Carew .... not so much of the fashion world.

[Guest USAFChief]

I saw that Steve Howe wore 29 in 1985 as well as 30.

When you're on the run from the law, you can't stay in one place too long.

[twinsnorth49]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1107/mlb-top-all-star-vote-getters/images/rod-carew-001253151.jpg

 

 

Does anyone really need a better view of the number? I didn't think so.

 

I think we stop at one with Hall of Famers.....at least I am.

[ashbury]

1978 ... the Twins uniform version of the leisure suit.

 

The Twins were a paragon of good taste compared to some teams.

 

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

The Twins were a paragon of good taste compared to some teams

 

Including these pajamas...

 

 

Oh, that guy's turn is tomorrow. Oops.

[snepp]

http://aarongleeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/jesse-crain.jpg

 

Crainwreck being one of my favorite play-on-words nicknames.

[Physics Guy]

Including these pajamas...

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6635[/ATTACH]

 

Oh' date=' that guy's turn is tomorrow. Oops.[/quote']

 

Here's a better look:

 

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Here's a better look:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6641[/ATTACH]

 

And a worse look...

 

[ashbury]

Rocking the sideburns before Joe Mauer was even a zygote:

 

[Thrylos]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1106/david.ortiz.rare.photos/images/ortiz-twins.jpg

[thetank]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1106/david.ortiz.rare.photos/images/ortiz-twins.jpg

Before he started using PEDs?

[ashbury]

Before he started using PEDs?

 

He clearly already was beginning to use them at the time, but it's a misconception that eating doughnuts enhances performance.

[ashbury]

 

He missed a few games after this incident, then OPS'd about .300 the three weeks afterward. Concussions are nothing to laugh about. But, it's a beauty shot of the uniform number, so I'm posting it here. OK, here's a happier one of him, with delicious bubblegummy goodness: