Blix Donnelly
1932 Olivia High School graduate and 1944 World Series hero Sylvester “Blix” Donnelly was born on this date in 1914.
Tim McIntosh
1983 Hopkins High School graduate and University of Minnesota alumnus Tim McIntosh made his major league debut in Milwaukee in a game versus the Minnesota Twins on September 3, 1990, going 0-for-3 as Mark Guthrie hurled a shutout. Three weeks later he homered for his first major league hit.
Brad Hand
2008 Chaska graduate Brad Hand led all major league pitchers with 82 appearances in 2016. He had a career year in 2017, posting a 2.16 ERA, 0.933 WHIP, earning 21 saves, and making his first All-Star team. He also held Twins hitters 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in his first two career appearances versus his hometown team in 2017.
Dan Smith
1987 Apple Valley graduate Dan Smith made 17 appearances with the Texas Rangers between 1992 and ’94.
The Smalley Trade
The Twins trade 1979 All-Star Roy Smalley and 1975 Alexandria High School graduate Gary Serum to the Yankees for Ron Davis, Paul Boris, and Greg Gagne.
Tom Johnson
1969 St. Paul Murray graduate Tom Johnson earned two wins and save in his first three major league appearances with the Twins in 1974.
The Twins Almanac for June
The day-by-day history of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesotan major leaguers.
The Twins Almanac for February
The day-by-day history of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesotan major leaguers.
The Twins Almanac for March
The day-by-day history of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesotan major leaguers.
The Twins Almanac for April
The day-by-day history of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesotan major leaguers.
The Twins Almanac for May
The day-by-day history of the Twins and Minnesotan major leaguers.
April 17, 2010: Mauer Receives MVP Award
After missing the first 22 games of the 2009 season with a lower back injury, Joe Mauer homered on his first swing back from the disabled list. He went on to hit 11 home runs and drive in 32 runs in the month of May. He set career-highs with 28 home runs and 96 RBI on the season, and won his third AL batting title with a .365 average, the best by a catcher in major league history.
April 17, 2009: Kubel Completes Cycle with Grand Slam
Down 9-4 to the Angels in the bottom of the eighth, the Twins score three on Mike Redmond and Denard Span hits. After Brendan Harris (who homered earlier in the game) strikes out for the second out of the inning, the Angels, still clinging to a two-run lead, intentionally walk Justin Morneau to load the bases for Jason Kubel, who …
Ripken’s 3,000th Hit
Cal Ripken Jr. became the 24th player to reach 3,000 hits in a 6-4 Orioles win at the Metrodome on April 15, 2000. Ripken entered the game sitting at 2,997, having collected one hit the night before in a wild Twins come-from-behind win. In that game, the Twins trailed 4-9 …
April 9, 2000: Twins & Royals Go Back-to-Back-to-Back
Ron Coomer, Jacque Jones, and Matt LeCroy hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in Kansas City. Royals batters also hit three consecutive homers in the game.
Morris No-Hitter and One-Hitters
1973 Highland Park graduate Jack Morris pitched a no-hitter in Chicago on April 7, 1984. He also pitched three one-hitters in his career, including against the Twins on August 21, 1980.