The Twins Almanac for July 24: Twins Sign Future Hall of Famer, Bostock Hits for the Cycle, Erickson Pitches One-Hitter, Twins Turn Ahead the Clock

Twins Sign Oliva
Twins scout Joe Cambria signed a hard-hitting 22-year-old Cuban kid named Tony Oliva on this date in 1961. Cambria—a legendary scout—also signed Camilo Pascual and Zoilo Versalles when the team was still in Washington. Oliva was the best of the bunch, though. He went on to win three batting titles, lead the league in doubles five times, and make eight straight All-Star teams.

Kaat Homers While Pitching a Shutout
Jim Kaat pitched a shutout and hit a three-run homer as the Twins swept a doubleheader in Cleveland on this date in 1963.

Nimrod native Dick Stigman pitched a shutout in Game 1.

A Twins pitcher has homered while pitching a shutout three times: Jim Perry did it in 1968, and Kitty did it a second time in 1970.

Fourth Cycle in Twins History
Lyman Bostock hit for the fourth cycle in Twins history on this date in 1976. Twelve players have hit for the cycle in Twins history. How many can you name? Flex your knowledge of Twins history down in the comments section below. 

Erickson Pitches One-Hitter
Scott Erickson pitched a one-hit shutout at Fenway Park on this date in 1992. Designated hitter Tom Brunansky got Boston's only hit leading off the second, though, so it was not one of those days where the one-hitter feels a bit like a consolation prize.

Randy Bush hit an RBI double and a home run off Roger Clemens in the 5-0 Twins win. Erickson got his no-hitter in April 1994.

Woman Wins First Game
Duluth-Superior Dukes starter Ila Borders became the first woman to win a men's professional baseball game on this date in 1998, pitching six scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries at Wade Stadium.

Valencia Heats Up
Rookie third baseman Danny Valencia went 14-for-19 with four doubles and a home run over a four-game stretch between July 24 and this date in 2010, as the Twins outscored the Orioles and Royals 47-9 on the road. Valencia showed a ton of early promise as a bat-first infielder, but things didn't pan out—just as, in general, the 2011-14 Twins campaigns didn't go according to plan.

Kepler Homers on First Pitch of the Season
After Opening Day was pushed back almost four months due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, leadoff hitter Max Kepler homered on the first pitch of the season, and homered again in the second inning of a 10-5 Twins win in Chicago on this date in 2020.

Also on This Date:

• 2009: Hill-Murray graduate and Golden Gophers all-time great Robb Quinlan hits his 25th and final major-league home run off the Twins' Francisco Liriano, in a 6-3 Angels win in Anaheim
   
• 2011: Bert Blyleven is inducted into the Hall of Fame
   

Are you interested in Twins history? Then check out the Minnesota Twins Players Project, a community-driven project to discover and collect great information on every player to wear a Twins uniform!