Results
- R1: Jack Morris 1991 Game 7 Shutout
George Strait once crooned “you’ve got to have an ace in the hole”. Well, in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, the Twins’ ace was a Black Jack.
A ten-inning shutout of the Atlanta Braves
for St. Paul’s own Jack Morris just might be the single greatest postseason pitching performance of all time. As such, little surprise to see it atop this list.
The newbie: An unlikely clinching after a ferocious comeback.
The last out of the first title (1987)
- “Bouncing ball to Gaetti—throws to Hrbek—and the Twins are baseball’s world champions!”, per Herb Carneal. For the first time in franchise history, Minnesota was on top of the MLB heap.
Puckett’s Pinnacle (1991)
- In the must-win Game 6 of the ‘91 World Series, Kirby Puckett literally said and figuratively embodied his “Get on my back, boys!” pregame preach. First, he plucked one off the plexiglass. Then, his walk-off home run assured fans “we’ll see ya tomorrow night!”. “Touch ‘em all!”, indeed!
Welcome home AL champs (1987)
- After defeating the Detroit Tigers to claim American League superiority in ‘87, MN returned to the Twin Cities to a full Metrodome crowd. Not for Game 1 of the subsequent World Series—but for a “welcome home” rally. Yes, that’s right—Twins fans turned out in force simply to show (and vocalize) their appreciation for the first AL champion Twins squad since 1965.
Game 163 (2009)
- For a certain cohort of Twins fans, this is the single greatest game in franchise history. Orlando Cabrera’s HR—Joe Nathan’s double play—Metrodome magic—clutch Casilla. This bonus baseball contest to clinch the AL Central had it all.
Last Day Division Title (2006)
- On 8/6/06, the Twins were 10.5 GB the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central top spot. Going into Game 162? Tied with the striped cats. After the Twins polished off the Chicago White Sox on the season’s final day, the entire Metrodome crowd stuck around to watch the Tigers lose to the Kansas City Royals on the Jumbotron scoreboard—triggering a celebration as massive as it was unlikely for the Smell ‘Em & Piranha Crew.
