Harmon Killibrew hit more home runs in the 1960s than any other player – powering the Twins to some big innings.
The Minnesota Twins gave their fans a special Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17) present this year. Not only did they defeat the Orioles 10-9 to bring Minnesota’s 2015 Spring Training record to a Grapefruit League-best seven wins and three losses, they also hit for the “Home Run Cycle” – hitting solo, two-run, three-run and Grand Slam homers during the contest – and in that order no less. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe delivered a solo shot in the second inning; DH Eduardo Nunez hit a two-run homer in the fourth; first baseman Kennys Vargas rapped a three-run round tripper in the fifth; and shortstop Eduardo Escobar capped it off with a Grand Slam in the sixth.
All of this power may have taken senior Twins fans (like me) back to the 1960s, when the Twins’ punishing lineup often simply “overpowered” the opposition. I’d like to dedicate this post to those powerful teams – and to all the Twins fans who remember them. Here’s just a few examples of those ‘60s Twins exploits (or newer fans who would like to know more about them).
- On July 18, 1962 … The Twins tied an MLB record and became the first AL team (and the first MLB team since 1890) to hit two grand slams in one inning. (It’s been done a total of seven times to date.) The Twins remain the only team to pull off the feat in the first-inning of a game. It was a Twins’ home game (versus the Cleveland Indians). The Twins scored eleven times in the bottom of the first, with the key blows being Grand Slam HRs by right fielder Bob Allison and, fittingly, left fielder Harmon Killebrew.
- May 2, 1964 – The Twins tied an MLB record for the most consecutive home runs in an inning – four. They were (and remain) the only team to accomplish the feat in an “extra” inning. The game, against the Athletics in Kansas City, was tied 3-3 as the Twins came to bat in the top of the eleventh. Right fielder Tony Oliva hit a go-ahead home run to open the inning. This was followed, in succession, by roundtrippers from first baseman Bob Allison, center fielder Jimmie Hall and (again fittingly) left fielder Harmon Killebrew.
- June 6, 1966 – The Twins tied another MLB record by hitting five home runs in one inning. (The Twins are still the only AL team to accomplish this feat. It’s been done four times in the NL.) The Twins outburst came in the bottom of the seventh inning in a game against the Kansas City Athletics. The home runs were hit by pinch hitter Rich Rollins, shortstop Zoilo Versalles, right fielder Tony Oliva, first baseman Don Mincher and, of course, third baseman Harmon Killebrew. For the full story on five-homer innings, click here.
One final thought related to the Twins’ Spring Training “team” Home Run Cycle. Only once in professional baseball history has an individual player hit a solo, two-run, three-run and Grand Slam homer all in the same game. His name was Tyrone Horne, the day was July 27, 1998 and you can read the story by clicking here.
