Results
- R1: Jack Morris 1991 Game 7 Shutout
- R2: Kirby Puckett 1991 Game 6 Dominance
- R3: First World Series championship in 1987
- R4: AL Champions Metrodome welcome in 1987
The 85-win 1987 Minnesota Twins were huge underdogs going into the ALCS against the juggernaut Detroit Tigers. Five games later, however, the Twins were heading back to the Twin Cities as American League
champions for the first time since 1965!
Welcoming them back to Mpls was a capacity crowd at the Metrodome. Not to see a game, mind you, but simply to cheer their boys of summer onto the World Series in what amounted to a gigantic pep rally.
To a man, every member of that ‘87 championship squad states that as the season’s most special moment.
The newbie: Kirby goes ham in Milwaukee.
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.
Killer Crushes #500 (1971)
- On August 10, 1971, Minnesota masher Harmon Killebrew took Mike Cuellar deep in the 1st inning at Metropolitan Stadium. That home run gained Harm admittance into the 500 Home Run Club—only the 10th occupant of that roundtable at the time. The clout cemented The Killer as an all-time slugger.
Mudcat’s World Series Must-Win (1965)
- In 1965, the Twins appeared in their first World Series. Things were looking great—two wins at Metropolitan Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers—until the series shifted to Chavez Ravine where the Twins could not record a victory. So, Game 6 was a must-win back at The Met and The Mudcat (Jim Grant) was more than up to the task. Not only did he pitch a full 9 innings of one-run ball, but he pulled a Shohei Ohtani and homered in the 6th to put the game on ice and ensure another day of baseball in ‘65.
Kirby Puckett takes Milwaukee (1987)
- One could argue that Kirby Puckett became a true star on a late-August 1987 weekend in Milwaukee. On Saturday, 8/29, he went 4-5 with 2 HR. The Sunday 8/30 encore: 6-6, 2 2B, & 2 HR. If you are counting along at home, that’s 24 total bases in less than 24 hours! Puck raised his average from .315 to .328 in that short span and his storied career was off to the races.
