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The Most Important Seasons in Minnesota Twins History

Byron Buxton and Willi Castro Source: Canva Editor

If you step into the long, often unpredictable story of the Minnesota Twins, you find a franchise marked by bursts of triumphs and a loyal following that rarely wavers. For more than sixty years, the team has built a collection of unforgettable moments; some shaped the Twins’ future forever, others burned brightly for a season or two and stayed alive in memory.

From race-to-the-finish dramas and record-breaking streaks to total roster revamps, the seasons that really count have reflected all sides of the American baseball scene. A select few years, if you look back over the records, truly stand out. They help explain how the Twins have come to mean so much to fans in the stadium, and to a whole digital world where fandom is evolving in new ways.

The championship years that changed everything

Think of 1987 in Minnesota sports and one word comes to mind: breakthrough. The Twins, seen by many as underdogs, rattled the baseball world by winning their first World Series since the move from Washington. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, the outcome hung in the balance until Game 7, with the Metrodome packed wall-to-wall. The atmosphere that night, 68,000 strong indoors, still gets talked about by anyone who was there, much like fans today excitedly revisit classic moments through documentaries, memorabilia, or even themed online slots inspired by iconic seasons.

Frank Viola delivered on the mound while Kirby Puckett seemed to will his teammates onward. Fast-forward four years. It happened again, only louder, as the 1991 Twins clashed with the Atlanta Braves in a World Series that remains a favorite for sports historians and cable reruns alike. Jack Morris pitched his way into legend with a ten-inning shutout in the deciding game. Those two years, 1987 and 1991, gave Minnesota more than trophies; they shaped the team’s identity and left no doubt about its place in Major League Baseball’s larger story.

Before and after, early milestones and the rise of big bats

The roots go deeper than those World Series wins. Minnesota’s 1965 team, for example, led by names like Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva, stormed to their very first American League pennant. Those guys racked up 102 wins in a single season, a mark almost never threatened since, then battled the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers in a seven-game World Series thriller. That series slipped away, but 1965 made it clear: the Twins had arrived. Decades later, in 2019, the “Bomba Squad” era brought a very different kind of headline.

Home runs flew out of Target Field as the club shattered Major League Baseball’s single-season record, smacking 307 in all and piling up 101 wins. Modern fans watched, and highlights spread quickly in this new digital scene where team spirit has even found a connection with the ballpark buzz. Even if the postseason run ended briefly, those power-driven months helped fuse Minnesota’s baseball tradition with a digital-age spotlight.

Keeping the fight alive in tough stretches

Some seasons slide under the radar but are no less significant. Take 1970: the Twins took the AL West with 98 victories, largely thanks to Jim Perry’s Cy Young performance and Bert Blyleven already throwing in the rotation. Although the Baltimore Orioles blocked a trip to the World Series, Minnesota showed 1965 was no fluke. Flick back another year. In 1969, under Billy Martin’s fierce leadership, the team again grabbed the AL West crown with 97 wins, boasting league leaders in both average and home runs.

Those years, if you sift through Baseball Reference or old broadcasts, tell the story of a ball club that didn’t just rely on star power. They combined smart player development with standout talent. The pattern repeats: periods of rebuilding lay the groundwork for renewed success, the sort not every team manages, especially when the competition is fierce.

Seasons defined by standout players and unforgettable moments

Of course, not all defining years end with a pennant; sometimes, it is a player’s season that echoes the loudest. Joe Mauer’s 2009 campaign stands tall in this respect. He posted a .365 batting average, the highest ever for an AL catcher on record, and captured the league’s MVP award for his efforts. There was also the thrill of the Twins clinching the AL Central with a nerve-wracking Game 163. These performances, individual or collective, do more than fill trophy cases.

They fuel devotion, grow the franchise myth, and keep old fans talking while new ones get hooked, even as the years and the games change. Minnesota’s franchise 18 postseason appearances and three World Series titles, according to reliable sources, outline a history filled with high points and heartbreak alike. Each meaningful season, whether it brought victory or near-miss, builds something lasting on the field and in digital spaces alive with highlight reels and community discussions.

Encouraging safe and balanced play

As supporting the Twins becomes increasingly digital, whether that involves team news, shared highlights, or other online interactions, the need for responsible habits grows too. Setting spending limits, staying clear about the odds, and noticing unhealthy patterns is essential for anyone drawn into online fandom or gaming.

Major League Baseball and the Twins both encourage fans to blend their passion for baseball with practical awareness when engaging online. In the end, looking after personal well-being makes both the thrill of the game and its digital offshoots more enjoyable for everyone involved.

The most thrilling Minnesota Twins moments throughout history

With so many decorated and celebrated moments studding the historic timeline of the Twins, we’re going to pick only the most thrilling moments today. Unlike some teams in the MLB, there are plenty to choose from for the Twins.

While they might not be at the dizzying heights of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Minnesota Twins have played an enormous role in the development of the MLB in the US. According to the sportsbooks, the Twins go into next season at around +3000 to win the World Series. So, sportsbooks aren’t too confident. We don’t blame them, to be honest.

While the best new betting sites focus on getting new customers through the door and offering a raft of promotions to potential new clientele, it’s unlikely they will put their hard-earned money on the Twins to get their hands on baseball’s biggest prize. WSN has compiled a list of the newest sports betting sites making a name for themselves, including those covering the top MLB markets. So, without further ado, let’s glide through some of the most thrilling moments in Minnesota Twins history.

The 1987 World Series Win

The 1987 World Series compilation video, accompanied by Bonnie Tyler’s immortal “I Need A Hero,” is something Twins fans remember vividly to this day. As far as music and sports videos go, was there a better combination?

It is still such a nostalgic period for many of us – when the team was packed with some of the best baseball talent in the US. While the last few years might have been a rollercoaster, the 1987 World Series win easily goes down as one of the most thrilling in the Twins’ history; the final out is easily one of the most thrilling – for me, it’s in the top three.

The 1987 World Series win was so memorable for many reasons, including the fact that the Twins were outscored in the regular season. Frank Viola, who etched his name into the folklore of Twins history when he was named MVP in the 87 World Series, was no stranger to thrilling baseball moments.

Having risen to the occasion against the Cardinals and proved to be the most impactful player, he was also a big part of one of the most thrilling college baseball games ever, in 1981. It was exhilarating for fans, and considering it was their first in 63 years, most had not seen a Twins team win a World Series.

Kubel’s grand slam

Aside from the World Series wins, which come with that particular level of thrill and excitement, Jason Kubel’s grand slam to complete the cycle was pure baseball cinema. Although it wasn’t in a World Series game, we couldn’t not mention it today.

It’s a moment that is ingrained in the minds of Twins fans, and although I wasn’t there, those who were still have vivid recollections of what was one of the defining moments of that MLB season. Granted, there hasn’t been much to shout about in the modern era, but Kubel’s Grand Slam is undoubtedly up there.

Mauer magic

Sticking to the more contemporary Twins events, if a name resonates with Millennial Twins fans then it has to be Joe Mauer. His 2009 season was one of the most thrilling season-long events that any Twins fan can recall in recent memory.

A sure name on any list of the greatest Minnesota players of all time, Mauer’s 2009 season consisted of 96 RBI and 28 homers. His 2,000 career hit was a special moment that I was lucky to witness – and the around-the-net catch in 2010. While the latter might not have been one of the most thrilling per se, it was one of the most entertaining and unusual.

We won’t forget Joe in a hurry – and now that his number has been retired, there’s a whole new generation of Twins fans finding out just how special a player he was. For us, he was one of the best, so we gave him his own section.

The 1991 World Series

Moving back to the World Series, the Twins’ 1991 team was packed with players who knew how to perform when it mattered most. Kirby Puckett’s triple in the bottom of the first inning put the Twins in the driving seat. His run-saving drive is still one of the best catches of modern MLB.

Puck’s performance in Game 6 in the 1991 World Series is what baseball players dream of when they first sign a pro contract – it was the very definition of an elite MLB performance. It helped define his legacy as one of the most extraordinary Twins ever, and it goes down in baseball history as one of the most thrilling Twins moments.

Not only did he have a pair of base hits and a run-saving catch, the must-win game went into the extra innings. At the bottom of the 11th, his walk-off home run clinched the game for the Twins. This list would not have been worth its salt if we didn’t feature Kirby, but his whole performance in the 1991 World Series truly is the stuff of legend.

Conclusion

Of all the Twins moments we could have touched on today, this list is a fair representation. Sure, some people might be upset that the tie-breaker in 2009 against the Tigers didn’t made the cut, but if we’re sticking to moments and games, then we’re confident that our list today is more than sufficient.

We know many other moments have narrowly missed being chosen, but we’ve covered modern events and delved into the archives to find the right blend of magic Twins moments. Hopefully, over the next decade, a few players or moments will be able to challenge some of the great Twins names that have appeared on today’s list. It’s a shame that two of the Twins’ World Series were grouped so closely in 1987 and 1991. As the drought continues, the player or players who end it will almost certainly find themselves in this conversation. However, judging by the way they have been playing recently, we could be waiting a long time for this to happen.

The Southpaw Legacy: Celebrating Minnesota Twins’ Left-Handed Pitching Greats

Left-handed or “southpaw” pitchers are relatively rare in Major League Baseball (MLB). Approximately 10-15% of pitchers in MLB are left-handed. This scarcity makes left-handed pitchers quite valuable, as they can exploit the platoon advantage against predominantly right-handed hitting lineups.

The Twins have had some good lefty starters over the years like Jim Kaat, Frank Viola, Johan Santana but there have not been very many of them. Historically starters that were left handed did not throw as hard as most right handed starters and were considered as being “crafty”. That seems to be changing now as there are more hard throwing left-handed pitchers than ever.

The Warren Spahn Award is presented each season by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). The award is named after Warren Spahn, who holds the MLB record in wins for a left-handed pitcher with 363.^[1] The Warren Spahn Award was created in 1999 by Richard Hendricks, the founder of the Territorial Capital Sports Museum, formerly Oklahoma Sports Museum, to honor Spahn, who resided in Oklahoma. The award has been won by 15 different pitchers through 2024. The winner is chosen based on rankings, which are based on wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. The only Twins pitcher to win this award is Johan Santana who won it 2004 and 2006.

Determining the MLB team with the best left-handed pitchers can be subjective, but one team that stands out is the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve had legendary left-handed pitchers like Clayton Kershaw, who has been a dominant force for over a decade, and Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Other teams with notable left-handed pitchers include the New York Yankees with Whitey Ford and Andy Pettitte, and the Boston Red Sox with Lefty Grove and Chris Sale.

The most left handed starters the Twins have ever had with ten or more starts in a season were four in 1964 when Gerry Arrigo, Jim Kaat, Jim Roland and Dick Stigman started 88 games between them. In the 64 seasons the Twins have played, there have only been six seasons in which they have had no left handed pitchers with at least ten starts and they were in 1995, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2024. See a trend here? In 2024 there were 16 MLB teams with zero left handed starters with at least ten starts.

How many of the Twins lefties on the list below have you seen pitch and who was your favorite?

Minnesota Twins left-handed starters from 1961 through 2024 with 10 or more starts

Senators/Twins franchise left handed pitchers with one or more career starts

Top 20 pitching seasons by a Twins pitcher

The Minnesota Twins have played baseball for 62 seasons and they have had 273 different pitchers start one or more games for them. The number drops to 26 pitchers having started 100 or more games, just six having started 200 or more, three at 300 or more and only Jim Kaat started over 400 or 422 to be exact.

Pitching has not exactly been the Twins strength over the years, the team has been known for producing hitters. But the Twins have had a number of very good pitchers with Bert Blyleven and Jim Kaat in the MLB Hall of Fame. The Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame includes pitchers Blyleven, Kaat, Frank Viola, Rick Aguilera, Brad Radke, Jim Perry, Camilo Pascual, Eddie Guardado, Johan Santana and Joe Nathan. Three of the inductee’s were relievers.

Former Twins pitcher David West passes away at the age of 57

David West was born on September 1, 1964, in Memphis, TN, to Eugene C. West and Vivian Womble West. David passed away in Palm City, Florida from brain cancer on May 14, 2022.

West fell in love with baseball at an early age. According to Ripbaseball.com, West excelled in American Legion ball, playing for Millington Telephone, but the big left-hander with the 90 mile-per-hour fastball had to wait a bit to play at Craigmont High School. He was declared scholastically ineligible and missed his first two seasons of high school ball. After his Senior season he was named to second team of American Baseball Coaches Association High School All-America squad.

Minnesota Twins pitching leaders in games started

Back on December 19 in 2006 pitcher Brad Radke announced his plans to retire after 12 season of wearing the colors of the Minnesota Twins. That got me to wondering where the Twins pitchers with the most starts for Minnesota came from.

Jim Kaat had 422 starts with the Twins and was signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent in 1957 long before the draft was instituted and was one of the original Minnesota Twins in 1961. Debuted August 2, 1959 with the Senators.
Brad Radke had 377 starts with the Twins and was an eighth round pick in the June amateur draft in 1991. Radke debuted on April 29, 1995 in three not so stellar innings of relief and started every game that he appeared in after that.
Bert Blyleven had 345 starts with the Twins after being drafted by Minnesota in round three of the 1969 June amateur draft. Bert debuted on June 5, 1970 and all his appearances but three were starts.
Frank Viola had 259 and just one relief appearance with the Twins after being selected in round 16 of June 1978 amateur draft. Sweet Music debuted on June 6, 1982.
Jim Perry had 249 start for Minnesota after being acquired in a trade on May 2, 1963 from the Cleveland Indians for pitcher Jack Kralick.
Dave Goltz had 215 starts for the Twins after drafted in the round five of the 1967 June amateur draft. The Rothsay, Minnesota native debuted on July 18, 1972.
Kyle Gibson had 188 starts with Minnesota after being drafted 22nd in round one of the 2009 June amateur draft. Gibson debuted on June 29, 2013.
Kevin Tapani had 180 starts in 181 appearances in a Twins uniform after being acquired in a trade from the New York Mets in the Frank Viola trade on July 31, 1989. Tapani had debuted with the Mets on July 4, 1989.
Camilo Pascual had 179 starts with Minnesota and was signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent prior to the 1952 season long before the draft was instituted and was one of the original Minnesota Twins in 1961. Pascual debuted on April 15, 1954.
Johan Santana had 175 starts with the Twins after being drafted by the Florida Marlins from the Houston Astros in the 1999 rule 5 draft and then being traded to the Twins for Jared Camp who the Twins had originally drafted in the Rule 5 draft that year. Santana debuted on April 3, 2000.

The other players with 150 or more starts for Minnesota are Eric Milton with 165, Scott Baker with 159, Scott Erickson with 153, Kyle Lohse with 152 and Dave Boswell with 150.

The only pitchers mentioned here today to make a start for the Minnesota Twins at Target Field are Kyle Gibson and Scott Baker.

The only pitcher on this list to spend his entire career in Minnesota? That would be Brad Radke.

It is all uphill from here – tough starts by Twins starters

Since the Minnesota Twins started play here in 1961 they have played 9,451 games through August 31, 2020. The Twins obviously needed a starting or in recent times an opening pitcher for each of those games.

Sometimes the starts don’t go exactly as planned as the pitchers on the list included here can attest. If you watched one of these games you were probably saying “get him out of there” but did you know that you were watching something pretty rare? A Minnesota Twins starter getting pulled and sent to the showers before he hardly had a chance to work up a sweat doesn’t happen very often, as a matter of fact it hasn’t happened since 2012 when P.J. Walters was the unlucky victim. Just looking at Twins history, it has happened just 17 times in 9,451 games or in just .0017% of the starts.

If you take a closer look at the list you will see there are some pretty good starters on this list. One of these types of starts doesn’t always guarantee that the team would lose either, in four of the seventeen cases the Twins came back to win the game. In six of the seventeen cases shown here the starter didn’t walk away with the “L”.

Results
Rk	Player	Date	Opp	Rslt	App,Dec	H	R	ER	BB	HR	UER	BF
1	Al Schroll	1961-08-26	BAL	L 4-7	GS-1, L	3	4	3	2	1	1	6
2	Jim Kaat	1962-04-19	CHW	L 3-10	GS-1, L	4	4	2	0	0	2	4
3	Ray Moore	1963-07-05 (1)	BAL	L 3-4	GS-1, L	2	4	3	2	0	1	5
4	Jim Roland	1964-08-06	BOS	W 6-5	GS-1	2	4	2	2	1	2	5
5	Tom Hall	1968-08-09	NYY	W 4-3	GS-1	2	3	2	3	0	1	6
6	Dave Boswell	1970-06-28 (2)	CHW	L 10-11	GS-1	1	2	2	1	0	0	2
7	Ray Corbin	1974-06-30 (1)	CHW	L 3-8	GS-1, L	4	4	4	0	0	0	4
8	Vic Albury	1974-07-19	DET	W 7-5	GS-1	2	3	3	1	1	0	3
9	Ray Corbin	1975-06-30	CAL	L 3-10	GS-1, L	6	6	6	0	1	0	6
10	Pete Redfern	1982-06-26	TOR	W 4-3	GS-1	2	1	1	0	0	0	2
11	Bryan Oelkers	1983-06-21	TOR	L 3-8	GS-1, L	4	4	4	1	1	0	5
12	Ken Schrom	1985-07-20	NYY	L 3-8	GS-1, L	3	4	4	1	1	0	4
13	Frank Viola	1986-05-20	BOS	L 7-17	GS-1, L	5	6	6	1	0	0	6
14	Roy Smith	1989-05-26	TEX	L 3-5	GS-1, L	5	4	4	0	0	0	5
15	Kevin Tapani	1990-07-13 (1)	BAL	L 5-8	GS-1	2	2	2	0	0	0	2
16	Frankie Rodriguez	1996-07-30	BAL	L 4-16	GS-1, L	2	5	3	2	0	2	5
17	P.J. Walters	2012-06-13	PHI	L 8-9	GS-1, L	4	4	4	0	0	0	4

Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used
Generated 8/29/2020.

If you want to check out some Twins historically bad starts in terms of runs allowed, I did a piece on that called “Historically bad starts by Twins pitchers” back on 2015 that you can also check out.

Twins pitching leaders in complete games by decade

A complete game in baseball is about as rare nowadays as finding a pay phone at your local corner service station. The complete game has gone by the wayside and this year with what is going on in baseball with the COVID-19 situation it will be even more of a rare occurrence.

The top ten MLB pitchers in complete games from 1961 to 2019 are all in the Hall of Fame. The leader is Gaylord Perry with 303 complete games and tenth on the list is Jim Palmer with 211. The Twins Bert Blyleven is number six on that list with 242 complete games.

If you only look at the American League from 1961 through 2019 the leader is Bert Blyleven with 222. Bert is also the all-time Twins leader in complete games with 141 followed by Jim Kaat with 133. So now you know why Bert always brags on TV about pitching complete games.

If we look at Twins complete game leaders by decade you get a list that looks like this:

1960’s – Jim Kaat with 102
1970’s – Bert Blyleven with 101
1980’s – Frank Viola with 54
1990’s – Kevin Tapani with 19
2000’s – Brad Radke with 19
2010’s – Carl Pavano with 10

Twins/Senators franchise leaders in games with 10> K’s

Results
Rk	Player	#Matching		W	L	W-L%	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	IP	HR	BB	SO	Tm
1	Walter Johnson	46	Ind. Games	36	8	.818	0.51	45	45	13	441.1	1	92	513	WSH
2	Camilo Pascual	40	Ind. Games	27	11	.711	1.97	40	30	8	357.0	15	113	448	WSH,MIN
3	Johan Santana	39	Ind. Games	26	6	.813	1.93	39	2	1	289.0	34	45	442	MIN
4	Bert Blyleven	36	Ind. Games	21	12	.636	1.68	36	24	5	306.0	11	66	406	MIN
5	Jim Kaat	19	Ind. Games	17	1	.944	1.50	18	15	3	174.0	8	33	205	MIN
6	Dave Boswell	14	Ind. Games	12	1	.923	2.12	14	8	2	119.0	12	32	157	MIN
7	Frank Viola	12	Ind. Games	7	2	.778	2.23	12	2	0	93.0	8	23	124	MIN
8	Francisco Liriano	11	Ind. Games	6	2	.750	1.48	11	0	0	79.0	3	18	122	MIN
9	Dean Chance	9	Ind. Games	8	0	1.000	1.11	9	8	3	81.0	2	11	97	MIN
10	Jose Berrios	9	Ind. Games	8	1	.889	0.53	9	1	0	67.2	0	6	96	MIN
11	Eric Milton	8	Ind. Games	7	1	.875	1.89	8	2	2	62.0	4	8	88	MIN

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 3/14/2020.

Some pretty good pitchers on this list. One of the items that just jumps out at me is the fact that Walter Johnson gave up just one home run in the games that he pitched and struck out 10> while Johan Santana gave up 34 blasts during his 10> K games. Do you think that Bert Blyleven knows that Johan Santana has more 10 strikeout games in a Twins uniform then he does? If you want to see something interesting click on the Ind. Games link for Walter Johnson and check out how many of his complete games were extra inning efforts.

Quality Starts and the Minnesota Twins

Regardless if you believe in Quality Starts (QS) or not, the term is used now days in MLB. A QS is defined as pitching six innings or more while allowing three or fewer earned runs. I would be happier if a QS was seven innings and two or fewer earned runs but that is just my age showing. The new “opener” strategy could put a kink in QS but I don’t think the opener strategy is a fit for most teams and will not be a big deal down the line.

Today we are taking a look at consecutive QS for Minnesota Twins starters and we have one pitcher that stands head and shoulders above the rest of the Twins pitchers in QS and that is Johan Santana who had 21 QS in a row in 2004. Impressive or not? You bet your bippy it is, no American League pitcher between 1961-2018 has thrown that many QS in a row. In the National league only four pitchers have thrown that many QS in a row since 1961, Bob Gibson leads with 26 in 1967, Jacob deGrom (2018) and Jake Arrieta (2015) have 24 and Chris Carpenter has 22 in 2005.

The closest to Santana’s streak of 21 in Minnesota is Bert Blyleven who had 12 in 1972 and Jim Merritt who also had 12 in 1967. The biggest surprise on this list to me is Rick Aguilera with 10 QS in 1989. I certainly remember Aggie starting for Minnesota when they first traded for him but I don’t remember him as pitching that well, maybe it was the fact that his record was only 3-4 during the streak.

Results
Rk	Name	Strk Start	End	Games	W	L	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA
1	Johan Santana	2004-06-09	2004-09-24	21	18	2	21	1	1	154.1	77	23	30	199	1.34
2	Bert Blyleven	1972-08-19	1973-04-06	12	8	3	12	7	1	99.0	82	19	24	87	1.73
3	Jim Merritt	1967-06-25	1967-08-18	12	5	3	12	4	1	101.1	77	18	8	64	1.60
4	Frank Viola	1987-06-26	1987-08-16	11	8	2	11	4	1	87.0	69	19	21	70	1.97
5	Dick Woodson	1972-07-11	1972-08-28	11	6	4	11	7	2	90.1	61	14	26	43	1.39
6	Eric Milton	2000-09-23	2001-05-13	10	5	3	10	1	1	68.1	67	20	16	45	2.63
7	Scott Erickson	1990-09-23	1991-05-17	10	8	2	10	3	2	77.1	53	10	28	36	1.16
8	Rick Aguilera	1989-08-08	1989-09-26	10	3	4	10	3	0	71.2	61	22	16	55	2.76
9	Roger Erickson	1980-08-01	1980-09-17	10	3	4	10	4	0	80.0	71	18	16	42	2.03
10	Lee Stange	1963-08-06	1963-09-15	10	7	2	10	5	1	83.0	65	16	19	55	1.73

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 12/31/2018.

The Minnesota Twins longest streak of QS as a team is 13 QS in a row in 1969. The pitchers in that streak were Dean Chance, Dave Boswell, Jim Perry, Dick Woodson, Tommy Hall and Jim Kaat.

Tag: Frank Viola