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
After four straight dismal seasons, Target Field had become more mausoleum than marvel. The 2015 Twins were a desperately-needed injection of competitive excitement into the fanbase. Nothing personified the upswing more than the heroics of July 10, 2015.
After a furious rally from a 6-1 ninth inning deficit, Brian Dozier found himself at the plate with the chance to tie the game. He didn’t do that—he won it instead!
Per newly-elected Twins Hall of Famer Dick Bremer: “The most electric moment at Target
Field in years!”
The newbie: Harmon heroics!
(Note: I expect this series to continue for 5-6 more weeks. I have plenty of moments/performances to consider, but feel free to drop suggestions in the comments and I’ll take them under advisement!)
Thome christens Target Field (2010)
- When Target Field opened to begin the 2010 season, it was clearly a beautiful new ballpark that the hometown nine excelled in. But it was missing one thing: a signature moment. Try as they might, the Twins could not muster a walk-off victory in front of the sold-out crowds for the first four-and-a-half months. But on August 17, The Man With An Ox In The Batter’s Box finally gave Target Field it’s first magical memory.
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.
A Killer Clout
- Minnesota’s struggles against the Bronx Bombers did not begin in the 2000s. Despite coming over from Washington, D.C. a competitive club, the Twins couldn’t get over the early-1960s Yankees dynasty. That changed in 1965—especially July 11. Trailing by one run heading into the bottom of the ninth in the final game before the All-Star Break, Harmon Killebrew stepped into the batter’s box with Rich Rollins on base. NYY hurler Pete Mikkelsen didn’t stand a chance. MN cruised to a World Series berth post-Break.
