Matt Johnson

Today's Twins Almanac is a nice succinct Sunday-morning read, featuring Twins all-time greats Camilo Pascual, Tony Oliva, Justin Morneau, and Brian Dozier. Image courtesy of © Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports July 14, 1991: Twins Retire Number 6 The Twins retired Tony Oliva's number 6 on this date in 1991. They retired Rod Carew's number in 1987. Coincidence? July 14, 2008: Morneau Wins Home Run Derby Justin Morneau won the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on this date in 2008, beating out Josh Hamilton, who just didn't have the stamina to keep up. July 14, 2012: Ace Inducted into Team HOF Camilo Pascual was inducted as the 24th member of the Twins Hall of Fame on this date in 2012. He was already a bona fide ace when the Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961. Pascual—who Ted Williams said had the most feared curveball in the American League—was sensational over the Twins’ first four seasons in Minnesota. He led the American League in strikeouts in 1961, ’62, and ’63, and led the majors in shutouts in 1959, ’61, and ’62. He pitched back-to-back shutouts three separate times during the Twins’ inaugural 1961 season, and once again in 1962. Over the six-year period from 1958 to 1963, no pitcher in MLB racked up a higher cumulative WAR (32.0 as retroactively calculated by Baseball Reference). On April 27, 1965, he hit the only grand slam by a pitcher in Twins history. (He had also hit a grand slam on August 14, 1960—the Senators’ final season in Washington.) Following his playing career, Pascual became a scout. Two of his more noteworthy signings were Jose Canseco for the Athletics in 1982, and Alex Cora for the Dodgers in 1996. July 14, 2017: Dozier Breaks Team Leadoff Home Run Record On the second pitch back from the All-Star break, Brian Dozier hit his 21st leadoff home run, passing Jacque Jones for most in Twins history. Dozier hit his 22nd leadoff home run the next day, and wound up hitting 28 for the Twins before being traded to the Dodgers on July 31, 2018. It doesn't count toward his official total, but Dozier led off the 2017 Wild Card Game with a home run. Eddie Rosario added a two-run homer to give the Twins a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Yankees tied it up in the bottom of the inning and went on to beat the Twins, because of course they did. It also doesn't count toward his leadoff home run total, but Dozier scored on a leadoff bunt in Detroit on September 23, 2017. The third baseman committed a throwing error and Dozier circled the bases (a "Little League home run," if you will). View full article

Today's star-studded Twins Almanac features Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Butch Wynegar, Jerry Terrell, Rich Becker, Max Kepler (and Trevor Bauer, of course), as well as Sturgeon Lake native George Cunningham. Image courtesy of © Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports July 13, 1894: Tigers Pitcher Born in Sturgeon Lake Four-year major league pitcher George Cunningham was born in Sturgeon Lake, MN on this date in 1894. He made 123 appearances (36 starts) with the Detroit Tigers between 1916 and 1919. Happy Birthday, Jerry Terrell Happy 78th birthday to 1964 Waterville High School graduate, Mankato State all-time great, and eight-year major league infielder Jerry Terrell, born in Waseca on this date in 1946. Terrell played for the Twins from 1973 to '77, and the Royals from 1978 to 1980. July 13, 1971: Killebrew Homers in All-Star Game Home runs from Frank Robinson, Reggie Jackson, and Harmon Killebrew powered the American League to a 6-4 victory in the All-Star Game at Tiger Stadium on this date in 1971. Killer also homered in the 1961 and '65 All-Star Games, with the '65 midsummer classic being held at Met Stadium in Bloomington. July 13, 1976: Wynegar Becomes Twins' Youngest All-Star 20-year-old catcher Butch Wynegar became the youngest Twins player to appear in an All-Star Game on this date in 1976. July 13, 1993: Puckett Named All-Star Game MVP Twins center fielder Kirby Puckett homered off future Twin Terry Mulholland and doubled to drive in Ken Griffey Jr. en route to being named Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game on this date in 1993 Rick Aguilera pitched a scoreless top of the eighth in the 9-3 American League win in Baltimore. Copy of Kiry Puckett 1993 All-Star Game.mp4 July 13, 1996: Centerfielder Hits for 13 Total Bases Batting second, center fielder Rich Becker went 4-for-6 with two home runs, a triple, and double in a 19-11 loss to Cleveland at home in the Dome on this date in 1996. Those 13 total bases are tied for second-most in Twins history. Kirby Puckett hit for 14 total bases . . . do you remember the day of the week and city? Flex your Twins Trivia knowledge in the comments below. July 13, 2019: Kepler Homers in Fifth-Straight At-Bat Against Bauer Max Kepler homered in his FIFTH-STRAIGHT at-bat against Trevor Bauer on this date in 2019. He homered in the first and second innings of this game, and hit three off Bauer back on June 6. Bauer is the only pitcher in MLB history to give up five-straight home runs to the same batter in the same season. Kepler Bauer.mp4 View full article

Today's Twins Almanac features all-time fan favorites Frank Quilici, Al Newman, Justin Morneau, Matt Lawton, Jason Kubel, Rick Aguilera, and Jack Morris. Image courtesy of © RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports July 6, 1972: Twins Name New Manager The Twins dismissed manager Bill Rigney and promoted 33-year-old Frank Quilici on this date in 1972. As a player, Quilici tied a World Series record by getting two hits in one inning off the Dodgers’ Don Drysdale in Game 1 in 1965. Quilici is regarded as one of the all-time great guys in Twins history. July 6, 1986: Newman Hits Only Career Home Run Expos second baseman Al Newman hit his only major league home run off Atlanta’s Zane Smith on this date in 1986. Atlanta's first baseman, Bob Horner, incidentally hit four home runs in the game, with the fourth coming off Jeff Reardon in the ninth. Expos won 11-8. July 6, 1990: Morris Pitches One-Hitter, Faces Minimum Detroit ace Jack Morris pitched a one-hit shutout against the Royals at Tiger Stadium on this date in 1990. He did not issue a walk and faced the minimum. After surrendering a single to Kurt Stillwell in the top of the first, he promptly induced a 4-6-3 double play from George Brett and did not allow another baserunner the next eight innings. July 6, 1995: Twins Trade Aguilera Right in the middle of a game I was watching at my grandparents’ trailer at Pincherry Grove Resort in Cohasset, the Twins traded Rick Aguilera to the visiting Red Sox for Frankie Rodriguez and a minor leaguer on this date in 1995. Aggie jogged in from the bullpen partway through the game and switched clubhouses. He earned the save for the Red Sox at the Metrodome the next night. He re-signed with the Twins as a free agent following the season. The Twins later traded first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to the Red Sox in the middle of a series between the two teams at the Metrodome in July 2004. Mientkiewicz played for the Twins on July 30, and for the visiting Red Sox on July 31. July 6, 2001: Lawton Has Four-Game Multiple Extra-Base Hit Streak Matt Lawton connected for a home run and a double in a 5-4 Twins win over the Reds at home in the Dome on this date in 2001. It was his fourth consecutive game with multiple extra-base hits, establishing a Twins record. In a remarkable coincidence, Torii Hunter also homered and doubled, beginning his own four-game multi-extra-base hit streak that same day. They are still the only two such streaks in team history. Crazy, right? July 6, 2007 (Game 1): Kubel Has Seven-RBI Game Left fielder Jason Kubel went 2-for-3 with two RBI-sac flies, a grand slam (driving in Mauer, Morneau, and Hunter), and a bases-loaded walk in a 20-14 win over the White Sox in Chicago. It was the 15th seven-plus RBI game in Twins history. July 6, 2007 (Game 2): Morneau Hits Three Homers First baseman Justin Morneau had the fourth three-home run game in Twins history (and the first since Tony Oliva 34 years earlier in 1973) in a 12-0 win over the White Sox in Chicago on this date in 2007. Interesting Fact: There have now been 18 seven-plus RBI games, and 13 three-home run games in Twins history, but the two events have never coincided. Finally, happy birthday to my sister Liz today :) View full article

The Twins Almanac for June 30th • Second pinch-hit grand slam of the season • Single-game stolen base record • Another 3,000th hit at the Metrodome • And Brian Dozier's historic extra-base hit streak Image courtesy of © RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports June 30, 1970: Second Pinch-Hit Grand Slam of the Season Rick Renick hit the Twins' second pinch-hit grand slam of the season on this date in 1970. It's the only time the Twins have hit two pinch-hit grand slams in a season. Rich Reese hit the first on June 7. Reese hit a team-record three pinch-hit grand slams during his career—August 3, 1969; June 7, 1970; and July 9, 1972. June 30, 1976: Hisle Steals Four Bases Twins right fielder Larry Hisle went 3-for-4 with a walk, and established a team single-game record by stealing four bases in a 4-2 loss to the Royals in Bloomington on this date in 1976. Hisle stole a career-high 31 bases in 1976. June 30, 1995: 3,000th Hit Cleveland designated hitter Eddie Murray connected for this 3,000th hit at the Metrodome on this date in 1995. It was a ground-ball single to right in the sixth off starter Mike Trombley. (Cleveland won 4-1.) Three players reached the 3,000-hit milestone at the Metrodome over an eight-year period. Dave Winfield got his 3,000th hit off Dennis Eckersley at the Dome less than two years earlier, on September 16, 1993. And here's a Fun Fact: When Cal Ripken Jr. got his 3,000th hit at the Metrodome on April 15, 2000, Eddie Murray was right there to greet him as the Orioles first base coach. And Mike Trombley earned the save for Baltimore in that game. June 30, 2016: Dozier Extra-Base Hit Streak Second baseman Brian Dozier tied the American League record with an extra-base hit in his 11th-straight game on this date in 2016. It was a homer in a 6-5 loss in Chicago. The second-longest extra-base hit streaks in Twins history were eight by Tony Oliva in 1969 and Harmon Killebrew in 1970. The MLB record is 14 by Hall of Famers Paul Waner in 1927 and Chipper Jones in 2006. View full article

I'm curious what that emblem is in the middle of Denard's bat. Hard to tell for sure, but looks like that might be a model I13, which is a big bopper of a bat!

June 29th has been quite an eventful day in Twins history. Read my notes featuring Moonlight Graham, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Bobby Darwin, Nolan Ryan, Andre David, Jack Morris, old friend Jim Eisenreich, Joe Mauer, Denard Span, and Nowthen Knights manager Terry Olson. Image courtesy of © Jody Gomez-USA TODAY Sports June 29, 1905: Moonlight Makes Lone MLB Appearance 27-year-old Archibald "Moonlight" Graham got into his only major league game with the New York Giants on this date in 1905, playing right field for half an inning. He did not get a defensive chance or an at-bat. The North Carolina native went on to practice medicine in Chisolm, MN, for over 50 years. 1976 Sauk Rapid graduate and St. Cloud State all-time great Bob Hegman played half an inning at second base for the eventual World Series Champion Royals on August 8, 1985. Like Moonlight, Hegman did not touch the ball or get an at-bat. June 29, 1936: Birthdate of Harmon Killebrew Twins legend and fourth-ballot Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew was born in Payette, Idaho, on this date in 1936. Comment at the bottom of the page with your favorite memory, stat, or fun fact about the great man. June 29, 1969: Oliva Gets Eight-Straight Hits Right fielder Tony Oliva collected eight consecutive hits in a doubleheader in Kansas City on this date in 1969, including a 5-for-5 performance with two home runs, a double, and five RBI in Game 2. One of those home runs was a 517-footer that flew over the upper deck and out of Municipal Stadium. He reportedly nearly had a three-run game, with his double bouncing off the top of the wall. He was lifted for pinch-runner Charlie Manuel in the eighth. Otherwise, he would have had a chance for a six-hit game when his spot came up again in the ninth. (Of course, only one player in Twins history has six hits in a game.) I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that Tony O's eight straight hits in one day is a team record. Bonus Trivia: Oliva hit a pinch-hit grand slam on this date in 1975. June 29, 1973: Grand Slam Beats Ryan Bobby Darwin hit an eighth-inning grand slam off Nolan Ryan for the only runs in a 4-0 Twins win in Anaheim on this date in 1973. June 29, 1984: Rookie Homers on First MLB Swing 26-year-old right fielder Andre David's first major league swing resulted in a two-run homer off Hall of Famer Jack Morris on this date in 1984. It was the only home run of David's career. June 29, 1987: Eisenreich's Return to Minnesota In just his fourth game back after being out of the majors dealing with previously undiagnosed Tourette's Syndrome, St. Cloud legend Jim Eisenreich got his first hit with the Royals, doubling as part of a game-winning rally in his first-ever game against the Twins on this date in 1987. Eisenreich went 4-for-11 (.364) with three doubles, a home run, five RBI, and three runs scored in the series, including a pinch-hit walk-off double in Game 3. (He was also caught stealing once.) June 29, 2007: Mauer's First Grand Slam Joe Mauer hit his first career grand slam off Justin Verlander in an 11-1 win in Detroit on this date in 2007. Johan Santana earned the win for the Twins. Mauer hit four career home runs off Verlander—his most against any pitcher. Bonus Trivia: Mauer appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on this date in 2009. June 29, 2010: Span Ties Triples Record Twins center fielder Denard Span tied the modern (since 1900) record with three triples on this date in 2010, going 4-for-4 with a walk, five RBI, and two runs scored altogether in an 11-4 win over the Tigers at Target Field. Ken Landreaux also hit three triples in a game in 1980. And last but not least, happy birthday to Nowthen Knights manager Terry Olson. View full article

1976 All-Star Game

Wouldn't want the defense to get bored.

All these years later, I promise more people are still talking about that game than that pool :)

I wasn't born yet, but sounds like the offense was firing on all cylinders to that point during the 1977 season.

“Rod Carew Jersey Day” on June 26, 1977 is one of the most noteworthy regular season games in Twins history. Carew himself set a team single-game record for runs scored that afternoon, while famously raising his batting average above .400. A seldom-remembered right fielder set the team single-game RBI record. And a young man who later became a prolific baseball history writer and Twins official scorer climbed the right-field foul pole! Image courtesy of © Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports On a sweltering summer afternoon, the only sellout crowd of the season packed Met Stadium for "Rod Carew Jersey Day," and Rodney certainly rose to the occasion, going 4-for-5 with a home run, raising his average to .403 to the elation of the capacity, sun-soaked crowd. Carew also knocked in six runs and scored a team record five runs in the 19-12 win over the White Sox. Carew finished the season batting an incredible .388 and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player. Tim Teufel (9/16/83), Paul Molitor (4/24/96), and Luis Rivas (6/4/02) have since tied the team single-game runs scored record. Right fielder Glenn Adams, meanwhile, set a team record with eight runs batted in. He had six RBI after just two innings, on a two-run double and grand slam. He went 4-for-5 altogether, adding an RBI single and sac fly. (Adams drove-in Carew three times in the game.) Randy Bush tied Adams' team record with eight RBI in Texas on May 20, 1989. Whereas Adams had six of his RBI in the first two innings, Bush collected six RBI in the final two innings, with three-run homers in the eighth and ninth. The "Rod Carew Jersey Day" game is famous for another reason. Current Twins official scorer and award-winning baseball history writer Stew Thornley climbed the right-field foul pole! One final note on the Carew game: 1969 St. Paul Murray graduate Tom Johnson entered the game with one out in the top of the third and pitched the remainder of the game (6.2) innings to earn the win in relief. Johnson was stellar out of the bullpen throughout the 1977 season, earning 16 wins (all in relief) and 15 saves. Those 16 wins were ninth-most in the American League, and 15 saves were seventh-most. I wonder how many guys have finished top-10 in both wins and saves in the same season. View full article

DO NOT tell this to Jeff Frye 🤣

You must have hated Brian Harper.

Catchers have been framing pitches since the 1800s.

It's the birthday of one of the best pitchers to ever grow up in Minnesota, and on this date in 1950 a future Twins all-time great made his Minnesota townball debut. Happy Birthday, Dave Goltz Happy 75th birthday to 1967 Rothsay graduate Dave Goltz, born in nearby Pelican Rapids. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Twins as part of the team's 50th anniversary celebration in 2010. He threw a remarkable 70-pitch two-hit shutout on October 1, 1974. He pitched a one-hit shutout on August 23, 1977, and tied for the American League lead with 20 wins that season. Happy Birthday, Jim Deshaies Happy 64th birthday to Jim Deshaies. The Twins signed him as a free agent twice. They signed the 33-year-old veteran prior to the 1993 season, traded him that August, and then signed him again prior to the 1994 season. His 25 starts during the strike-shortened '94 season were in a 10-way tie for the American League lead. As a rookie with the Astros in 1986, he became the only player in the entire 20th century to strike out the first eight batters to start a game. June 23, 1950: Worthington Makes Minnesota Townball Debut Fresh off of pitching for Alabama in the College World Series, Al Worthington beat Pipestone in his Fulda Giants debut on this date in 1950. (He no-hit Wilmont nine days later.) Dick Reusse (Patrick's dad) was the manager of the Fulda townball team, and recruited some marquee talent to the small Minnesota town. Just one year earlier, Reusse had brought Kansas City Monarchs star Hilton Smith to Fulda. Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001—the same class as Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield. In 1950, Reusse went down to the College World Series in Omaha where he recruited Worthington. While in rural Minnesota, Worthington fell in love with and married manager Dick Reusse's niece, Shirley Reusse, who was a lifeguard at Fulda's Seven Mile Lake. Worthington spent 14 years in the majors, including as the Twins first great closer at the end of his career, from 1964 to '69. View full article

Two Minnesotan major leaguers were born on this date in the 1800s, Carl Pohlad purchased the team on this date in 1984, and Twins pitchers had noteworthy games on this date in 1962, 1990, and 2006. June 22, 1879: Birthdate of Jack Zalusky University of Minnesota all-time great and 1903 New York Highlanders (Yankees) catcher Jack Zalusky was born in Minneapolis on this date in 1879. June 22, 1884: Birthdate of Charlie Roy Former Phillies pitcher Charlie Roy was born in Beaulieu, MN on the White Earth Reservation on this date in 1884. He attended the Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. At least two other Minnesotan major leaguers attended Carlisle: Frank Jude and Hall of Famer Charles Albert Bender. June 22, 1962: Pascual Has Big Day at the Plate Pitcher Camilo Pascual went 2-for-4 with a home run, double, three runs batted in, and two runs scored in an 8-3 Twins win over the Angels at Met Stadium on this date in 1962. Earl Battey homered off Angels starter Dean Chance. June 22, 1984: Griffith Sells Twins to Pohlad Billionaire financier Carl Pohlad bought the Twins from Calvin Griffith for a cool $38 million on this date in 1984, almost certainly preventing the team from leaving Minnesota. Donald Trump—who published The Art of the Deal just three years later—actually bid $50 million for the team, but Griffith elected instead to sell the club to Pohlad, leaving millions on the table from The Great Negotiator. June 17–22, 1990: Rookie Beats Cy Young Winner Twice 26-year-old rookie Kevin Tapani beat reigning Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen twice over a six-day span in 1990. If you believe in WAR, Tap actually led the 1991 World Series Champion Twins win a 6.8 WAR during the regular season (per Baseball Reference). June 22, 2006: Rookie Outduels Rocket Rookie Francisco Liriano outdueled Roger Clemens in a much-hyped game on ESPN on this date in 2006. It was Clemens' first game back after coming out of retirement for the third time. How far would the 2006 Twins have gone in the Postseason had Liriano not been injured? View full article