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Michael (ClassicMNTwins)

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Blog Entries posted by Michael (ClassicMNTwins)

  1. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    Yes, I'm not sure what's more unbelievable - the fact that the
    Twins could score five round-trippers in the same inning, or the fact that stuff like the scene below made it past the network censors in 1966. Be that as it may, I always enjoy a lookback on the great Twins feats of yesteryear, in addition to childhood TV guilty pleasures. 
    Far be it from me to resort to clickbait; you'll hopefully get the connection between the powerhouse Twins lineup of the mid-1960s and that godawful, campy Batman series of the same era. God bless you, Catwoman Julie Newmar, and your fashion sense (though very suspect knowledge of advanced stats - a jailable offense in my book).
     
     

     
    Officer: "Funny. I don't remember seeing
    that one-piece in the Target Field pro shop."


  2. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    It was a sunshiny, spring day like today in Minnesota in 1978 when the California Angels hitter and second baseman Bobby Grich bullrushed Twins pitcher Roger Erickson. What better time for grown men to engage in fisticuffs and flying sucker punches than when Mr. Blue Sky is shining on their labors?
     
    I definitely remembered doing this post lately, like after Miguel Sano was brushed back by the Tigers, and when Bryce Harper and his flowing locks charged Hunter Strickland. I think Bobby Grich saw a young, defenseless fawn in the person of young Roger Erickson, who always looked as if he was 12 years old. His mother never should have allowed him out of the house to play ball with those big, bad grownups.
     
    In retrospect, I'm certain Grich felt that Twins manager Gene Mauch had ordered the brushback, and felt it was time to send him and the Twins a message. The same Mauch, that is, who would be his manager in a couple of years after resigning as Twins manager! Whatever was the case, please go to my blog and take a look at the most popular trending post of the week.
     



  3. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    We saw Kent Hrbek's debut, August 24, 1981 on local TV, and it was about as good as it gets. Go ahead and click on The Sporting News link, and you'll learn how the scout that signed him (Angelo Guiliani),
    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w-Z_5CuiNmw/TWqJbUHlJ8I/AAAAAAAAHVw/4MRb7-4BHl4/s400/1982ToppsTraded044T.jpganother Minneapolitan, was also beside himself. Good times!
  4. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    From the safety of the walls of my study, book and Twins bobbleheads looking down on me in great thought, comes a new post, "It's Official: Senators Announce Move To Minnesota, Oct. 26, 1960." It gives a short glimpse into the intrigue and downright un-transparent (opaque?) nature of the pre-move behavior by Griffith and the American League in 1960.
     
    It was a whole month before anyone ever used the word "Twins" in any context other than that involving Minneapolis and St. Paul. But that's a story for another time (and which is conveniently linked at the beginning of the above piece).
     
     
    I hope you enjoy the read-centric nature of my latest, minor classic.
     
    http://sabr.org/sites/default/files/images/GriffithCalvin.jpg
  5. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    1974 was weird. There was Nixon resigning. The Vietnam War raged on. The heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all-time homerun record. And Nolan Ryan kept on throwing harder than hell, almost scoring a second consecutive season with two no-hitters.
     
    Join old curmudgeonly Grandpa Twins on the back porch, and read Twins Killers! Nolan Ryan No-Hits The Twins, Sept. 28, 1974. Maybe he'll give you a quarter for your trouble...or some old candy from the drawer.
     

  7. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    I slap you silly with Twins and Kennedy Era history, in this re-post of one of my site's favorites. Check the Classic Minnesota Twins! blog for a disgustingly link-laden view of Met Stadium from that day, April 21, 1961.
     
    It will answer, among others, the question "Why didn't Harmon Killebrew play in the very first regular season game ever played in Minnesota?"
     
    "So long, everybody!" - Herb Carneal
  8. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    LAST UPDATED: APRIL 6, 2015 - Originally published 4/2/13 as "
    A Maestro At First: Trading For Vic Power, April 2, 1962" at Classic Minnesota Twins blog 
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YoHhzlKb28Q/VSMxIizyL5I/AAAAAAAAIQQ/fLocM3tj--w/s1600/IMG_4802.JPG


     

    In-season trades are rare occurrences for the Minnesota Twins. And even rarer are those that actually impacted the fortunes positively for the home nine. For Twins fans born around and after 1987, used to low-risk / low-dollar acquisitions* that numb the mind (see
    Chris Speier, 1984, Bret Boone, 2005), the in-season pickups of ShannonStewart (2003) and Kendrys Morales (2014) stood out as the exceptions. They captured the imaginations of Twins fans in terms of their audacity and potential, even if their outcome didn't exactly live up to the hype.


    *Trade, waiver, and free-agent acquisitions are thrown into the same kettle for the purposes of this post
     
    But rarities like these haven't always been the case in Twins Territory.
     
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HoIgxU5n1w0/VSMw5UD_1FI/AAAAAAAAIQI/qnmpdzpZzx8/s1600/Vic%2BPower%2BOn%2BBench.jpg
     
    "Hey there!"
     
    The Twins in the 1960s had at their disposal an astute gaggle of bird dog scouts, and long-time employees like Director of Minor League Operations man Sherry Robertson to assist President Calvin Griffith and his merry band of nepotists and drinking cronies in upgrading the Major League roster. They did this nearly every season in those early years. Which brings us to today's subject, the first major trade in Twins history.
     
    Vic Power was traded along with young reliever Dick Stigman to the Twins from the Cleveland Indians for right hander Pedro Ramos 53 years ago this week, on April 2, 1962. This happened as the team was winding down the '62 spring training schedule, and seemed to address the needs of both teams. At the time, parting with the talented Ramos, a fixture in the '61 starting rotation, was a significant event. He was their second starter, after staff ace Camilo Pascual, and is the trivia answer to "What Twins pitcher is credited with the first regular season win in team history?" Jim Kaat was just coming into his own that season, and would win 18 games. They also had the enigmatic lefty Jack Kralick in house. In Stigman, the Twins were glad to get a promising, young arm. But the "sexy" part of this transaction was obvious...
     

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2C6hQ8aIKhI/UVtmoMJMt6I/AAAAAAAAD7Y/Ln_a8Niakx0/s320/Power+and+Stigman+after+trade.jpg
     
    The news piece below from the 4/3/62 Jefferson City Daily summed up the trade, besides giving a very detailed, honest set of responses from Power himself (born Victor Felipe Pellot Pove). Power was the key acquisition for the Twins, and at age 33, was joining his third organization. In another lifetime, as a Yankee in the early 1950s, he was in line to become the first black player for that organization. But the Bronx Bombers instead tapped Elston Howard for that role, for reasons that are now obvious.
     
    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggLa-UGwRek/UVuYF5LKd2I/AAAAAAAAD7k/gVfjCQvhFF8/s200/Color+Twins+photo.jpg


    A confident, smiling countenance loved by his mother- and perhaps
    many unattached young women in the 1950s and 60s.
     
    He had a reputation for marching to the beat of his own drummer, and was not necessarily the "company man" preferred by management. He was flashy in his dress, as well as the automobiles he drove. He was glib and candid, much to the consternation of his employers. He was conspicuous for enjoying the company of white women. And, maybe worst of all, he [GASP] made putouts at first with a sweeping, one-handed stab - unorthodoxy and panache frowned upon by the baseball lords of the day.
     
    Each of the above infractions were decided liabilities for dark-skinned players who desired stable employment before Civil Rights legislation came into effect.
     



    Twins Manager Sam Mele, on the other hand, stated the case for acquiring Power (to whom I devoted a "Remembering Vic Power" post some time back) in this piece:
     





    There was a youth movement (Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 4/2/62) underway at The Met. Besides now having the green-as-a-pea kids third baseman Rich Rollins and second baseman Bernie Allen on the roster to start the season, Minnesota also had the mercurial Zoilo Versalles returning at short. Manager Sam Mele went on in the article to say "Power should be a steadying influence on the kids. They won't have to worry about making perfect throws. If it's within Power's reach, he'll come up with the ball." Griffith's concerns about his infield defense were legit, as the team ranked 8th (ten team AL) in defense in 1961; in Power, he now had his "Mother Hen" to corral those youthful slings to first.
     
    Power himself had a little extra to add in this account, showing he was not shy in expressing pride and inner confidence for his talents:
     

     

    The Brainerd Daily Dispatch revealed the Twins new mindset for what would constitute their daily lineup to begin the 1962 season. Anybody surprised at who's slotted for left field, replacing Jim Lemon? Some big, ox-strong kid, name of Harmon Killebrew:
     


     
    The trade would indeed benefit the Twins in their infield defense that year, besides elevating their place in the standings. They went on to post a 91-71 record, second in the league, moving them a step closer to respectability. Power would win his fifth Gold Glove Award, and rate 21st in the 1962 MVP voting. He would also play a pivotal role in the first Twins no-hitter by Jack Kralick (story at link) on August 26 that year.
     
    But that was just another day at the office for Victor Felipe Pellot Povet.
     
    More insight about Power and his role as a trailblazer can be gleaned at this very cool Baseball Hall Of Fame article.
     
    As the old professional at the mic, Herb Carneal, would end his broadcasts, I also say:
    "So long, everybody!"
     
    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYhaX6bxP-E/UVw4Z9xu_kI/AAAAAAAAD8M/AYVpGOisYjk/s640/Vic+Power+pickin+it.jpg
     
    ....and is there a fellow who wouldn't be proud of that assertion?
  9. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    I use "Eddie Rosario, Glory Hog" as if it's a bad thing. Far from it.
     
    Consider me your friendly, neighborhood baseball barber, if they still exist. I coat and lather you with Baseball Ref homer and hit charts until your head spins (if anyone cares, I'm going into the 12-step process for souls imbibing on the play index search).
     
    Classic Minnesota Twins will get back to posting vintage Twins photos like there's nobody's business again soon, dispense with all this new-fangled hullaballoo.
     

  10. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    They were the young saplings, mere waifs on the hill for the Twins, but still announcing their presence with authority. It's a Jose Berrios & Dominating Starts By Young Twins Pitchers post at Classic Minnesota Twins. The fascinating eye-candy GIF of Jose waxing on Carlos Gonzalez on May 18, 2017 is worth the price of a visit, as well as the thought-provoking BBRef game-finder table serving as further proof of just HOW amazing young Blyleven was at a young age.
     
    Enough of my bull, the rest is yours...with thanks to Gleeman for putting me onto to the search itself.
  11. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    It's a writer's clinic. Or, at least, one make-believe writer (that would be me) taking time out from the "Sano Show" to chat with a real writer, formerly of Bloomington, MN, on his views on some classic Twins players, good baseball books, and his disdain of Derek Jeter worship at "The Tovar Of Bloggers: A Chat With Erik Lundegaard" at Classic Minnesota Twins!
     



  12. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    Your dose of history from my vat of Twins facts / folklore.
     
    It's the Mickey Mantle Homerun Video, from the game of August 22, 1968.
     
    The Bomber Bully deposited Twins lefty Jim Merritt's curve into the lower, leftfield stands at Metropolitan Stadium, in Bloomington.
     
    More importantly, it was his swan song, his arrivederci to Minnesota fans. Check it out.
     

  13. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JEfj_C7PYOY/VdcNQPwQi1I/AAAAAAAAHtQ/37UwtWtSOew/s1600/1976%2BPROJECT%2BEDDIE%2BBANE%2BFOR%2BBLOG.jpg
     
    On July 4, 1973, Calvin Griffith and his minions did something Twins management hasn't done before or since...they inserted a prized pitching draft pick into a Major League game less than one month after his draft day.
     
    That was never done with Bert. Never with Frankie Sweet Music or Dave Goltz. Or Matt Garza, Brad Radke, etc. There's a reason why some refer to the 70s as "The Wild West Era Of MLB.'
     
    Why on Earth would they have done such a thing?? Read all about it in today's post at Classic Minnesota Twins.
  14. Michael (ClassicMNTwins)
    http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixy8W4PnS0o/UnBluCHW5HI/AAAAAAABGEo/qmhUosz6xq4/s400/Scan_Pic0055.jpg
     
    The end of a successful bubble blow or a difficult-to-swallow salary negotiation pill courtesy of owner Calvin Griffith? I think the latter! For the full story about Bert Blyleven's Bicentennial Year Bird gesture towards the Met Stadium crowd on May 31, 1976, go to my piece, "This Day In Twins History: May 31, 1976-Bert 'Waves Goodbye,'" at Classic Minnesota Twins. It will eventually link you to the full story at my Twins Facebook page.
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