Twins Almanac, 9/21: Fenway Home Runs by Killebrew and Big Papi Make History

September 21, 1922: New Ulm Native Makes MLB Debut
New Ulm native Doc Hamann made his only major league appearance pitching for Cleveland on this date in 1922. He gave up six runs without recording an out in the ninth inning of a 15-5 loss to the Red Sox. His career ERA is, therefore, "infinity" (or undefined). Believe it or not, the next New Ulm-born player to make it to the majors was Fred Bruckbauer with the Minnesota Twins in 1961. Bruckbauer also made just one appearance and retired with an MLB ERA of "infinity."

Want to hear something crazy? Hamann went straight from pitching for the New Ulm townball team to the majors. He shut out Hopkins for a 2-0 New Ulm win on September 11 and pitched in the majors on September 21. (Cleveland was in a free fall and scouting for fresh talent far and wide.) 

September 21, 1963: Killebrew Has 4-HR Day
Twins left fielder Harmon Killebrew hit four home runs at Fenway Park on this date in 1963, including three in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the second three-homer game in Twins history. Bob Allison had the first on May 17th of that season.

Killebrew homered again the next day, giving him five home runs in two days. I wonder what the team record is for home runs in a three-game series. If you know, spread the knowledge in the comments section below. 

September 21, 1970: Blue No-Hits Twins
Rookie September call-up Vida Blue no-hit the Twins in Oakland on this date in 1970. The Twins were one win away from clinching their second-straight AL West title and had the champagne on ice in their locker room so someone sent a bottle over for Blue. Former Twins slugger Don Mincher caught the final out for Oakland, making a fine defensive play on a foul pop by César Tovar, who had broken up TWO no-hit bids in the ninth inning the previous season, and had his team's only hit five times in his career, tied for the MLB record.

Blue carried the momentum into the 1971 season when won both the American League Cy Young and MVP Awards.

September 21, 1997: Radke Goes 10
No Twins pitcher has gone 10 innings since Brad Radke on this date in 1997, when the Twins beat the Brewers 2-1 on a Paul Molitor walk-off triple. It was Radke's 20th win of the season ... particularly noteworthy considering the Twins only won 68 games that season!

RELATED: Future Twins Steve Carlton earned 27 of the Phillies' 59 win in 1972. 

Will a Twins pitcher ever go 10 innings again?

Rochester native Michael Restovich homered for his first major league hit on this date in 2002.

September 21, 2005: Cuddyer Hits Four Extra-Base Hits
Michael Cuddyer went 4-for-4 with three doubles, a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored in a 10-4 win in Oakland on this date in 2005. Those four extra-base hits are tied for the team record with César Tovar, Kirby Puckett, Rich Becker, Corey Koskie, and Nelson Cruz. 

September 21, 2006: Didn't Need Him
David Ortiz hit his 51st home run of the season off Johan Santana on this date in 2006, breaking the Red Sox single-season record. (He finished the season with 54.) He gave the bat he hit it with to Red Sox hitting coach and former Twins first baseman Ron "Papa Jack" Jackson.

Ortiz hit another homer in the game off Matt Guerrier, and he had homered the day before off Boof Bonser. 

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!