The Twins Almanac
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36-year-old Kirby Puckett held a press conference at the Metrodome to officially announce his retirement on this date in 1996. Cleveland happened to be in town, and Dennis Martinez attended the press conference. Puckett had been hit in the face by a Martinez fastball at the Metrodome in what turned out to be Puckett’s final regular season plate appearance on September 28, 1995. Puckett appeared poised for a big season in 1996, batting .344 in spring training when he woke up on the final day of camp unable to see out of his right eye. He was diagnosed with glaucoma (unrelated to the season-ending hit-by-pitch), and placed on the Injured List for the first time in his career. Four surgeries did nothing to improve his vision before he officially announced his retirement.
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Watch how Trevor Bauer’s teammates reacted after he completed his no-hitter earlier today
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Jim Thome hit one of the most memorable walk-off home runs in Twins history on this date in 2010. The White Sox—trailing the Twins by three games in the Central Division standings—were in town for the first of a three-game series. The Twins jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first against John Danks. Entering the top of the ninth, however, the Twins clung to a 5-4 lead. White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez, hitting in the 8-hole, tied the game on closer Matt Capps’ second pitch of the inning. The White Sox threatened to take the lead, but after intentionally walking Alex Rios to load the bases, Capps induced an inning-ending double play from none other than Paul Konerko. Alexei Ramirez came to the plate again in the tenth, this time with big Jon Rauch on the mound, and this time with a runner in scoring position. Ramirez singled to center, driving in the go-ahead run. Delmon Young led off the bottom the tenth with a single against 2010 All-Star Matt Thornton. Jim Thome then hit Thornton’s 1-0 offering—a belt-high fastball—well over the limestone facade onto the plaza for the first walk-off hit in Target Field history. It was Thome’s 17th home run of the season, and 581st of his career.
The Twins Almanac98,553 Aufrufe • vor 5 Tagen
.@ToriiHunter48 scored on a Henry Blanco sac fly on this date in 2004, bowling over White Sox catcher Jamie Burke to dislodge the ball. Burke spent the night in the hospital and was diagnosed with a "mild concussion." "I feel like a truck hit me," Burke said.
The Twins Almanac138,214 Aufrufe • vor 27 Tagen
Harmon Killebrew delivered one of the all-time great lines from a Hall of Fame induction speech on this date in 1984: "We're not raising grass here; we're raising boys." It took the writers four frickin' ballots to elect Harmon, despite trailing only Babe Ruth on the AL HR list.
The Twins Almanac42,731 Aufrufe • vor 10 Tagen
Miguel Sanó hit this pinch-hit walk-off homer on this date in 2019.
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After failing to receive a suitable contract offer, Rod Carew retired on this date in 1986. Listen to this clip of Rod's on-field interview with Harmon Killebrew after collecting his 3,000th hit off Frank J. Viola, Jr. in 1985. It was later determined that owners had colluded against Carew and other free agents, essentially agreeing not to offer contracts to other teams’ free agents, thereby helping each other retain their own players while keeping salaries low. In 1995, Carew was awarded $782,035.71 in damages for lost wages. Other players affected by the scandal included Jack Morris, Paul Molitor, and Gary Gaetti. Did collusion prevent Morris from being a member of the '87 #MNTwins? He became a free agent following the 1986 season and named the Twins as his first choice of teams to sign with. He met with owner Carl Pohlad and GM Andy MacPhail, and according to Jack, he and Pohlad essentially had a deal. Ultimately, however, the Twins did not sign him, and there's no doubt in Jack's mind that it was due to the collusion scandal.
The Twins Almanac81,587 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
Lonnie Smith shook hands with catcher Brian Harper before the first pitch of the greatest World Series Game 7 ever played. "I don't think I've ever seen a hitter shake hands with a catcher before the first pitch in any game." "Like a heavyweight fight."
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When 21-year-old Kent Hrbek was called up straight from single-A Visalia, it meant he'd be getting home to Minnesota sooner than expected, where his dad had recently been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. First, though, he made his major league debut playing Gehrig's old position at Gehrig's old ballpark.
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Gary Gaetti, Al Newman, and Kent Hrbek turned an unprecedented two triple plays at Fenway Park on this date in 1990. Anyone recognize the pitcher/batter combo on the first one? The next night the Twins tied an AL record by turning six doubles plays. They lost both games 1-0 and 5-4. Fun Fact: Dan Skog hit into a triple play in the Minnoka Grays vs. Rockford Rail Splitters game last night.
The Twins Almanac31,041 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
The #MNTwins traded Carlos Gómez to Milwaukee for 2007 All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy on this date in 2009. After one season, the Twins traded Hardy to Baltimore for diddly squat. In 2021, Gómez was enshrined on the Brewers Wall of Honor and Hardy was inducted into the Oriole's Hall of Fame.
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Happy 53rd birthday to current Loretto Larks townball player Corey Koskie
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This is one of the top-5 greatest plays in the history of baseball. The pitcher throws behind Lenny Randle (🐐). Does Randle charge the mound? No. He lays a bunt down the first-base line and blows up the pitcher when he goes to field it. <chef's kiss>
The Twins Almanac445,634 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren
