I threw 151 pitches in a game

Willie BanksThe Twins drafted me in the first round (third overall) out of St. Anthony’s High School in 1987. I made my major league debut with the Twins on July 31, 1991 at Yankee Stadium in relief and pitched 2 innings. I pitched for the Twins from 1991-1993 before being traded to the Chicago Cubs. During my time in Minnesota I had a 16-17 record with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. In 259.2 innings I struck out 191 batters and I issued a free pass to 127 hitters. I pitched in 52 games for the Twins and started 45 of them but I had no complete games.

One game in particular stands out during my time in Minnesota. On August 14, 1993 in the first game of a double-header at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum I threw 151 pitches during my 8 innings on the mound and I left the game with the score knotted at 1-1. The Twins scored 4 runs in the top of the 12th inning and won the game 5-1. Larry Casian pitched the final 4 innings of relief throwing just 53 pitches and was credited with the win, it just doesn’t seem fair does it? Since Baseball-Reference.com starting keeping track of pitch counts in 1988 no Twins pitcher has thrown more pitches in a game then I did on this day. Do you remember me?

Yes, the answer is Willie Banks.

German born Navy vet 65-68 and served aboard the Shangri La CVA-38. I run https://Twinstrivia.com, best MN Twins historical web site there is. Stop by daily and check out OTD in Twins history and much more. Live in Minnesota and Florida depending on what time of the year it is.

3 comments

      1. While pitch counts were not a big thing at the time, there was one columnist who thought that it was a lot of pitches from a young pitcher.
        For some reason it stuck in my mind.
        (of course, coward that I am, I checked with Baseball-Reference before answering)

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