Twins Release Luis Tiant
After just 18 games with the team, the Twins release pitcher Luis Tiant. He had previously been an All-Star in Cleveland, and would go on to become a Red Sox all-time great.
Category: This Date in Twins History
Twins Acquire Gladden, Release Hatcher
The Twins release fan-favorite Mickey Hatcher and acquire the much more dynamic Dan Gladden from San Francisco in exchange for two prospects and a player to be named later, who turned out to be 1982 Bemidji grad and Golden Gophers all-time great Bryan Hickerson.
March 25, 1983: Twins Trade Butera
The Twins and Tigers swap catchers, with Minnesota sending Salvatore Butera to Detroit for minor leaguer Stine Poole and cash money
March 21, 1970: Twins Trade Grzenda and Walters for Alyea
Alyea’s career had gotten off to an Eddie Rosario-esque start, homering on his first major league pitch in 1965. His Twins career, too, got off to a hot start, collecting a team record 7 RBI to back Jim Perry on Opening Day. He went on to drive in a remarkable 19 runs in Perry’s first four starts of the season.
Puckett Passes Away
The day after suffering a massive stroke at his home in Arizona, Twins all-time great and 2001 Hall of Fame inductee Kirby Puckett passes away. He was just 45 years old.
February 19, 1985: Twins Acquire Smalley—Again
The Twins trade first baseman Randy Johnson and outfielder Ron Scheer to the White Sox for infielder Roy Smalley. The Twins had originally acquired Smalley in the 1976 trade that sent Bert Blyleven and Danny Thompson to the Texas Rangers.
February 20, 1987: Twins Acquire Newman
Newman played in 110 games in 1987, starting 75, splitting time pretty evenly between second base and shortstop. One of my all-time favorite “fun facts,” however, is that he also started two games as the 1987 World Series champions’ designated hitter.
February 11, 1985: Hrbek Cashes In
Coming off the best season of his career, the Twins sign 1978 Bloomington Kennedy High School grad Kent Hrbek to a new five-year, $6 million contract, making him the first player in team history scheduled to make a million dollars a year.
January 16, 2001: Winfield and Puckett Elected to Hall of Fame
Former Twins Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield are elected to the Hall of Fame, both on their first ballot. It was the fourth time that former teammates were elected by the writers in the same year.
January 12, 2013: Ryan Receives Genovese Award
Twins GM Terry Ryan receives the George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation. The Twins drafted Ryan in 1972…
January 8, 1991: Carew Elected to Hall of Fame
Seven-time AL Batting Champ Rod Carew becomes the 21st first-ballot Hall of Famer, elected alongside Gaylord Perry and Ferguson Jenkins. Remarkably, a staggering 42 members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America did not vote for Carew…
Paul Molitor
1974 Cretin High School grad and Golden Gophers all-time great Paul Molitor is elected to the Hall of Fame alongside legendary closer Dennis Eckersley, both on their first ballots. Molitor appeared on 85.2% of ballots, meaning a staggering 75 members of the BBWAA were complete ignoramuses…
January 5, 2011: Blyleven Elected to Hall of Fame
On his 14th ballot, Twins all-time strikeout leader (2,035) Bert Blyleven is elected to the Hall of Fame with the support of 79.7% of voters…