Book Description

This volume celebrates the 1965 Minnesota Twins, who captured the American League pennant in just their fifth season in the Twin Cities. Led by an All-Star cast, from Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Zoilo Versalles, and Mudcat Grant to Bob Allison, Jim Kaat, Earl Battey, and Jim Perry, the Twins won 102 games, but bowed to the Los Angeles Dodgers and a herculean performance by Sandy Koufax in Game Seven of the World Series. Included are the life and baseball stories of all 35 roster players, the coaches, and manager of the 1965 Twins, plus team owner Calvin Griffith; broadcasters Herb Carneal, Halsey Hall, and Ray Scott; and sportswriters Dick Gordon and Max Nichols. A comprehensive summary of the regular season, as well as meticulous essays highlighting important games and the All-Star Game played in Minnesota, an overview of the 1965 Dodgers, and thorough summaries the World Series games are included. Chapters about how the Griffith family built its pennant winner, the fate of the Twins after 1965, Metropolitan Stadium, and the 1965 season "by the numbers" round out the book. Members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) researched and wrote all of the biographies and essays in this book. Contents: Calvin Griffithby KevinHennessy The Last of the Family Owners: The Griffiths Build Their Lone Minnesota Pennant Winnerby Daniel R. Levitt and Mark L.Armour Metropolitan Stadiumby Stew Thornley Spring Trainingby Stew Thornley The 1965 Minnesota Twins Regular Season Summaryby Ben Klein Bernie Allenby ChipGreene Bob Allisonby GregoryH. Wolf Earl BatteybyJackHerrman Dave Boswellby GregoryH. Wolf April 12, 1965: Twins Win in Extra Innings on Opening Dayby Steve West Pete Ciminoby JeffEnglish Jerry Fosnowby Greg Erion Mudcat GrantbyJosephWancho May 12, 1965: Killebrew Belts Two Homers, Including Game-Winner In Eighth Inningby Gregory H. Wolf Jimmie Hallby Norm King Jim Kaatby Patrick Lethert Harmon Killebrewby JosephWancho May 26, 1965: Jim Perry Makes Most of His Opportunityby JoelRippel Jerry KindallbyTom Tomashek Johnny Klippsteinby Gregory H. Wolf Andy Koscoby Norm King July 11, 1965: The Killer CloutsWalk-Off Two-Run Round-Tripperby Gregory H. Wolf Frank Kostroby J.G. Preston Jim Merrittby Gregory H. Wolf Don Mincherby Marc Z.Aaron Mel Nelsonby Doug Skipper Minnesota and 1965 All-Star Game: The Senior Circuit Takes Chargeby GregErion Joe Nossekby Rick Schabowski Tony Olivaby Peter C. Bjarkman Camilo Pascualby Peter C. Bjarkman Jim PerrybyJosephWancho Bill Pleisby JoelRippel September 8 and 9, 1965: The ChicagoShowdown: The Twins Take Two at Comiskey Parkby Steve Schmitt Frank Quiliciby Norm King Rich Reeseby ChipGreene Garry Roggenburkby MarkArmour Rich Rollinsby Rick Schabowski John Sevcikby John Swol September 25, 1965: "Clinching a Tie is toBeer What Winning the Championship is to Champagne"by AlanCohen Dwight Sieblerby Gregory H. Wolf Dick StigmanbyTom Tomashek Cesar TovarbyRory Costello Ted Uhlaenderby JosephWancho Sandy Valdespinoby AlanCohen Zoilo Versallesby Peter C. Bjarkman September 26, 1965: A Pennant for the Twinsby AlanCohen Al Worthingtonby BillNowlin Jerry Zimmermanby Norm King Sam MelebyBillNowlin Jim Lemonby Gregory H. Wolf Billy MartinbyJimmy KeenanandFrankRusso Hal NaragonbyTracy J.R. Collins Johnny Sainby JanFinkel Herb Carnealby Stew Thornley Halsey Hallby Stew Thornley Ray Scottby Stew Thornley Dick Gordonby Steve West Max Nicholsby Steve West The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgersby GregErion The 1965 World Series SummarybyNorm King By the Numbers: Major League Baseball in 1965by DanFields A Surprising Disappointment: Twins of the Late 1960sby Daniel R.Levitt"