Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins — page 3 — CHAPTER 1 MAKING SOME NOISE

Minnesota Twins — page 4 — W hat is the loudest noise you have ever heard A train barreling down the tracks A jackhammer tearing up a city street A jet airplane roaring as it takes off Those are all extremely loud noises But to many of the 55,293 sports fans who were in the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis on the afternoon of October 24 1987 the sound of a baseball game is probably the loudest noise they have ever heard The home team the Min nesota Twins was facing the St Louis Cardinals that day in HHome oo ng Home Cooking Home Cooking h h l d d h 98 The Twins had a remarkable record TThe Twins had a remarkable record The Twins had a remarkable record in home g mes in 1987 They won in home games in 1987 They won in home games in 1987 They won 56 games and lost only 25 in the 56 games and lost only 25 in the 56 games and lost only 25 in the M r Metrodome during the regular Metrodome during the regular season The Twins won both of their season The Twins won both of their season The Twins won both of their season The Twins won both of their home games on the way to beating home games on the way to beating the Detroit Tigers in five games in the Detroit Tigers in five games in the American Leag e Champ on the American League Champion the American League Champion ship Series ALCS Minnesota then ship Series ALCS Minnesota then ship Series ALCS Minnesota then won all four games that were held in won all four games that were held in won all four games that were held in the Metrodome in the World Serie the Metrodome in the World Series the Metrodome in the World Series helping the Twins outlast the St helping the Twins outlast the St Louis Cardinals in seven games Louis Cardinals in seven games Kent Hrbek celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the Twins 11 5 Kent Hrbek celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the Twins 11 5 victory over the Cardinals in Game 6 of the 1987 World Series victory over the Cardinals in Game 6 of the 1987 World Series MAKING SOME NOISE 5

Minnesota Twins — page 5 — Game 6 of the World Series The first team to win four games in the Series would win base ball’s world championship The Cardinals were on the verge of capturing the title They led the Series three games to two and needed to win only one of the last two games But the Twins were leading this sixth game by a narrow 6 5 Bert Blyleven Bert Blyleven Bert Blyleven lyleven er Bert Blyleven had one of the best Bert Blyleven had one of the best curveballs in major league history curveballs in major league history Blyleven spun his hook as a Blyleven spun his hook as a Blyleven spun his hook as a curveball is sometimes called for curveball is sometimes called for curveball is sometimes called for 22 seasons in the major leagues He 22 seasons in the major leagues He was only 19 years old as a rookie was only 19 years old as a rookie was only 19 years old as a rookie with the Twins in 1970 He won 15 with the Twins in 1970 He won 15 games or more seven times with games or more seven times with games or more seven times with Minnesota He went 3 1 in the post Minnesota He went 3 1 in the post season as the Twins won the 1987 season as the Twins won the 1987 world championship Blyleven won world championship Blyleven won world championship Blyleven won 287 career games pitching mostly 287 career games pitching mostly for mediocre teams During the 2011 for mediocre teams During the 2011 season he was inducted into t e h season he was inducted into the season he was inducted into the 6h Baseball Hall of Fame On July 16th Baseball Hall of Fame On July 16th Baseball Hall of Fame On July 16th the Twins retired his No 28 Through the Twins retired his No 28 Through the Twins retired his No 28 Through 2013 he ranked fifth all time in 2013 he ranked fifth all time in strikeouts with 3,701 strikeouts with 3,701 h b ll d O l d ll f margin as they came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning Greg Gagne singled and then Kirby Puckett walked With one out Don Baylor was walked intentionally Tom Brunansky then popped out The bases were loaded There were two outs Up to the plate strode Kent Hrbek The burly Twins slugger grew up about 10 miles 16 km from the Metrodome He had a chance to be a World Series hero for his hometown team Minnesota fans roared furiously waving their Homer Hankies The little white-and-red handker chiefs symbolized their fanatic support for the Twins The first pitch from Cardi nals reliever Ken Dayley was right where Hrbek wanted it a fastball over the outside half of the plate Hrbek took a mighty swing And he connected The ball soared toward the stands 6 MINNESOTA TWINS

Minnesota Twins — page 6 — Frank Viola delivers a pitch during Game 7 of the 1987 World Series Minnesota turned to its ace in the crucial game against St Louis in center field and landed 439 feet from home plate It was a mammoth blast a grand slam home run It gave the Twins a 10 5 lead and it gave them breathing room At the time it was the most important home run in Twins history The run around the bases didn’t last long enough Hrbek said I wanted to do it a couple more times The noise was incredible What a noise it was The Metrodome crowd noise dur ing the 1987 World Series was estimated to be as loud as the sound a jet makes when tak ing off It was so loud that one of the devices used to measure MAKING SOME NOISE 7

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