On this day: April 21, 1961
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
Comments
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
