This Week in Twins History: May 24-May 30

Written by: Justin Murphy on 24th May 2009

This Week in Twins History: May 24-May 30 | read this item

Before we get to this week’s dose of Twins history, here are a number of interesting points from the thoroughly satistfying 20-1 win over Chicago on May 21:

• The 19-run margin, besides being the worst ever in a defeat for the White Sox, was tied for second best ever for the Twins. On June 4, 2002, they beat the Indians 23-2. On May 20, 1994, they beat the Red Sox 21-2.

• It was the ninth time the Twins have scored 15+ runs against the White Sox. Most recently, they scored 20 on July 6, 2007, also in Chicago. Those are two of the three times that 20 runs have been scored at U.S. Cellular Field.

• Ten different runners crossed the plate for the Twins: all nine starters, and pinch-hitter Carlos Gomez. The last time ten different Twins scored was on May 16, 2003, also against the White Sox.

• Joe Mauer became the 29th Twin to record a six RBI game. Tony Oliva and Torii Hunter each accomplished that four times, while Randy Bush (May 20, 1989) and Glen Adams (June 26, 1977) are tied for the record for most RBIs in a game, with eight.

• Lost in the blinged out box score was a strange batting line from Nick Punto. Hitting in the nine hole, Punto did not have a hit or a walk, and he struck out three times. He did, however, manage to score a pair of runs: once after reaching on an error, once on a fielder’s choice. Believe it or not, since at least 1954, only three other major league players have scored two runs while striking out three times and not getting a hit or a walk. Grady Sizemore did it in 2005, Brady Anderson in 1995, and Milwaukee’s Dave May in 1971. And, really, Sizemore and Anderson both got hit by pitches, so only May’s day matched what Punto pulled off.

Nick Punto’s performance on May 21 was one of the most successful unsuccessful games you’ll ever see, and that’s what he has in common with Fred Bruckbauer, who turns 71 on May 27. Bruckbauer is the only Twins player in history with a one game career. He’s also one of only 19 pitchers in baseball history with a career ERA of infinity. At least he got there.

Bruckbauer’s chapter in the big leagues opened and closed on April 25, 1961, against the Kansas City Athletics. That contest was similar to last week’s blowout, except the Twins were on the losing end of an eventual 20-2 whitewashing. Manager Cookie Lavagetto sent Bruckbauer in to start the top of the fourth. He faced four batters: Dick Howser, Jay Hankins, Jerry Lumpe, Lou Klimchock. The results were a double, a single, a walk, and a double, good for three runs. He was promptly yanked, ending his career.

Incidentally, and as far as relief appearances go, Mark Guthrie had considerably more success on May 25, 1995 against the Tigers. Starter Scott Erickson was pulled after two innings, and Guthrie proceeded to strike out 12 men in six innings, earning the victory. Since 1954, only three pitchers have struck out more batters in a relief appearance: Randy Johnson in 2001 (16), Denny McClain in 1965 (14), and Billy O’Dell in 1961 (13).

Returning to Bruckbauer, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Joe Christianson wrote a great piece about him that has a lot of details. Here, we can mention that Bruckbauer was born in New Ulm, Minnesota, and raised in nearby Sleepy Eye. Only five New Ulm natives have ever reached the majors, and three of them—Bruckbauer, Terry Steinbach, and Brian Raabe—played for the hometown team.

What’s more, Bruckbauer also pitched at the University of Minnesota. That makes him one of ten players with a North Star State trifecta: born in Minnesota, played for the Gophers, and played for the Twins. The others: Steinbach, Raabe, Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Glen Perkins, Greg Olson, George Thomas, Paul Giel, and Jerry Kindall. Coincidentally, Kindall shares a birthdate with Bruckbauer, and will turn 74 on May 27.

Current Twins and Twins farmhands celebrating birthdays this week include Jason Kubel (27 on May 25), Kevin Mulvey (24 on May 26), Matt Macri (27 on May 29), and Beloit Snapper Michael Allen (22 on the 27th). Macri’s big league debut came last year on May 24; he went 2-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored, yet the Twins lost to Detroit by the score of 19-3.

Jim Holt, who played in 571 games for Minnesota from 1968-1974, was also born on May 27, in 1944. His best season came in 1973, when he hit .297/.341/.442. Dave Hollins, the Twins’ third baseman in 1996, turns 43 on May 25. Joe Altobelli not only played for the 1961 Twins, but is one of the most instrumental figures in Rochester Red Wings history. In Rochester, where Altobelli is known as “Mr. Baseball,” he and Luke Easter are the only players with their numbers retired. He served the Red Wings as a player, coach, manager, general manager and broadcaster, and will be 77 on May 26.

Mike Stenhouse, who will be 51 on May 29, only hit .223 in 81 games with Minnesota in 1985, but remains the only Twin who attended Harvard. Other members of the Minnesota geniocracy: Gene Larkin (Columbia); recently departed Craig Breslow (Yale); David McCarty, Dave Meier, Pete Hamm (Stanford). On the current Red Wings roster are Princeton’s Tim Lahey and Stanford’s Mike Gosling.

Lastly, on May 25, 1997, the Twins retired Kirby Puckett’s number 34 in a pre-game ceremony. The opponent was Oakland, and Minnesota won 7-6 in the tenth inning on a Rich Becker single. The Twins’ center fielder, Darrin Jackson, was 2-4 with a home run on a night honoring the greatest Twins center fielder of them all.

Until next week, Twins fans.

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Topics: Billy O'Dell, Brady Anderson, Brian Raabe, Carlos Gomez, Chicago White Sox, Cookie Lavagetto, Craig Breslow, Darrin Jackson, Dave Hollins, Dave May, Dave Meier, Dave Winfield, David McCarty, Denny McLain, Dick Howser, Fred Bruckbauer, Gene Larkin, George Thomas, Glen Adams, Glen Perkins, Grady Sizemore, Greg Olson, Jason Kubel, Jay Hankins, Jerry Kindall, Jerry Lumpe, Jim Holt, Joe Altobelli, Joe Mauer, Kevin Mulvey, kirby puckett, Lou Klimchock, Luke Easter, Mark Guthrie, Michael Allen, Mike Gosling, Mike Stenhouse, Minnesota Twins, Nick Punto, Paul Giel, Paul Molitor, Pete Hamm, Randy Bush, randy johnson, Rich Becker, Scott Erickson, Terry Steinbach, This Week in Twins History, Tim Lahey, Tony Oliva, Torii Hunter, University of Minnesota