1987 Minnesota Twins | ||
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World Series Champions American League Champions American League West Champions | ||
League | American League | |
Division | West | |
Ballpark | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | |
City | Minneapolis | |
Record | 85–77 (.525) | |
Divisional place | 1st | |
Owners | Carl Pohlad | |
General managers | Andy MacPhail | |
Managers | Tom Kelly | |
Television | KMSP-TV (John Rooney, John Gordon, Harmon Killebrew) Twinsvision (Dick Bremer, Frank Quilici) | |
Radio | 830 WCCO AM (Herb Carneal, John Gordon) | |
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The 1987 Minnesota Twins won the World Series for the first time since moving from Washington in 1961, the second time that the franchise won the World Series (the Washington Senators won it in 1924). Having won only 85 games during the 1987 regular season, they won the World Series with the then-fewest regular season wins since Major League Baseball expanded to a 162-game season in 1961, and the fewest of any team since the 1889 New York Giants (excluding the strike-shortened 1981 and the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 seasons and later surpassed by the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals who won 83 games that season). They also became the first team to win the World Series despite being outscored by their opponents in the regular season, having scored 786 runs and allowed 806.
Tom Kelly became the fifth manager to win a World Series in his first full season on the job, and one of seven total, as of 2023, to accomplish the feat. [1]
The Twins were 85-77, first in the American League West, two games ahead of the Kansas City Royals. The team had one of the lowest winning percentages ever for a World Series champion, at .525. They also had the remarkably bad road record of 29-52 (.358 percentage) but made up for it winning 56 home games (best in MLB). Fortunately for the Twins, they played in a very weak division; only two teams finished above .500 and only 10 games separated the Twins from the last-place California Angels (the previous year's division champion) and Texas Rangers. The Twins' 85-77 was the lowest for a World Series champion for nearly two decades, until the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series with an 83-78 record.
1987 was the first year the Twins started using their modernized logos and uniforms, which are still in use today.
Only one Twin made the All-Star Game, outfielder Kirby Puckett. The highest paid player was Kent Hrbek at $1,310,000; followed by Bert Blyleven at $1,150,000.
Over a late August weekend at Milwaukee, Puckett went 10 for 11, with four homers and two doubles, raising his batting average 13 points. The feat tied a major league record.
Joe Niekro, a pitcher for the Twins, was suspended for 10 games when umpire Tim Tschida discovered an emery board in his pocket. Tschida suspected Niekro was scuffing the ball, and saw the emery board fly out of Niekro's pocket. Niekro said he was filing his nails in the dugout, but American League president Dr. Bobby Brown didn't believe him, and ordered the suspension. When the Twins won the pennant, Niekro set a major league record as he'd waited 20½ years since his debut to reach a World Series game.
2,081,976 fans attended Twins games, the sixth highest total in the American League.
The Homer Hanky was introduced in 1987's pennant drive. When the Twins made the playoffs for the first time since 1970, three members of that team remained with the club now seventeen years later. Bert Blyleven was the only remaining player; Tony Oliva became the hitting coach and Rick Renick the third base coach.
This was the last year for a long time that the Twins were stocked with power hitters. In particular, Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, and Tom Brunansky combined to hit 125 home runs. (The team as a whole hit 196.) Hrbek, Gaetti, and Brunansky each surpassed 30 home runs, a number that no Twin would reach again until Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter in 2006.
Kirby Puckett led the AL with 207 hits.
Despite the power in their lineup, the Twins were outscored 806-786, one of the largest such differentials for a World Series champion.
Statistic | Player | Quantity |
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HR | Kent Hrbek | 34 |
RBI | Gary Gaetti | 109 |
BA | Kirby Puckett | .332 |
Runs | Kirby Puckett | 96 |
The top three starting pitchers, Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven, and Les Straker provided stability throughout the year. Mike Smithson, Joe Niekro, and Jeff Bittiger were less reliable. Newly acquired closer Jeff Reardon was a reliable option at the end of games. Juan Berenguer was the most reliable set-up man, posting a 3.94 ERA.
Bert Blyleven led the AL with 46 home runs allowed.
Statistic | Player | Quantity |
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ERA | Frank Viola | 2.90 |
Wins | Frank Viola | 17 |
Saves | Jeff Reardon | 31 |
Strikeouts | Frank Viola | 197 |
The defense was not as strong as would be typical for Twins teams under manager Tom Kelly. Hrbek was the most reliable fielder at first base, and the outfield of Dan Gladden, Puckett, and Brunansky was reliable. Third baseman Gary Gaetti and center fielder Kirby Puckett each won their second Gold Glove Award.
Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
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Minnesota Twins | 85 | 77 | .525 | — | 56–25 | 29–52 |
Kansas City Royals | 83 | 79 | .512 | 2 | 46–35 | 37–44 |
Oakland Athletics | 81 | 81 | .500 | 4 | 42–39 | 39–42 |
Seattle Mariners | 78 | 84 | .481 | 7 | 40–41 | 38–43 |
Chicago White Sox | 77 | 85 | .475 | 8 | 38–43 | 39–42 |
Texas Rangers | 75 | 87 | .463 | 10 | 43–38 | 32–49 |
California Angels | 75 | 87 | .463 | 10 | 38–43 | 37–44 |
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Team | BAL | BOS | CAL | CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIL | MIN | NYY | OAK | SEA | TEX | TOR |
Baltimore | — | 1–12 | 9–3 | 8–4 | 7–6 | 4–9 | 9–3 | 2–11 | 5–7 | 3–10 | 7–5 | 4–8 | 7–5 | 1–12 |
Boston | 12–1 | — | 4–8 | 3–9 | 7–6 | 2–11 | 6–6 | 6–7 | 7–5 | 7–6 | 4–8 | 7–5 | 7–5 | 6–7 |
California | 3–9 | 8–4 | — | 8–5 | 7–5 | 3–9 | 5–8 | 7–5 | 8–5 | 3–9 | 6–7 | 7–6 | 5–8 | 5–7 |
Chicago | 4–8 | 9–3 | 5–8 | — | 7–5 | 3–9 | 6–7 | 6–6 | 6–7 | 5–7 | 9–4 | 6–7 | 7–6 | 4–8 |
Cleveland | 6–7 | 6–7 | 5–7 | 5–7 | — | 4–9 | 6–6 | 4–9 | 3–9 | 6–7 | 4–8 | 5–7 | 2–10 | 5–8 |
Detroit | 9–4 | 11–2 | 9–3 | 9–3 | 9–4 | — | 5–7 | 6–7 | 8–4 | 5–8 | 5–7 | 7–5 | 8–4 | 7–6 |
Kansas City | 3–9 | 6–6 | 8–5 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 7–5 | — | 4–8 | 8–5 | 5–7 | 5–8 | 9–4 | 7–6 | 8–4 |
Milwaukee | 11–2 | 7–6 | 5–7 | 6–6 | 9–4 | 7–6 | 8–4 | — | 3–9 | 7–6 | 6–6 | 4–8 | 9–3 | 9–4 |
Minnesota | 7–5 | 5–7 | 5–8 | 7–6 | 9–3 | 4–8 | 5–8 | 9–3 | — | 6–6 | 10–3 | 9–4 | 6–7 | 3–9 |
New York | 10–3 | 6–7 | 9–3 | 7–5 | 7–6 | 8–5 | 7–5 | 6–7 | 6–6 | — | 5–7 | 7–5 | 5–7 | 6–7 |
Oakland | 5–7 | 8–4 | 7–6 | 4–9 | 8–4 | 7–5 | 8–5 | 6–6 | 3–10 | 7–5 | — | 5–8 | 6–7 | 7–5 |
Seattle | 8–4 | 5–7 | 6–7 | 7–6 | 7–5 | 5–7 | 4–9 | 8–4 | 4–9 | 5–7 | 8–5 | — | 9–4 | 2–10 |
Texas | 5–7 | 5–7 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 10–2 | 4–8 | 6–7 | 3–9 | 7–6 | 7–5 | 7–6 | 4–9 | — | 3–9 |
Toronto | 12–1 | 7–6 | 7–5 | 8–4 | 8–5 | 6–7 | 4–8 | 4–9 | 9–3 | 7–6 | 5–7 | 10–2 | 9–3 | — |
1987 game log: 85−77 (Home: 56−25; Away: 29−52) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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April: 12–9 (Home: 7–3; Away: 5–6)
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May: 14–14 (Home: 9–8; Away: 5–6)
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June: 17–11 (Home: 10–2; Away: 7–9)
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July: 13–14 (Home: 7–3; Away: 6–11)
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August: 13–15 (Home: 10–4; Away: 3–11)
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September: 16–11 (Home: 13–5; Away: 3–6)
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October: 0–3 (Home: 0–0; Away: 0–3)
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Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Twins team member |
1987 Postseason game log: 8−4 (Home 6−0; Away 2−4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AL Championship Series: vs. Detroit Tigers: 4−1 (Home: 2–0; Away: 2–1)
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World Series: vs. St. Louis Cardinals: 4−3 (Home: 4–0; Away: 0–3)
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Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Twins team member |
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Opening Day Starters | ||
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# | Name | Position |
32 | Dan Gladden | DH |
4 | Steve Lombardozzi | 2B |
34 | Kirby Puckett | CF |
8 | Gary Gaetti | 3B |
14 | Kent Hrbek | 1B |
24 | Tom Brunansky | RF |
27 | Mark Davidson | LF |
7 | Greg Gagne | SS |
11 | Tom Nieto | C |
28 | Bert Blyleven | P |
1987 Minnesota Twins | |||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
| Catchers
Infielders
| Outfielders
Other batters
| Manager
Coaches
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Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Tim Laudner | 113 | 288 | 55 | .191 | 16 | 43 |
1B | Kent Hrbek | 143 | 477 | 136 | .285 | 34 | 90 |
2B | Steve Lombardozzi | 136 | 432 | 103 | .238 | 8 | 38 |
3B | Gary Gaetti | 154 | 584 | 150 | .257 | 31 | 109 |
SS | Greg Gagne | 137 | 437 | 116 | .265 | 10 | 40 |
LF | Dan Gladden | 121 | 438 | 109 | .249 | 8 | 38 |
CF | Kirby Puckett | 157 | 624 | 207 | .332 | 28 | 99 |
RF | Tom Brunansky | 155 | 532 | 138 | .259 | 32 | 85 |
DH | Roy Smalley | 110 | 309 | 85 | .275 | 8 | 34 |
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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Al Newman | 110 | 307 | 68 | .221 | 0 | 29 |
Randy Bush | 122 | 293 | 74 | .253 | 11 | 46 |
Gene Larkin | 85 | 233 | 62 | .266 | 4 | 28 |
Mark Davidson | 102 | 150 | 40 | .267 | 1 | 14 |
Sal Butera | 51 | 111 | 19 | .171 | 1 | 12 |
Tom Nieto | 41 | 105 | 21 | .200 | 1 | 12 |
Don Baylor | 20 | 49 | 14 | .286 | 0 | 6 |
Mark Salas | 22 | 45 | 17 | .378 | 3 | 9 |
Billy Beane | 12 | 15 | 4 | .267 | 0 | 1 |
Chris Pittaro | 14 | 12 | 4 | .333 | 0 | 0 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Bert Blyleven | 37 | 267.0 | 15 | 12 | 4.01 | 196 |
Frank Viola | 36 | 251.2 | 17 | 10 | 2.90 | 197 |
Les Straker | 31 | 154.1 | 8 | 10 | 4.37 | 76 |
Mike Smithson | 21 | 109.0 | 4 | 7 | 5.94 | 53 |
Joe Niekro | 19 | 96.1 | 4 | 9 | 6.26 | 54 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Mark Portugal | 13 | 44.0 | 1 | 3 | 7.77 | 28 |
Steve Carlton | 9 | 43.0 | 1 | 5 | 6.70 | 20 |
Joe Klink | 12 | 23.0 | 0 | 1 | 6.65 | 17 |
Roy Smith | 7 | 16.1 | 1 | 0 | 4.96 | 8 |
Allan Anderson | 4 | 12.1 | 1 | 0 | 10.95 | 3 |
Jeff Bittiger | 3 | 8.1 | 1 | 0 | 5.40 | 5 |
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
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Jeff Reardon | 63 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 4.48 | 83 |
Juan Berenguer | 47 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3.94 | 110 |
Keith Atherton | 59 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4.54 | 51 |
George Frazier | 54 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4.98 | 58 |
Dan Schatzeder | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6.39 | 30 |
Randy Niemann | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.44 | 1 |
See 1987 American League Championship Series and 1987 World Series.
The Twins won the American League Championship Series beating the Detroit Tigers 4 games to 1. Gary Gaetti was named the ALCS MVP. He'd set a record by homering in his first two post-season at-bats. The Twins won the series by winning two of the three road games at Detroit despite a 4-8 regular season record vs the Tigers as well as 29 regular season wins on the road.
The Twins won all four home games to top the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Frank Viola was named the Series' MVP even though it was the Twins bats that were instrumental in the first three wins outscoring St. Louis 29-10 in the process.
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Kenosha [22]
Kent Alan Hrbek, nicknamed "Herbie", is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 14-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins (1981–1994). Hrbek batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He hit the first home run in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on April 3, 1982, in an exhibition game against the Phillies. Fans knew Hrbek as an outstanding defensive player, perennial slugger, and charismatic hometown favorite. Former Twins pitcher Jim Kaat considered Hrbek to be the best defensive first baseman he had ever seen, despite him never winning a Gold Glove at the position.
Jay Thomas Kelly is an American former professional baseball player, coach and manager. As the manager of the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball over 16 seasons from mid-September 1986 through 2001, he won two World Series championships. Currently, he serves as a special assistant to the general manager for the Twins.
The 1987 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1987 season. The 84th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Minnesota Twins and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Twins defeated the Cardinals four games to three to win the Series, their first in Minnesota and the first since last winning as the Washington Senators in 1924. Twins pitcher Frank Viola was named as the 1987 World Series MVP.
Eugene Thomas Larkin is an American former switch-hitting first baseman, designated hitter, and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire seven-season career with the Minnesota Twins. During his playing career he wore #9 for Minnesota, and was a member of both the 1987 and 1991 World Series championship teams. He is best known for hitting the series-winning single, a deep fly ball that was not caught by the Braves' drawn-in outfield and scored Dan Gladden from third base during the tenth inning in Game 7 of the 1991 Series.
Terry Lee Steinbach is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher from 1986 to 1999, most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics team that won three consecutive American League pennants and a World Series championship in 1989. He played his final three seasons with the Minnesota Twins. A three-time All-Star player, Steinbach won the 1988 All-Star Game MVP Award and caught two no-hitters during his career.
Clinton Daniel Gladden III is an American former Major League Baseball player and current radio broadcaster. He was the starting left fielder with the Minnesota Twins' two World Series Championship teams in 1987 and 1991.
The 1987 American League Championship Series pitted the Minnesota Twins, the American League West champions, against the Detroit Tigers, the American League East champions. Minnesota won the Series four games to one, en route to winning the 1987 World Series four games to three over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 1991 Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB) won the World Series, the second time the Twins had won the World Series since moving to Minnesota in 1961. At the beginning of June in the 1991 regular season, the Twins had an MLB-leading 15-game win streak, which remains a club record. On June 17, 1991, the streak came to an end at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles but not before the Twins moved from fifth place to first, a lead they would not relinquish while finishing 95–67, first in the AL West. The Twins' winning streak of 1991 falls just seven games short of the all-time American League (AL) record of 22 consecutive regular season wins set by the Cleveland Indians in 2017.
Albert Dwayne Newman is an American former infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Montreal Expos (1985–1986), Minnesota Twins (1987–1991) and Texas Rangers (1992). Newman was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.
The 1994 Minnesota Twins played in an abbreviated, strike-shortened season. The strike overshadowed the season's accomplishments. These included Scott Erickson's no-hitter on April 27, Chuck Knoblauch's 85-game errorless streak and league-leading 45 doubles, Kirby Puckett's 2,000th hit, and Kent Hrbek's retirement. In 113 games, Manager Tom Kelly's team finished with a record of 53–60, for fourth place in the newly created American League Central.
The 1993 Minnesota Twins finished with a 71–91 record, leaving the team tied for fifth place with the California Angels. Kirby Puckett won the All-Star MVP award on July 13 and St. Paul native Dave Winfield got his 3,000th hit over the course of the year.
Coming off a World Series victory, the 1992 Minnesota Twins continued the team's winning spree. The team finished in second place to the Oakland Athletics and did not make it to the postseason. This would be the team's last winning season until 2001.
The 1990 Minnesota Twins, three years after their World Series title in 1987, fell to the bottom of the American League West once again. However, the season was not completely bad, as there were some bright spots that included pitchers Rick Aguilera and Scott Erickson. Aguilera was converted from a starter to a closer and recorded 32 saves, while Erickson was promoted to the Twins in June from the team's AA affiliate and went 8-4 with a 3.27 ERA.
The 1982 season was the first year that the Minnesota Twins played at the Metrodome, which they would continue to play in until 2009. The team finished 60–102, seventh in the American League West. It was the first time the Twins lost more than 100 games since moving to Minnesota. This feat of more than 100 losses would be matched in 2016 and was surpassed by one game as that record was 59-103.
The 1983 Minnesota Twins finished 70–92, tied for fifth in the American League West, and improved upon their dismal 60-102 record from 1982 by ten games. 858,939 fans attended Twins games, the third-lowest total in the American League.
The 1984 Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The team spent much of the season contending for the division title, but finished with a record of 81–81, tied for second in the American League West, and three games behind the division winner Kansas City Royals. Their 81–81 record was an 11-game improvement from 1983, and a 21-game improvement from their 102-loss season of 1982.
The 1985 Minnesota Twins finished with a record of 77–85, tied for fourth in the American League West, and 14 games behind the division winner and eventual World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
The 1986 Minnesota Twins finished at 71–91, sixth in the AL West, 21 games behind the eventual American League West runner-up California Angels. 1,255,453 fans attended Twins games, the second lowest total in the American League. Pitcher Bert Blyleven made a prediction on Fan Appreciation Day on October 3, saying that if the team came together as a unit and signed some other good players, they could potentially bring a World Series championship to Minnesota. That prediction proved accurate the next year.
The 1988 Minnesota Twins finished at 91–71, second in the American League West. 3,030,672 fans attended Twins games, at the time, establishing a new major league record. Pitcher Allan Anderson had his most successful season in 1988, winning the American League ERA title at 2.45 and compiling a record of 16-9 in 30 starts.
The 1989 Minnesota Twins finished 80–82, fifth in the American League West. 2,277,438 fans attended Twins games, the 7th highest total in the American League.