Keeping Track

1965 Rewind: Game One

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MINNESOTA 5, NEW YORK 4 IN MINNESOTA (11 INNINGS)

Date:  April 12.

Batting stars:  Bob Allison was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs.  Harmon Killebrew was 1-for-3 with two walks and a run.  Cesar Tovar was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Pitching stars:  Jim Kaat pitched nine innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts.  Jerry Fosnow pitched two shutout innings, giving up a walk with one strikeout.

Opposition stars:  Elston Howard was 2-for-5 with a home run and a double, scoring twice.  Mickey Mantle was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run.  Pete Mikkelsen struck out two in two shutout innings, allowing a hit and a walk.

The game:  A run scored on a ground out in the first, Allison singled in a run in the second, and Kaat delivered a two-run single in the fourth to put the Twins up 4-0.  Howard got the Yankees on the board in the fifth.  In the seventh, a walk, a double, and two productive outs cut the lead to 4-3.  An error allowed the Yankees to tie it in the ninth.  Allison opened the eleventh by reaching third on a three-base error.  Two intentional walks followed to load the bases.  A popup and a strikeout gave the Yankees hope, but Tovar singled home the winning run.

Of note:  Zoilo Versalles was 0-for-6.  Jerry Kindall was 0-for-4 with two walks and a run.  Tony Oliva was 0-for-5 with an RBI.

Record:  The win made the Twins 1-0 on the season, in first place in the American League.

9 thoughts on “1965 Rewind: Game One”

  1. Boxscore. Looking at the schedule, the Twins played one game against the Yankees to open the season and then one against Detroit. Seems unusual but I don't see anything about the opener being postponed in 1965.

    1. My guess is that their next game (or two) was rained out, because they didn't play again until April 15.

      1. According to Cool of the Evening (pg 72), there was flooding and brisk weather. According to Baseball Reference:

        Time of Game: 3:14.
        Attendance: 15,388.
        Field Condition: Wet.
        Start Time Weather: 44° F, Wind 18mph out to Rightfield, Overcast.

        You really need to pick up this book if you can. I ordered mine from the author and got it autographed.

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