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

R15: Thome is my Homie 2010

When the Twins moved to Target Field in 2010, I had to be lured outdoors like TC Bear. My entire baseball existence to that point had been under the Teflon roof. So when “the new place” opened and balls weren’t flying over fences and dramatic walk-offs weren’t happening, I felt a little uneasy.

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Big Jim Thome changed all that on August 17…

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger. And you don’t mess around with Jim!

The newbie: Jose Miranda goes streaking!

(Note: I expect this series to continue 4-5 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!)

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 (1965)

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.

No Way, Jose! (2024)

On July 3, 2024, Jose Miranda singled in the eighth inning of a blowout loss to the Tigers. Ho hum. But then, something inexplicable happened: Miranda reached base the next twelve consecutive at-bats—13 if you count a HBP mixed in! In a sport where 0-fer slumps can sometimes last weeks, Jose managed to find his way on base—without the benefit of a BB—a baker’s dozen worth of times in a row.