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
Minnesota catcher Earl Battey is beaned in the 7th inning by Cleveland Indians pitcher Bobby Locke at Met Stadium, fracturing his cheek. Battey returns to action less than two weeks later at Yankee Stadium on August 4th wearing a special batting helmet. Back in the day, players were tough. Be sure to check out the SABR Biography piece on Battey here.
April 22, 2011 – Twins catcher Earl Battey is seen here showing a batting helmet that was fashioned for him after he was beaned by Cleveland Indians pitcher Bobby Locke in the 7th inning of the July 23, 1961 games at Met Stadium and suffered a broken cheek. Earl Battey was tough and less than two weeks later, August 4th to be exact, Battey was behind the plate as the Twins faced the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Earl, a four time all-star was an original Minnesota Twin and played for Minnesota between 1961 and 1967. Battey won three Gold Gloves between 1960-1962. During his eight years as a Washington Senator (1960) and Minnesota Twin (1961-1967), he played in 990 games, had 3,228 at bats, scored 346 runs, hit 91 home runs, had 410 RBI’s, stole 12 bases while hitting for a .277 average. Between 1960-1965, Battey who was strictly a catcher, averaged 138 games per season. In 2010, Earl Battey was selected as one of the “50 Greatest Twins”. Earl Battey passed away on November 15, 2003 at the age of 68.