Who is the youngest Minnesota Twins player to make his major league debut wearing a Twins uniform? That would be right-handed pitcher Jim Manning who was born in L’Anse, Michigan on July 21, 1943 and went on to become a legendary high school basketball player winning All-State honors as a junior and as a senior. Jim held the U.P. record of most points scored in his four-year career with a total of 2,137 points, all without playing with a 3-point line. While in high school he was offered a full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in basketball and according to Tom Briere of the Minneapolis Tribune, Manning was all set to sign a baseball-basketball scholarship with the Minnesota Gophers, but declined because his first love was always baseball and the Minnesota Twins snatched him up.
After signing with the Twins for $20,000 fresh from high school, the Michigan native pitched in 12 games for Wytheville of the short-season Class D Appalachian League in 1961. Dividing his time between starting and relief, he went 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA. Others playing at Wytheville that season included future Hall of Famer Tony Oliva, who hit .410 in 64 games, and future Twins infielder and manager Frank Quilici.
Manning entered spring training 1962 with the Twins with the slimmest of chances to make the team. The Twins went with a youth movement in 1962, their second season in Minnesota after relocating from Washington, with The Sporting News commenting on the team’s “incubator infield” of 23-year-old third baseman Rich Rollins, 22-year-old second baseman Bernie Allen, and 22-year-old shortstop Zoilo Versalles. Joe Bonikowski, a 21-year-old pitcher, made the team with a strong spring training, as did a relative graybeard, 25-year-old rookie Lee Stange. (Starting pitcher Jim Kaat was 23 but was no newcomer, beginning his fourth season with the franchise. Manning, just 18 also pitched his way on to the team. He secured another niche in Twins history when he was issued jersey number 42, becoming the first Twin to wear that number although this point has been questioned.
Manning’s big league career consisted of just 5 games, all with the Minnesota Twins. The amazing part is that he did it at the age of 18 after appearing in just 12 games in the Appalachian League a year earlier.
LHP Gary Dotter debuted on September 10, 1961 at 19 years, 34 days at Municipal Stadium against the Kansas City Athletics.
RHP Bert Blyleven debuted on June 5, 1970 at 19 years, 60 days at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium against the Washington Senators
Catcher Paul Ratliff debuted on April 14, 1963 at 19 years, 81 days at Municipal Stadium against the Kansas City Athletics.
RHP Rich Garces debuted on September 18, 1990 at 19 years, 123 days at the Metrodome against the Kansas City Royals.
RHP Dave Boswell debuted on September 18, 1964 at 19 years, 242 days at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.
LHP Jim Roland debuted on September 20, 1962 at 19 years, 280 days at Metropolitan Stadium against the Detroit Tigers.
LHP Gerry Arrigo debuted on June 12, 1961 on his 20th Birthday at Fenway park against the Boston Red Sox.
Catcher Rick Dempsey debuted on September 23, 1969 at 20 years, 10 days at Municipal Stadium against the Kansas City Royals.
Catcher Butch Wynegar debuted on Opening Day April 9, 1976 at 20 years, 26 days at Arlington Stadium against the Texas Rangers.
An impressive list to be sure, you must have been a very good player to make your major league baseball debut 18, 19 or barely 20 years of age. Did you notice that this group of ten is made up of 7 pitchers and three catchers? I can understand bringing up a pitcher at a young age but it kind of shocks me to see three catchers on this list. Plus, we have a Hall of Fame pitcher on this list.