Article: Twins vs. Yankees (Part 3): A Twin Defects To The Damn Yankees

[John Bonnes]

Following Harmon Killebrew's historic home run versus the Yankees in 1965, the Twins competed for postseason spots annually for the next half dozen years. But they didn't return to the postseason until 1969 when they won the AL West under new and controversial manager Billy Martin, a former Yankee. Martin only managed the Twins that one year, as he was fired after several internal disagreements with the team and organization that included once incident in which he punched out his own starting pitcher.The Yankees, meanwhile struggled for a decade. They returned to relevance in the late 1970s thanks to a new economic development in Major League Baseball: free agency. Fueled by free agents like Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson, they returned to the postseason under argumentative manager, Billy Martin, winning two World Series.

 

However, their window was shutting in the early 80s, just as the core of the next competitive Twins team was coming together. The Twins also won two World Series over the next decade - just in time to fade for another Yankees dynasty.

 

That dynasty began May 29, 1995 when a rookie shortstop named Derek Jeter was called up to play with the Yankees. He joined a bumper crop of other homegrown talent such as Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and Mariano Rivera to form the core of championship teams for almost two decades. The Yankees made the playoffs for thirteen straight years and seventeen of the next eighteen seasons. From 1996 through 2000, they won the World Series four times in five years and one more time the next decade.

 

The Twins, meanwhile, had lost their mojo when Kirby Pucket lost the vision in his right eye. The losing became too much for star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch. Despite having recently signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Twins, Knoblauch demanded a trade to a more competitive team. Terry Ryan accommodated him, sending him to the Yankees for a package of four prospects. Knoblauch led off for the Yankees and helped them win three of those championships from 1998-2000.

 

Soon after, the Twins started their own return to relevance, helped in part by the package of prospects that they had received from the Yankees, which included shortstop Cristian Guzman and pitcher Eric Milton. Along with a their own homegrown talent such as Doug Mientiewicz, Corey Koskie, Jacque Jones, AJ Pierzynski and Torii Hunter, they stormed to the top of the AL Central in 2001. Fans started returning to the Metrodome, especially on nights where they Twins had deep discounts for students or sold hot dogs for $1.

 

Ever since he had left the Twins, Knoblauch had endured boos in the Metrodome. However, late in his Yankees career, he was also enduring a case of "the yips" - he suddenly couldn't throw accurately to first base from his position at second base. Still valuable as a leadoff presence for the Yankees, Knoblauch was moved to left field in 2001. All those ingredients came together on May 2^nd of 2001 to put Knoblauch in the proximity of the young, raucous Metrodome party crowd, loaded with beer and dollar dogs.

 

In the fifth inning, Knoblauch was greeted with a handful hot dogs thrown from the bleachers but all hell broke loose in the sixth. Dogs, plastic beer bottles and coins rained down on left field towards the Damn Yankee. Yankees coach Joe Torre responded by pulling his team from the field. The Twins responded by having legendary public announcer Bob Casey scold the fans. "If this trouble does not stop in left field, this game will be forfeited and the Yankees will win," chided Casey. "NOW QUIT THAT."

 

The possibility of forfeiting a game to the Damn Yankees helped to restore sanity. So did Twins manager Tom Kelley walking Knoblauch out to left field. During the game, 40 fans were evicted, and although there was a small recurrence in the 8th inning, order was restored.

 

The "Knoblauch Hot Dog Game" coincided with the end of the Yankees series of World Championships, although they would continue to challenge for that title annually. It also coincided with the rise of the Twins after a decade's worth of dismal results, and ushered in a decade of division championships.

 

But it also may have jinxed that next decade, as the Damn Yankees became the bane of the Twins - and especially new manager Ron Gardenhire's - existence.

 

Next: A New Manager And The Damn Yankees

 

Previously:

Twins vs Yankees (Part 1): The Rise Of The Damn Yankees

Twins vs Yankees (Part 2): How Killebrew Killed The Damn Yankees

 

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[glunn]

Another great article in this series.  Thanks, John.

[theBOMisthebomb]

I don't support unruly behaviour at sporting events and throwing bottles is dangerous - but Knoblauch was just irritating.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Thought this article was going to be about Roy Smalley or Butch Wynegar. (Although I guess neither of those two demanded their trade to the Yankees.)

 

Great work as usual, John!

[Otto von Ballpark]

I was at that game.  $5 general admission student tickets for the LF home run porch!  Makes me miss the Dome...

[70charger]

 

I was at that game.  $5 general admission student tickets for the LF home run porch!  Makes me miss the Dome...

 

Did you throw hot dogs? Be honest, now.

[Zachary]

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/d5/a6/d6/d5a6d694e5cf3a5d362a73d3ed77b52b.jpg

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Did you throw hot dogs? Be honest, now.

Nope.  Consumed many, though.

 

Actually I am not sure if any hot dogs were actually thrown, I just remember balled-up foil hot dog wrappers.  Maybe some still had a little 'dog left in them, I suppose.

 

Paul O'Neill claimed that "golf balls, pencils and coins" were also directed at him in RF, although that claim always seemed a bit dubious to me.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Interesting to note that it was the final of a 3-game series.  Knoblauch played LF in the first two games too without any major incident.  The power of the student section!  (And abundant foil hot dog wrappers.)

 

The general admission LF student tickets lasted through at least 2002, if not 2003 too, so they must not have viewed it as too big of an issue.  (Once those seats became more profitable as reserved seating, the student tickets were moved to the upper deck.)

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Paul O'Neill claimed that "golf balls, pencils and coins" were also directed at him in RF, although that claim always seemed a bit dubious to me.

Uh, okay. I know that whenever I'm heading to the ballpark, this is the first thing that comes to mind:

 

[HitInAPinch]

Another great article, John.

 

I was never so proud of the Twins when Tom Kelley walked Knoblauch out to left, started motioning to the fans in the cheap seat to settle down and then pointed out to Metrodome security the unruly culprits and they got marched out.  I miss Tom......