Twins Trivia March 1, 2011
March 1, 2011
Who was the manager for the Twins when they won the American League pennant in 1965?
Last month’s trivia question was ‘Who did Tom Kelly replace as Twins skipper during the 1986 season?’
The answer was Ray Miller.
Trivia – February 2, 2011
February 2, 2011
Who did Tom Kelly replace as Twins skipper during the 1986 season?
On this day: April 27, 1994
April 27, 2010
Scott Erickson through the first no-hitter in the Metrodome in front of 17,988 fans. The feat was the first for the Twins in 27 years when Dean Chance through a no-hitter in the second game of a double header on August 25, 1967 against the Indians.
Erickson did not have a particularly flawless outing with only five strike outs and giving up four walks as well as hitting a batter.
The 26-year old right-hander kept his cool in the 9th after walking two batters with two outs. He was able to get Brewer’s left fielder Greg Vaughn to fly out for the last inning of the game. It wasn’t without it’s drama, as shortstop Pat Meares and leftfielder Alex Cole converged on the play and very nearly collided before Cole made the grab.
Erickson played with the Twins from 1990 to 1995 when he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. In 2000, Erickson was named to People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful People at the age of 32.
In 2004 Erickson married sportscaster Lisa Guerrero. He retired from baseball at the beginning of the 2007 season after being released by the New York Yankees.
On this day: April 21, 1961
April 21, 2010
The inaugural baseball game of the Minnesota Twins was played on this date in 1961 against the Washington Senators. The game was played before over 24,000 fans at the Metropolitan Stadium and ended in a loss.
It happens that the Washington Senators were the team that replaced the new Twins team in our nations capital of Washington. The Minnesota Twins were still legally the Washington Baseball Club, Inc as Calvin Griffith had not yet drawn up the incorporation papers since the teams move to Minnesota.
According to he Associated Press writer George Moses and other sources, the day was fraught with disappointments for the new organization.
The Twins organization had hoped to sell out the Metropolitan Stadium that opening day, but attendance was about 7,000 less then the 30,000 capacity. The lower attendance was attributed to the weather which was recorded as fair skies with a high of 64 and winds out of the west at 8 mph.
There was trouble before the game even started when the teams owner Calvin Griffith was denied entry into the press box initially because he lacked the proper credentials.
The opposing team was unable to find the correct gate before the game, which delayed them 20 minutes.
The US Flag was flown at half-staff for the duration of the game because of an issues getting the flag raised by then Commissioner of baseball Ford Frick during the pregame ceremonies. Even with the efforts of others, the flag was stuck mid mast and unable to fly a top the flag pole.
When the game began, the Twins quickly gave up two runs in the first inning to the Senators, one of which was a solo shot by Dale Long. This would be the first Major League home run at the Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota Twin Don Mincher knocked in two runs with a home run in the fourth, thus securing his place in history for hitting the first home run in the franchises history.
The Twins ended up losing the game to the Senators 5-3 which moved them out of first place which was shared by Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees who shared a record of 5-1.
Baseball Reference Standings and Games on Friday, April 21, 1961
On this day: April 17, 2009
April 17, 2010
On this day in 2009, Jason Kubel hit for the cycle in an 11 to 9 win against the LA Angels.
Kubel doubled in the first inning with two outs on a line drive to center fielder Tori Hunter and scored Justin Morneau.
Kubel then singled in the third inning with a line drive to right field.
In the sixth inning, Kubel drilled a four-seam fast ball into right field again, only this time for a triple.
In the seventh inning Kubel was struck out by reliever Jose Arredondo for the third out of the inning, but redeemed himself the next inning hitting a two out, grand slam home run to right center field off of pitcher Jason Bulger. The home run scored Nick Punto, Denard Span and Justin Morneau and gave Kubel the cycle.
