1987 Minnesota Twins season

The 1987 Minnesota Twins won the World Series for the first time since moving from Washington in 1961, the second time that the franchise won the World Series (the Washington Senators won it in 1924). Having won only 85 games during the 1987 regular season, they won the World Series with the fewest regular season wins since Major League Baseball expanded to a 162-game season in 1961, and the fewest of any team since the 1889 New York Giants (excluding the strike-shortened 1981 season). They also became the first team to win the World Series despite being outscored by their opponents in the regular season, having scored 786 runs and allowed 806.

1987 Minnesota Twins
World Series Champions
American League Champions
AL West Champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Other information
Owner(s)Carl Pohlad
General manager(s)Andy MacPhail
Manager(s)Tom Kelly
Local televisionKMSP-TV
(John Rooney, Harmon Killebrew)
Twinsvision
(Dick Bremer, Frank Quilici)
Local radio830 WCCO AM
(Herb Carneal, John Gordon)
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Tom Kelly became the fifth manager to win a World Series in his first full season on the job, and one of seven total, as of 2019, to accomplish the feat.[1]

Offseason
  • November 12, 1986: The Twins traded a player to be named later to the New York Mets for Ron Gardenhire. The Twins completed the trade by sending Dominic Iasparro (minors) to the Mets on April 4, 1987.[2] Gardenhire would spend the next 28 years in the Twins Organization including a 13-year stint as manager from 2002-2014.
  • January 9, 1987: Juan Berenguer was signed as a free agent by the Twins.[3]
  • February 3, 1987: Neal Heaton, Yorkis Pérez, Jeff Reed and minor leaguer Al Cardwood were traded by the Twins to the Montreal Expos for Jeff Reardon and Tom Nieto.[4]
  • February 20, 1987: Minor leaguer Mike Shade was traded by the Twins to the Montreal Expos for Al Newman.[5]
  • February 24, 1987: Billy Sample was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Twins.[6]

Regular season

The Twins were 85-77, first in the American League West, two games ahead of the Kansas City Royals. The team had one of the lowest winning percentages ever for a World Series champion, at .525. They also had the remarkably bad road record of 29-52 (.358 percentage) but made up for it winning 56 home games (best in MLB). Fortunately for the Twins, they played in a very weak division; only two teams finished above .500 and only 10 games separated the Twins from the last-place California Angels (the previous year's division champion) and Texas Rangers. The Twins' 85-77 was the lowest for a World Series champion for nearly two decades, until the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series with an 83-78 record.

1987 was the first year the Twins started using their modernized logos and uniforms, which are still in use today.

Only one Twin made the All-Star Game, outfielder Kirby Puckett. The highest paid player was Kent Hrbek at $1,310,000; followed by Bert Blyleven at $1,150,000.

Over a late August weekend at Milwaukee, Puckett went 10 for 11, with four homers and two doubles, raising his batting average 13 points. The feat tied a major league record.

Joe Niekro, a pitcher for the Twins, was suspended for 10 games when umpire Tim Tschida discovered an emery board in his pocket. Tschida suspected Niekro was scuffing the ball, and saw the emery board fly out of Niekro's pocket. Niekro said he was filing his nails in the dugout, but American League president Dr. Bobby Brown didn't believe him, and ordered the suspension. When the Twins won the pennant, Niekro set a major league record as he'd waited 20½ years since his debut to reach a World Series game.

2,081,976 fans attended Twins games, the sixth highest total in the American League.

The Homer Hanky was introduced in 1987's pennant drive. When the Twins made the playoffs for the first time since 1970, three members of that team remained with the club now seventeen years later. Bert Blyleven was the only remaining player; Tony Oliva became the hitting coach and Rick Renick the third base coach.

Offense

This was the last year for a long time that the Twins were stocked with power hitters. In particular, Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, and Tom Brunansky combined to hit 125 home runs. (The team as a whole hit 196.) Hrbek, Gaetti, and Brunansky each surpassed 30 home runs, a number that no Twin would reach again until Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter in 2006.

Kirby Puckett led the AL with 207 hits.

Despite the power in their lineup, the Twins were outscored 806-786, one of the largest such differentials for a World Series champion.

Team Leaders
StatisticPlayerQuantity
HRKent Hrbek34
RBIGary Gaetti109
BAKirby Puckett.332
RunsKirby Puckett96

Pitching

The top three starting pitchers, Frank Viola, Bert Blyleven, and Les Straker provided stability throughout the year. Mike Smithson, Joe Niekro, and Jeff Bittiger were less reliable. Newly acquired closer Jeff Reardon was a reliable option at the end of games. Juan Berenguer was the most reliable set-up man, posting a 3.94 ERA.

Bert Blyleven led the AL with 46 home runs allowed.

Team Leaders
StatisticPlayerQuantity
ERAFrank Viola2.90
WinsFrank Viola17
SavesJeff Reardon31
StrikeoutsFrank Viola197

Defense

The defense was not as strong as would be typical for Twins teams under manager Tom Kelly. Hrbek was the most reliable fielder at first base, and the outfield of Dan Gladden, Puckett, and Brunansky was reliable. Third baseman Gary Gaetti and center fielder Kirby Puckett each won their second Gold Glove Award.

Season standings
AL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Minnesota Twins 8577 0.525 — 56–25 29–52
Kansas City Royals 8379 0.512 2 46–35 37–44
Oakland Athletics 8181 0.500 4 42–39 39–42
Seattle Mariners 7884 0.481 7 40–41 38–43
Chicago White Sox 7785 0.475 8 38–43 39–42
Texas Rangers 7587 0.463 10 43–38 32–49
California Angels 7587 0.463 10 38–43 37–44

Record vs. opponents
1987 American League Records

Sources:
Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIL MIN NYY OAK SEA TEX TOR
Baltimore —1–129–38–47–64–99–32–115–73–107–54–87–51–12
Boston 12–1—4–83–97–62–116–66–77–57–64–87–57–56–7
California 3–98–4—8–57–53–95–87–58–53–96–77–65–85–7
Chicago 4–89–35–8—7–53–96–76–66–75–79–46–77–64–8
Cleveland 6–76–75–75–7—4–96–64–93–96–74–85–72–105–8
Detroit 9–411–29–39–39–4—5–76–78–45–85–77–58–47–6
Kansas City 3–96–68–57–66–67–5—4–88–55–75–89–47–68–4
Milwaukee 11–27–65–76–69–47–68–4—3–97–66–64–89–39–4
Minnesota 7–55–75–87–69–34–85–89–3—6–610–39–46–73–9
New York 10–36–79–37–57–68–57–56–76–6—5–77–55–76–7
Oakland 5–78–47–64–98–47–58–56–63–107–5—5–86–77–5
Seattle 8–45–76–77–67–55–74–98–44–95–78–5—9–42–10
Texas 5–75–78–56–710–24–86–73–97–67–57–64–9—3–9
Toronto 12–17–67–58–48–56–74–84–99–37–65–710–29–3—

Game log
1987 game log: 85−77 (Home: 56−25; Away: 29−52)
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Twins team member

Notable transactions

Roster
1987 Minnesota Twins
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders

Other batters

 Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CTim Laudner11328855.1911643
1BKent Hrbek143477136.2853490
2BSteve Lombardozzi136432103.238838
3BGary Gaetti154584150.25731109
SSGreg Gagne137437116.2651040
LFDan Gladden121438109.249838
CFKirby Puckett157624207.3322899
RFTom Brunansky155532138.2593285
DHRoy Smalley11030985.275834

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Randy Bush12229374.2531146
Al Newman11030768.221029
Gene Larkin8523362.266428
Mark Davidson10215040.267114
Sal Butera5111119.171112
Tom Nieto4110521.200112
Don Baylor204914.28606
Mark Salas224517.37839
Billy Beane12154.26701
Chris Pittaro14124.33300

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Bert Blyleven3726715124.01196
Frank Viola36251.217102.90197
Les Straker31154.18104.3776
Mike Smithson21109475.9453
Joe Niekro1996.1496.2654

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Mark Portugal1344137.7728
Steve Carlton943156.7020
Joe Klink1223016.6517
Roy Smith716.1104.968
Allan Anderson412.11010.953
Jeff Bittiger38.1105.405

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Jeff Reardon6388314.4883
Juan Berenguer478143.94110
George Frazier545524.9858
Keith Atherton597524.5451
Dan Schatzeder303106.3930
Randy Niemann61008.441

Postseason

See 1987 American League Championship Series and 1987 World Series.

The Twins won the American League Championship Series beating the Detroit Tigers 4 games to 1. Gary Gaetti was named the ALCS MVP. He'd set a record by homering in his first two post-season at-bats. The Twins won the series by winning two of the three road games at Detroit despite a 4-8 regular season record vs the Tigers as well as 29 regular season wins on the road.

The Twins won all four home games to top the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Frank Viola was named the Series' MVP even though it was the Twins bats that were instrumental in the first three wins outscoring St. Louis 29-10 in the process.

Game log
1987 Postseason: 8−4 (Home 6−0; Away 2−4)
World Series: (4−3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series
1October 17Cardinals10–1Viola (1–0)Magrane (0–1)—55,1711–0
2October 18Cardinals8–4Blyleven (1–0)Cox (0–1)—55,2572–0
3October 20@ Cardinals1–3Tudor (1–0)Berenguer (0–1)Worrell (1)55,3472–1
4October 21@ Cardinals2–7Forsch (1–0)Viola (1–1)Dayley (1)55,3472–2
5October 22@ Cardinals2–4Cox (1–1)Blyleven (1–1)Worrell (2)55,3472–3
6October 24Cardinals11–5Schatzeder (1–0)Tudor (1–1)—55,2933–3
7October 25Cardinals4–2Viola (2–1)Cox (1–2)Reardon (1)55,3764–3
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Twins team member

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Portland Beavers Pacific Coast League Charlie Manuel
AA Orlando Twins Southern League George Mitterwald
A Visalia Oaks California League Danny Schmitz
A Kenosha Twins Midwest League Don Leppert
Rookie Elizabethton Twins Appalachian League Ray Smith

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Kenosha[21]

References
  1. Simon, Andrew; Kelly, Matt. "Rookie managers who won the World Series". MLB. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. Ron Gardenhire at Baseball Reference
  3. Juan Berenguer at Baseball Reference
  4. Jeff Reardon at Baseball Reference
  5. Al Newman at Baseball Reference
  6. Billy Sample at Baseball Reference
  7. Dan Gladden at Baseball Reference
  8. Bill Latham at Baseball Reference
  9. Sal Butera at Baseball Reference
  10. Willie Banks at Baseball Reference
  11. Terry Jorgensen at Baseball Reference
  12. Larry Casian at Baseball Reference
  13. Mark Guthrie at Baseball Reference
  14. Chip Hale at Baseball Reference
  15. Bret Boone at Baseball Reference
  16. Craig Paquette at Baseball Reference
  17. "Eric Bullock Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. Mark Salas at Baseball Reference
  19. Dan Schatzeder at Baseball Reference
  20. "Don Baylor Stats - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007
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