The 1965 Minnesota Twins won the 1965 American League pennant with a 102â€"60 record. It was the team's first pennant since moving to Minnesota, and the 102 wins was a team record.
Regular season
On April 27, in addition to being the game's winning pitcher, Camilo Pascual hit a grand slam in the first inning â€" the second of his career. The Detroit Tigers' Dizzy Trout is the only pitcher to have done that before.
The Twins spent much of the summer in a race for first with the Baltimore Orioles. On July 1, however, the Twins took first place and kept it, ultimately winning the pennant by seven games.
Six Twins made the All-Star Game, (which was played in the Twins' home park, Metropolitan Stadium). First baseman Harmon Killebrew, shortstop Zoilo Versalles, outfielders Tony Oliva and Jimmie Hall, catcher Earl Battey, and pitcher Mudcat Grant all appeared in the game.
On September 26 at D.C. Stadium in Washington, D.C. â€" the city the Twins franchise called home until 1960 â€" the Twins beat the Washington Senators 2â€"1 to clinch the pennant. Jim Kaat was the winning pitcher.
Overall, 1,463,258 fans attended Twins games, the highest total in the American League. During the season, the Twins played in front of their largest crowd ever (71,245 at Yankee Stadium on June 20) and their smallest crowd ever (547 at home, September 20).
Offense
Versalles was named AL Most Valuable Player. He also led the team with 126 runs scored, and won a Gold Glove Award for his play at shortstop. Oliva led the AL with a .321 batting average. Killebrew was limited to 113 games by injuries, but still hit 25 HR and 75 RBI.
Pitching
Grant led the league with 21 wins, becoming the first black pitcher in the history of the American League to win 20 games in a season. Kaat won the Gold Glove for pitchers.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
NOTE: The Los Angeles Angels changed their name to California Angels on September 2, 1965, with the season in progress.
Notable transactions
- June 8, 1965: 1965 Major League Baseball draft
- Del Unser was drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round, but did not sign.
- Graig Nettles was drafted by the Twins in the 4th round.
Roster
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
1965 World Series
Awards and honors
- Zoilo Versalles, Shortstop, American League MVP
- Sam Mele, Associated Press AL Manager of the Year
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: St. Cloud
Notes
References
- Player stats from www.baseball-reference.com
- Team info from www.baseball-almanac.com
- Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBNÂ 978-0-9637189-8-3.Â
External links
- 2005 book about the 1965 Minnesota Twins
- Account of July 9 Killebrew home run
