In today’s Almanac, a longtime Twins base coach has a career day at the plate, an underrated pitcher K’s four-straight in one inning, an old friend sets a new MLB record, a forgotten power hitter has five RBI-hits in a game, a Minnesota native is sent away as part of one of the more impactful trades in team history, and the Twins retire the number once worn by Denny Hocking.
Ullger Has Career Day
First baseman Scott Ullger collected 20% of his major league hits on this date in 1983, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored in a 6-2 Twins win over the Royals at home in the Dome.
Ullger went 15-for-79 (.190) altogether in 35 major league games.
Connection: This reminds me of Billy Beane, who went 5-for-5 with a walk playing for the Twins on April 29, 1986. Those five hits represented 7.6% of the 66 hits the former first-round draft pick got over parts of six major league seasons, and were more than he got total in four of those seasons.
Baker Has 4-K Inning
Scott Baker retired all four Brewers he faced in the third inning on this date in 2008. (Prince Fielder reached after swinging at a wild pitch for strike three.)
You’ve heard of a Snapper Mow ‘Em Down Inning . . . what do you call it when the pitcher strikes out all four batters in an inning?
Darwin Ties Team Single-Game RBI Record
Right fielder Bobby Darwin went 4-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers, a two-run single, and a one-run single to tie the team single-game record with seven RBI in a 13-6 win at Tiger Stadium on this date in 1973.
(Glenn Adams set a new Twins record with eight RBI on June 26, 1977, matched by Randy Bush on May 20, 1989.)
Jim Kaat earned the win for Minnesota in the 1973 game while old friend Jim Perry took the loss for Detroit.
Reardon Becomes All-Time Saves Leader
Old friend Jeff Reardon earned his 342nd save on this date in 1992, surpassing Rollie Fingers as the all-time leader. The Red Sox only run in the 1-0 win over the Yankees at Fenway came on a solo home run by Phil Plantier. Reardon struck out Kevin Maas to end it.
Phil Plantier and Kevin Maas . . . if you collected baseball cards in the early ’90s, those are two names I’m sure you remember!
Reardon’s 1987 teammates Tom Brunansky and Frank Viola were teammates with him in Boston in ’92 and I’m sure celebrated the moment with him.
Lee Smith took over as the all-time saves leader just one year later. Reardon finished his career with 367, which is still good for 12th-most in MLB history.
Bemidji Native Sent to Giants
The Twins sent 1982 Bemidji graduate and Golden Gophers all-time great Bryan Hickerson to the San Francisco Giants as the “player to be named later” to complete the March 31st Dan Gladden trade on this date in 1987. (I’m sure Bryan’s family and friends were looking forward to him pitching for the hometown team, but I’d have to say acquiring Gladden worked out pretty well for the Twins.)
Twins Retire Number 7
The Minnesota Twins retired Joe Mauer‘s number 7 on this date in 2019.
A lot of different Twins wore number 7 prior to Joe, including: