TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
Our final major league debut as a Minnesota Twin took place on September 28th.
Terry Felton (P) – September 28, 1979 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1976 amateur draft. Felton debuted in relief at Met Stadium pitching 2 scoreless/hit-less innings while striking out one batter in a Milwaukee Brewers 10-1 laugher over our Minnesota Twins.
Major League debuts wearing a Twins uniform on September 27th.
Max Kepler (OF) – September 27, 2015 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on July 11, 2009. Kepler debuted at Comerica Park as a pinch-hitter for Torii Hunter and struck out in his only PA in this Twins 7-1 taming of the Tigers.
We have two debuts as Twins for you today, September 23rd, as we approach the finish line. Rick Dempsey played in the big leagues for all or parts of 24 years while Michael Cuddyer played for all or parts of 15 seasons. Those are some good career’s.
Michael Cuddyer (OF/1B/3B) – September 23, 2001 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (9th) of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft. Cuddyer debuted at the Dome as the starting DH hitting 8th against the Cleveland Indians. Cuddyer took a walk in his first PA and then went 1 for 2 with a double and a strike out before being lifted for pinch-hitter David Ortiz. At the end of the day the scoreboard shows the Indians with 4 run and the Twins with 2.
Rick Dempsey (C) – September 23, 1969 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 1967 amateur draft. Debuted at Municipal Stadium against the Kansas City Royals when he replaced John Roseboro as the catcher in the fourth inning. Dempsey went 1 for 2 before he was lifted for pinch-runner Herman Hill in a Twins 6-2 win.
One player debuted in the big leagues as a Minnesota Twin on September 22.
Pete Cimino (P) – September 22, 1965 – Signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent in 1960. The Twins had a 5-2 lead on the Orioles at Met Stadium when Pete Cimino came on to pitch in his first big league game. Cimino wasted no time retiring Paul Blair, Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson to secure the Twins victory.
The only big league debut as a Minnesota Twins player on September 21.
Glen Perkins (P) – September 21, 2006 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (22nd) of the 2004 MLB June Amateur Draft. Perkins debut took place at Fenway Park in a 6-0 loss to the Red Sox as Perkins finished the game on the mound for Minnesota with 1.1 innings (18 pitches) of scoreless hitless relief with a one strike out.
Gary Gaetti (3B) – September 20, 1981 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (11th pick) of the 1979 amateur draft (June Secondary). Signed June 21, 1979. Debut took place at Arlington Stadium hitting 7th and playing third base. In his first big league at bat Gaetti hit a two-run home run off Rangers pitcher Charlie Hough. For the day Gaetti was 1 for 3 with a run scored and 2 RBI.
Buzz Stephen (P) – September 20, 1968 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 1966 amateur draft (June Secondary). Twins starter at Met Stadium in a 7-1 loss to the Oakland A’s. Stephen pitched 6.1 innings and allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits and 5 walks while fanning just one and his effort earned him the loss. Buzz also had an error and a wild pitch but on the plus side he did pick-off Bert Campaneris.
Jim Roland (P) – September 20, 1962 – Signed as an amateur free agent in 1961, Debuted at Met Stadium in relief and tossed 2 innings of scoreless relief allowing just one hit and striking out one along the way. Unfortunately the Twins came up short and lost 5-1 to the Tigers.
Major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 18th.
Michael Restovich (OF) – September 18, 2002 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft. Started as the Twins right fielder hitting seventh in his debut at Comerica Park but ended up going 0 for 4 in the Twins 2-0 shutout of the Tigers.
Doug Mientkiewicz (1B) – September 18, 1998 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 5th round of the 1995 amateur draft. O for 3 with a walk in his debut at Tiger Stadium while playing first base and hitting in the eight hole. The Twins lost this game to the Tigers by a 5-4 score in 11 innings.
Rich Garces (P) – September 18, 1990 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on December 29, 1987. Pitched a scoreless final inning allowing a hit and a walk at the Dome as the Twins pounded the KC Royals 10-4.
Bob Veselic (P) – September 18, 1980 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 1976 amateur draft (January). Debuted at County Stadium with 4 innings of relief allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 2 batters but his team was shutout by the Brewers 5-0 in game 2 of a DH for a sweep.
Chuck Nieson (P) – September 18, 1964 – Signed as an amateur free agent in 1962. Big league debut was at Fenway Park as a reliever in a Twins 7-6 loss to the Red Sox. Nieson pitched one scoreless inning striking out two and walking one. Chuck only pitched in one other big league game which was the next day against the Red Sox again and he gave up his only big league hit, a home run to Frank Malzone. Nieson debuted in the same game as Dave Boswell did.
Dave Boswell (P) – September 18, 1964 – Signed as an amateur free agent in 1963. Debuted as the starting pitcher in the same game that Chuck Nieson did at Fenway Park and his pitching line was 3 innings pitched, 3 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks with 5 strikeouts but at least he avoided getting the “L”. Boswell’s big league career lasted a lot longer than did Mr. Nieson’s.
Major league debuts in a Twins uniform on September 17.
Todd Sears (1B) – September 17, 2002 – Traded by the Colorado Rockies with cash to the Minnesota Twins for Butch Huskey and Todd Walker on July 15, 2000. Sears was the starting first baseman batting 8th in the order at Comerica Park in a Twins 7-4 win. Sears was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Brian Raabe (3B/2B) – September 17, 1995 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 41st round of the 1990 amateur draft. Debuted at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum as the starting second baseman and went 0 for 3 in a 4-1 Twins loss to the Oakland A’s.
Major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 16.
Chris Herrmann (C/OF) – September 16, 2012 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 6th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft. Debuted at Target Field in a Twins 9-2 loss to the White Sox as a replacement for catcher Ryan Doumit and went 0 for 1.
John Barnes (OF) – September 16, 2000 – Traded by the Boston Red Sox with Joe Thomas (minors) and Matt Kinney to the Minnesota Twins for Orlando Merced and Greg Swindell on July 31, 1998. Barnes debuted in the same game as Luis Rivas did at the Dome in a Anaheim Angels 7-6 win over the Twins. Barnes was the starting center fielder hitting seventh and he was 1 for 3 with a walk and a RBI.
Luis Rivas (2B/SS) – September 16, 2000 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on October 9, 1995. Rivas debuted in the same game as John Barnes did at the Dome in a Anaheim Angels 7-6 win over the Twins. Rivas started at second base hitting second and he was 1 for 4 with a single to center in his first big league at bat.
Larry Wolfe (3B/2B/SS) – September 16, 1977 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 9th round of the 1973 amateur draft. The Twins beat the Rangers 9-7 at Arlington Stadium in Wolfe’s big league debut starting at third base hitting fifth and going 1 for 5 with two RBI.