Richard Hubbard
Richard Hubbard served as principal of St. Francis High School for 30 years, from 1962 to ’92, but how many of his students knew he briefly played professional baseball?
The Twins Almanac for April 17
April 17, 1965Kaat Pitches Shutout without Strikeout Jim Kaat becomes the only pitcher in team history to throw a shutout without a single strikeout. Kitty gave up seven hits and a walk in the 3-0 Twins win over Cleveland at Met Stadium. Allan Anderson pitched a complete game without a …
Moryn Breaks Up Jones’s No-Hit Bid
Playing for the Cubs on April 16, 1960, St. Paul native Walt Moryn spoiled Giants pitcher Sam Jones‘s no-hit bid with a two-out pinch-hit homer in the eighth. It was the only hit Jones surrendered in the 6-1 Giants win. It was Jones’s second start of the season. In his first …
Kirby Puckett
Ten-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove winner Kirby Puckett was the eighth player in history to collect four hits in his major league debut. He is one of eight players in history to lead their league in hits for three consecutive seasons, and one of only four players with two 6-hit games (the only one since 1935).
Johnny Blanchard
Johnny Blanchard, perhaps the most famous backup catcher in baseball history, played in five World Series, hitting .400 with two home runs in the ’61 Series.
Harmon Killebrew
In his fourth damn year of eligibility the Baseball Writers’ Association of America finally elects Harmon Killebrew to the Hall of Fame…
Harry Elliott
1942 Watertown graduate and Golden Gophers all-time great Harry Elliott had some prodigious minor league seasons, but his chances of a significant major league career were hampered by military service during World War II.
Wayne Hattaway
Longtime Twins organization equipment manager, trainer, and clubhouse attendant Wayne “Big Fella” Hattaway got his first job in baseball in 1952 at age 12, serving as bat boy for his hometown Mobile Bears.
Bill Davis
Richfield graduate and Golden Gophers two-sport star Bill Davis’s only major league home run was a two-out 10th-inning pinch-hit walk-off.
Bert Blyleven
Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven recorded 3,701 strikeouts during his 22-year career, fifth-most in major league history behind Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, and 1987 teammate Steve Carlton.
Thome Trivia
Jim Thome hit .314 with 218 hits, 61 home runs, and 156 RBI in 196 career games vs. the Twins. That’s his highest average vs. any team he played at least 30 games against, second-most home runs (66 vs. Detroit), and the most hits and RBI he had against any team.
Doug Corbett
27-year-old rookie Doug Corbett was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 1980. He made his only All-Star team in 1981, and was part of the trade that brought Tom Brunansky to Minnesota in May 1982.
Showboat Fisher
Albany High School alumnus and 15-year pro ballplayer George “Showboat” Fisher‘s best major league season was 1930, going 95-for-254 (.374) in 92 games (59 starts) with the National League Champion Cardinals.
Jim Eisenreich
St. Cloud Tech grad, St. Cloud State all-time great, and 15-year major leaguer Jim Eisenreich was born in St. Cloud on April 18, 1959.
Brant Alyea
Brant Alyea tied the team single-game record with seven RBI in his first game as a Twin in 1970. He went on to drive in 19 runs in Jim Perry’s first four starts of the season. He matched the single-game RBI record again on September 7 of that year, beginning a team record nine-game RBI streak.
Bob “Rocky” Johnson
1954 Edina-Morningside grad Bob “Rocky” Johnson played 874 major league games over parts of 11 seasons with the Kansas City Athletics, Senators, Orioles, Mets, Reds, Braves, Cardinals, and Oakland A’s, hitting .272 with 628 hits and 44 home runs.