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Met Stadium Usher

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  1. Met Stadium Usher
    Just looking outside the current roster: Dylan Moore is a classic and veteran utility guy. He won the Gold Glove for utility players in 2024. Not a great hitter, but with some power pop, he hits lefties okay, righties not as much. A good baserunner as well. He plays anywhere in the infield and is actually a good outfielder. He is in the opt-out waiting period with the Phillies right now. If they let him go, maybe he is the type of guy we should pick up, and move along from both our other choices. Whaddaya think?
  2. Met Stadium Usher
    "Phil Roof hit two home runs on May 30, 1972 as a member of the Minnesota Twins against the Kansas City Royals. He hit the first off Paul Splittorff and the second off Bruce Dal Canton. The Twins won the game 3-2." from baseball-reference.com. I was there, one of a throng of 6,164 at the Met that day. 😊 Jim Perry was the winning pitcher. In the 1980s he was a coach for the Mariners, where I had moved, and I met him on Photoday (remember those?) at the old Kingdome. I told him I had been there on his big day. He said, "don't go away," and dashed off to bring witnesses, to whom I repeated the story. He had the biggest smile ever.
  3. Met Stadium Usher
    Since Ryan is the most important starter right now, perhaps he should skip the World Baseball Classic? I know it is prestigious and fun, and all that, but a lot of Twins hopes for the year depend on him now. He has already represented the US in international baseball at the Tokyo Olympics, when the team won a silver medal.
  4. Met Stadium Usher
    I sure do miss hearing Dick Bremer on the Twins broadcasts, with no disrespect intending to Cory Provus, who is a fine baseball announcer in his own right. As a listener, you knew that Dick was all about the Twins, but would give you a fair and honest account of every game while also making you feel like he was a friend of the family. His book, mentioned above, is good reading for Twins fans. So thanks Seth, for this excellent piece on Bremer going to the Twins Hall of Fame. However, there are a couple typos/thinkos you might want to edit, just for posterity on this momentous event. A matriarch is a highly respected woman. A patriarch is a highly respected man. And I bet the Twins presented him with a plaque. It would be a shame if they gave him the plague. Not too late to do an edit or two, is it? Also, a shoutout to Rufus for the comment above about Halsey Hall. It is astounding to me that he wasn't in the first set of inductees. I realize it is a generational thing, but truly he made listening to the 1960s Twins a joy. I would guess that Dick would agree.
  5. Met Stadium Usher
    Hmmm.... the Walking Man. I yost can't think of his name. (Said in a Scandinavian accent. 😉 )
  6. Met Stadium Usher
    We are going for The Ashes, where the winner goes home with the urn! The series goes back to 1882, that's even before Calvin R. Griffith.
  7. Met Stadium Usher
    Some good notes above about the tough Mesopotamian Division. The Sumerians are a great old school team for sure, but you can never overlook expansion teams like Hammurabi's Babylonians, or the Akkadians, with big boppers Gilgamesh and Enkidu.
  8. Met Stadium Usher
    The Hall of Fame does have the famous character clause: "Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played." Of course, it doesn't specify that integrity, sportsmanship, character has to happen only on the field, and it doesn't specify that those same traits shouldn't be judged off the field. Steroid users and Nazi sympathizers who have had great MLB careers have gotten wrapped up in this morality clause. The always trite logic of "so-and-so got in, a bad guy, and thus THIS guy should get in too," frequently gets cited. Personally, as someone fortunate enough to have visited Cooperstown a few times, I have seen plenty of displays referencing Rose, or Shoeless Joe, among the infamous. To me, that's doing them justice. Being selected to the Hall is an honor, and I don't see why we should feel compelled to honor them. IMHO.
  9. Met Stadium Usher
    Herb & Halsey (and Ray, too), made every game fun listening. It really was a different style from today's announcers, of which the Twins have some good ones, but I, like every other older Twins fan who has commented on this site, have genuine nostalgia for the long ago crew and style. It really was like being with friends at a game.
  10. Met Stadium Usher
    Just noting that France came up to the Bigs also playing 2nd and 3rd, to add to what weitz41 said above. Maybe he can still be useful as (yet another) utility infielder. It would be nice to get his bat going.
  11. Met Stadium Usher
    What an excellent reminiscence. #26 really caught my attention. I was a kid who read a lot too (and a future librarian, at that). Baseball biographies were a big hit with me, old time or newer books. Three that came out in 1967 were about Twins players (guessing 1967 was the lag time then for getting a book written and published based on the adventures of the 1965 team). Thanks for letting us enjoy your fan journey!
  12. Met Stadium Usher
    Holy Cow, I find it incomprehensible that Halsey Hall isn't in. If it were up to me, I'd have a statue of him at the ballpark, holding a microphone in one hand and a cheroot in the other. He should have been inducted in the inaugural year. A famous quote about him is from the time he accidentally set his sports coat on fire with a cigar during a broadcast. Afterwards it was said, "Halsey's the only man I know who can turn a sports coat into a blazer." The source of that quip has been disputed over the years. For those that came a little too late to enjoy his broadcasts, he was the grandfatherly/favorite uncle personality to enjoy being with at a game. He had decades of sports writing in the Twin Cities and had announced many Millers and Saints games, the minor league predecessors to the Twins. He fostered a genuine interest in baseball throughout the area, and was an integral part of Twins broadcasting when they arrived. He was an authentic and beloved personality, so Minnesotan. Incidentally, he is believed to be the first baseball announcer to say Holy Cow! after a play, long before Harry Caray or Phil Rizzuto. He was a Twins announcer from the first year, 1961, until 1972, when he became an "Ambassador of Twins Baseball," or some other grand title. I know he came to the ballpark nearly every game since I saw him there numerous times in the mid-1970s. For many fans, he was the face or voice of the Twins.
  13. Met Stadium Usher
    Mudcat and Al Worthington would get my votes. I think it is important to not lose our appreciation of these guys while some fans can still recall how great they were. Mudcat and Kitty were the pitching fulcrum that the 1965 pennant team used to get to the top, and that wasn't the only quality year for either of them. Worthington was the key to that 1965 bullpen (note that the rules for saves and the understood usage of the bullpen changed a few times during Worthington's career). In my opinion the 1965 team set up the Twins to truly be the team that created loyalties throughout Twins Territory. From a couple years later, I was tempted by Dean Chance, who was fabulous during his brief time with the Twins. And just think, if Calvin Griffith hadn't been so danged cheap, we might have had Luis Tiant on this list as well (and another pennant or two).
  14. Met Stadium Usher
    Regarding Tony O and his fielding, part of the story for him is that he was a prodigy as a young hitter and a work in progress as a fielder. So, he wasn't the best fielder in 1964. However he worked hard at it. As his brief biography on the Hall of Fame website mentions, "In 1966, Oliva led the AL in hits for the third straight year (191) while winning a Gold Glove Award for his play in right field." He truly had become a fine outfielder. He had some excellent fielding years before the cataclysm of a major, major knee injury in 1971, made while diving for a ball during a crucial mid-season game. After surgery he was never quite the same. Indeed, he had a second big knee surgery in 1972. He ultimately had seven operations. Over the years I have heard it said many times that if modern arthroscopic techniques had been available to him then, he would of had a second half of his career as dynamic as the first half. He was still a dangerous hitter to the end, but as a fan, it was a bit painful to watch him trying to run when he hit a line drive between fielders. But he did, and that's why he is a gamer, and deserving of all the respect he now gets. IMHO, anyway. So perhaps he wasn't a great fielder as a great hitting rookie, but ultimately, he got there.
  15. Met Stadium Usher
    Bob Allison was indeed a great Twin during the sixties, but for later day fans his numbers don't jump out in comparison to other eras. It is important to remember that in the sixties, with the exception of 1961 (an expansion year), the pitching was dominant. Hitter numbers were suppressed (making Killebrew's numbers truly outstanding, btw). Perhaps WAR isn't the ideal criterion to use for these kinds of lists. Big Bob was a superb clutch hitter, a fine fielder with a rocket arm, and a feared baserunner, in the Frank Robinson, look-out-here-I-come sort of way. He had been a fullback at U of Kansas and probably could have taken out any middle infielder in the game if inclined. He was also a great team leader, and he was terrific with the fans as we all got used to having the Twins in our area. It can be understood how a later fan could have missed him here, but to us veteran fans (and to Eric's dad, no doubt), he is an essential addition to that All-Star list. In my opinion, anyway. :-)
  16. Met Stadium Usher
    Holy Pickles Dilhoefer! Pretzels Getzien is a great baseball name. They should both be on the all-deli team.
  17. Met Stadium Usher
    Hello Al and TDers, This has been a wonderful thread of baseball card posts, thank you. My flash in the pan guy was Brant Alyea, who had a red hot beginning to the 1970 season, along with some sparks elsewhere during the year, and that was about it for him. Here is a quote from his baseball obit (he passed away last February): "He was the star of Opening Day, hitting 2 home runs as part of a perfect 4-for-4 day, and he drove in 7 runs in a 12-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Days later, he hit a grand slam off California pitcher Andy Messersmith to secure an 8-2 win. He exited April with a batting average over .400 but soon leveled off. While he spent most of the season as the right-handed half of a platoon in left field, along with Jim Holt, Alyea reached career highs with 12 doubles, 16 home runs and 61 RBIs. He drove in 9 runs over a doubleheader sweep of Milwaukee on September 7. Seven of those RBIs came in the first game, thanks to a grand slam and a 3-run homer off Lew Krausse. By season’s end, he had a slash line of .291/.366/.531 and an OPS+ of 142. " https://ripbaseball.com/2024/02/16/obituary-brant-alyea-1940-2024/ Incidentally, he was traded to the Twins by the Senators for Joe Grzenda and Charlie Walters (yes, that Charlie Walters, aka Shooter, who parleyed his brief playing career into a nice writing career).
  18. Met Stadium Usher
    Zoilo was one of my favorite Twins back in the day. He was an acrobatic fielder with a bit of a scattershot arm. I can still visualize him in action. He could make plays you never would expect, meanwhile throwing the ball away on routine grounders. He had a very brief but glorious peak, and then mysteriously forgot how to hit as the Year of Pitcher era starting coming along ('67-'68). Of course, many established players floundered at the plate during that time. It was said that Billy Martin was his greatest backer, and he worked hard to bring Zoilo's game up to big league standards. A brief memory: one year in the 1970s, long after he retired, Zoilo was on duty at the Twins/'CCO booth at the State Fair. My brother and I recognized him sitting at a table by himself without any schedules, bumper stickers or other stuff to hand out. When we came in he asked us if we spoke Espanol, which we did not. He signed whatever State Fair-ish souvenirs we had, and that was that. Other folks would poke their head in, not recognize him, and leave. That had to have been a long day for the former MVP! A few years ago, my brother and I reminisced about meeting him. For sure he would have had signage, goodies to hand out, and a bilingual partner nowadays.
  19. Met Stadium Usher
    I am also a split Twins/Mariners fan, having been happily exiled to Seattle for several years. Edgar, a deadly clutch hitter and all-around nice guy, isn't quite on the same level with Harmon, who was those same things, but he is in the neighborhood, which says a lot right there. Two HoFers.
  20. Met Stadium Usher
    Right, congrats to Luis, a wonderful player, so fun to watch. Regarding batting averages, this boomer says: All. Those. Damned. Useless. Strikeouts. How often do you see two strike swings, or protecting the plate? When you put the ball in play, good things can happen, even productive outs. My two cents.
  21. Met Stadium Usher
    1B George Sisler It was Sisler's record 257 hits in a season that Ichiro broke in 2004. He was thought to be among the best fielding first basemen of all time before his vision declined from an infection. He also hit as high as .420 one year, with what was considered good power in the dead ball era. 2B Rogers Hornsby He averaged over .400 for a five year period. Incredible hitter, less than incredible personality according to stories. SS John Henry "Pop" Lloyd (Note: MLB now considers Negro League play to have been major league.) Babe Ruth reputedly thought Lloyd to the best player ever. Was he the Black Honus Wagner, or was Wagner the White Pop Lloyd? 3B Brooks Robinson The only one I saw live. All the great modern defensive third basemen are in his shadow--he could dominate a game or series from the hot corner. And he was a deadly clutch hitter, the MVP in 1964, and a first ballot Hall of Famer. He played so many great games against our Twins!
  22. Met Stadium Usher
    My goodness, what great stories in this thread. Thanks for the question, Devlin. It's hard to explain to younger fans now, but back in the day we didn't have so many options for media and distractions in life. When the Twins were playing it was common to hear the radio broadcast or see the TV broadcast wherever you were. Herb Carneal and Halsey Hall were like everyone's cousin and uncle as familiar kindly voices in our lives. And baseball's long season gave everyone many chapters of an unfolding story over the summer months. It was so easy to get hooked as a kid. Or adults. Even my grandma followed along. Harmon, of course, was just monumental in the early era. Not only was he a great player, but his reserved yet friendly and always nice personality was a perfect fit for the place and times. Even though he was from Idaho, he seemed to be what we believed Minnesotans were like, NICE from all backgrounds and elements of our society. When Tony O came along as an incredibly talented rookie, the mix just got more fascinating, adding another touch of Cuban spice (along with Camilo and Zoilo). And then there were baseball cards back when they weren't preserved and collected for value, but to be used to trade, build paper teams, memorize important factoids from the back of the card, and occasionally attach to your bike to make cool sounds. It has been great to read all these paths to Twins fandom.
  23. Met Stadium Usher
    I wonder if Eddie Guardado is reading this thread. 😊 Hey Nine of Twelve, great Eddie Bane reference for those of you who might have missed the significance of his post and IndianaTwin's answer. Eddie was a 5'9" first round draft pick lefty pitcher. The Twins made their draft money back by signing him and starting him on that July 4th, drawing 45,890 curious fans to see the wunderkind pitch his first professional game in the big leagues. He did okay that day. Alas, I wasn't there, but listened to Herb Carneal broadcast the game. The Twins were following in the footsteps of the Rangers, whose first round pick was also a pitcher, David Clyde, who also started his career at the Major League level about a week earlier than Eddie Bane. Ka-ching ! Money for the team. This start and ongoing rookie seasons did neither pitcher any good.
  24. Met Stadium Usher
    Thanks, TG#22 ! My original list would have had Al Worthingon or Ron Perranoski on it, but I didn't want to repeat from your fine list, and Tommy Hall was getting warmed up in the pen anyhow. :-)
  25. Met Stadium Usher
    In the spirit of the Griffith family, always interested in saving a buck, from the bargain bin: P Jim Merritt $1 (alt Dave Goltz) Closer Mike Marshall $2 (alt Tom 'The Blade' Hall) C George Mitterwald $1 (alt Phil Roof) 1B Vic Power $3 (alt Ron 'Papa' Jackson) 2B Billy Martin $1 (alt Frank Quilici) SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka (I jest), my actual pick Danny Thompson $2 3B Eric Soderholm $1 (alt Eduardo Escobar) LF Mickey Hatcher $1 (alt Willie Norwood) CF Ken Landreaux $2 (alt Ted Uhlaender) RF Josh Willingham $2 (alt Brant Alyea) DH ByungHo Park (laughing? again), Jason Kubel $1 $17
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