This Day in Twins History – December 26, 2005

Four-Time All-Star relief pitcher Jeff Reardon was arrested on robbery charges after holding up a jewelry store in Palm Springs Gardens‚ Florida‚ a town he has lived in without incident for 20 years. “He said it was the medication that made him do it and that he was sorry‚” said policeman David O’Neill. Reardon had a son who died of a drug overdose several years ago. Two court-appointed psychiatrists, along with two defense psychiatrists, testify that Reardon was under the influence of a dozen prescription medications and that there was no reasonable explanation for the robbery. In late August 2006, Reardon was found not guilt by reason of insanity.

Reardon was the Twins closer from 1987 – 1989 and had a 15-16 record with a 3.70 ERA but more importantly, he saved 104 games in a Twins uniform. Reardon had a 16 year big league career with the Mets, Expos, Red Sox, Braves, Reds and Yankees in addition to pitching in Minnesota and he picked up 367 career saves.

You can check out a story that ESPN did on Jeff Reardon on September 1, 2006 here.