What is the story about?
Results
- R1: Jack Morris Game 7 Shutout 1991
- R2: Kirby Puckett Game 6 Dominance 1991
- R3: First World Series championship 1987
- R4: AL Champions Metrodome welcome 1987
- R5: Game 163 wild victory 2009
- R6: Mudcat’s World Series must-win 1965
- R7: Harmon’s 500th homer 1971
- R8: Final day AL Central title 2006
- R9: Kirby Puckett’s Weekend for the Ages 1987
- R10: Breaking the Playoff Curse (TM) 2023
- R11: The Donnie & Hrbie Show 1987
- R12: Johan Santana in 17K 2007
- R13: Mauer’s Final Moment 2018
- R14: Dozier’s Comeback Capper 2015
- R15: Thome is my Homie 2010
- R16: A Killer Clout 1965
- R17: Radke-Santana-Lohse Trifecta 2004
In
July of 2004, the SP trio of Brad Radke, Johan Santana, & Kyle Lohse collaborated on a feat that now seems impossible 22 years removed:
Three consecutive complete game shutouts! For comparison, the Twins had 3 CG SHO’s from 2018-2025 (Jose Berrios, Joe Ryan, & Pablo Lopez).
The newbie: what we need is more Kubel!
Jacque Jones jolts contraction outta here (2002)
- The 2001 offseason was undoubtedly the worst in Twins franchise history. After MLB Commissioner Bud Selig floated the contraction idea and Twins owner Carl Pohlad was more than willing to take the payout, it took a county judge to restore order. Jacque Jones restored between-the-white-lines order by homering in the first PA of the 2002 season! I wasn’t able to locate the audio, but Dick Bremer’s “And I hope it lands in Milwaukee!” call remains iconic.
Denard Span’s triple takes the top off (2008)
- In the final week of the 2008 season, the Twins needed to sweep the Chicago White Sox at the Metrodome to even have a fighting chance at the AL Central crown. After taking the first two games, MN fell behind big in the finale—but kept battling back. In the bottom of the 8th, Denard Span bounced a ball down the first base line that scored Carlos Gomez to tie the game and propelled this Twinkie Town writer airborne. Alexi Casilla would later give the Twins the victory, but Span’s big blow was the buoyant moment.
Francisco Liriano out-duels Roger Clemens (2006)
- Francisco Liriano’s 2006 run was perhaps the greatest pitching stretch in franchise history. His signature moment that season was out-dueling Roger Clemens in Houston on June 22, 2006. With The Rocket (5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) in the midst of his home-state comeback, Liriano (8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) outclassed the veteran in his own back yard. While by no means Frankie’s best single-game performance of ‘06, beating Kody’s Dad put him on the national stage.
No Way, Jose! (2024)
- On July 3, 2024, Jose Miranda singled in the eighth inning of a blowout loss to the Tigers. Ho hum. But then, something inexplicable happened: Miranda reached base the next twelve consecutive at-bats—13 if you count a HBP mixed in! In a sport where 0-fer slumps can sometimes last weeks, Jose managed to find his way on base—without the benefit of a BB—a baker’s dozen worth of times in a row.
Kubel Salamis a Cycle (2009)
- By all accounts, Jason Kubel was one of the most unassuming guys to ever don an MLB uniform—but he had a flair for the dramatic. On April 17, 2009, he doubled in the first inning, singled in the 3rd, & tripled in the 6th. After whiffing in the 7th, it looked like his cycle bid was denied and the Twins would waste his plate efforts. Down 9-4 heading into B8, the Twins put together a ferocious comeback that got Kubel to the dish with the bases juiced and the score 9-7. Not for long: a mammoth grand slam secured the cycle for Kubes!
