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Although the 1995
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
were separated from a world championship by only four years, it seemed like eons. Because of the
1994–95 Major League Baseball strike The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike was the eighth and longest work stoppage in baseball history, as well as the fourth in-season work stoppage in 22 years. The strike began on August 12, 1994, and resulted in the remainder of that season ...
, the season got off to a late start. However, it did not end soon enough, as the team finished with a 56–88 record and in last place in its division. The team found it impossible to compete against the runaway Cleveland Indians who won 100 games despite the shortened season and finished 44 games ahead of the Twins. By July, the team was trading away its veterans in a fire sale. Manager Tom Kelly might have preferred that the strike had continued.


Offseason

* November 4, 1995: Rich Robertson was selected off waivers by the Twins from the
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. * December 16, 1995: Matt Merullo was signed as a free agent by the Twins. * December 22, 1995: Kevin Maas was signed as a free agent by the Twins.


Regular season

*On May 7, the Twins played their longest game ever—in terms of time—losing in 17 innings to Cleveland after 6 hours and 36 minutes. *May 17 – Kirby Puckett scores his 1000th run, at the Metrodome. *May 26 – Kirby Puckett gets his 1000th
RBI RBI most often refers to: *Reserve Bank of India *Run batted in RBI may also refer to: Organisations *Radio Berlin International *Raiffeisen Bank International *Reed Business Information *Restaurant Brands International *Ruđer Bošković In ...
, at the Metrodome. *The lone representative of the Twins in the All-Star Game was outfielder Kirby Puckett. *On September 13, three Seattle pitchers struck out eighteen Twins, which set a team record for batting futility. *The highest paid Twin in 1995 was Kirby Puckett at $6,300,000, followed by Rick Aguilera at $4,3500,000.


Offense

Only three players had particularly solid years: second baseman Chuck Knoblauch and outfielders Kirby Puckett and Marty Cordova. Puckett did not know that this would be his last year, but it was a solid one. He would be the team's lone all-star representative. Knoblauch won his first Silver Slugger Award. Cordova had a great year for a rookie, and won the Rookie of the Year award.


Pitching

The starting rotation was uncertain. Surprisingly, the only certainty was that rookie
Brad Radke Brad William Radke (born October 27, 1972) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played his entire 12 season career with the Minnesota Twins. Radke won 148 career games and was one of the most consistent pitchers in ...
would get the ball every fifth game. He made 28 starts, but the other pitchers were either injury-prone, inconsistent, or traded by the end of the year, with Kevin Tapani making 20 starts,
Mike Trombley Michael Scott Trombley (born April 14, 1967) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. During an 11-year major league career, Trombley pitched for the Minnesota Twins (– and ), Baltimore Orioles (–) and Los Angeles Dodgers ( ...
18, Frank Rodriguez 16, Scott Erickson 15, and Jose Parra 12. Closer Rick Aguilera would also be traded midway through the season. He earned 12 saves while Dave Stevens earned 10. Aguilera, Rich Robertson, and Mark Guthrie were the only regular pitchers with ERAs under 5.


Defense

Like most of Tom Kelly's teams, the defense was capable.
Matt Walbeck Matthew Lovick Walbeck (born October 2, 1969) is an American former professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for five different teams, primarily in the American League, from 1993 to 2003. He served as third base coac ...
was the starting catcher, backed up by Matt Merullo. Scott Stahoviak played in 69 games at first base. Although he was not a good hitter, he had a .998 fielding percentage that year. Knoblauch capably manned second base.
Scott Leius Scott Thomas Leius (born September 24, 1965) is a former American League baseball player who played during the 1990s. Leius was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft out of Concordia College in ...
played reasonably well at third in his last year with the Twins. Pat Meares continued his decent play at shortstop in his third year with the Twins. The regular outfielders were Puckett, Cordova, and Rich Becker.


Notable Transactions

* April 6, 1994:
Carl Willis Carl Blake Willis (born December 28, 1960) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current pitching coach for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was previously the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox and ...
was signed as a free agent by the Twins.Carl Willis
at ''Baseball Reference''
* May 4, 1994: Carl Willis was released by the Twins. * May 16, 1994: Kevin Campbell was released by the Twins. * June 1, 1994:
1994 Major League Baseball draft First round selections The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft. Compensation picks Compensation Picks Other notable players *Troy Glaus, 2nd round, 37th overall by the San Diego Padres, but did not ...
** Mark Redman was drafted by the Twins in the 1st round (13th pick). ** Doug Mientkiewicz was drafted by the Twins in the 5th round. * July 6, 1994: Rick Aguilera was traded by the Twins to the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Frank Rodriguez and a player to be named later. The Red Sox completed the deal by sending J. J. Johnson (minors) to the Twins on October 11. * July 7, 1994: Scott Erickson was traded by the Twins to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher
Scott Klingenbeck Scott Edward Klingenbeck (born February 3, 1971) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in parts of four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, and Cincinnati Reds. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Klingenbec ...
and a player to be named later. The Orioles completed the trade by sending
Kimera Bartee Kimera Anotchi Bartee (July 21, 1972 – December 20, 2021) was an American professional baseball outfielder and coach. Bartee played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies from 1996 to 20 ...
to the Twins on September 19. * July 31, 1994: Kevin Tapani and Mark Guthrie were traded by the Twins to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ron Coomer,
Greg Hansell Gregory Michael Hansell (born March 12, 1971) is a former baseball pitcher. Career Hansell played for four different major league ballclubs during his career: the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995), Minnesota Twins (1996), Milwaukee Brewers (1997), and P ...
, José Parra, and a player to be named later. The Dodgers completed the deal by sending Chris Latham to the Twins on October 30. * October 9, 1995: Luis Rivas was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent.


Season standings


Record vs. opponents


Roster


Player stats


Batting


Starters by position

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


Other batters

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


Pitching


Starting pitchers

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


Other pitchers

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


Relief pitchers

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


Other post-season awards

*
Calvin R. Griffith Award Calvin Robertson Griffith (December 1, 1911 – October 20, 1999), born Calvin Griffith Robertson, was a Canadian-born American Major League Baseball team owner. As president, majority owner and ''de facto'' general manager (baseball), general m ...
''(Most Valuable Twin)'' – Chuck Knoblauch *
Joseph W. Haynes Award Joseph Walton Haynes (September 21, 1917 – January 6, 1967) was an American professional baseball player, coach and front office executive. A right-handed pitcher, he logged 14 seasons in Major League Baseball as a member of the Washington Sen ...
''(Twins Pitcher of the Year)'' –
Brad Radke Brad William Radke (born October 27, 1972) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played his entire 12 season career with the Minnesota Twins. Radke won 148 career games and was one of the most consistent pitchers in ...
*Bill Boni Award ''(Twins Outstanding Rookie)'' – Marty Cordova *Charles O. Johnson Award ''(Most Improved Twin)'' –
Pedro Muñoz Pedro Muñoz is a municipality in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is located in the northeast corner of the province of Ciudad Real, on the bank of the Záncara river. It is in the La Mancha region, in the "Mancha Alta" ...
**''The above awards are voted on by the Twin Cities chapter of the BBWAA'' *
Carl R. Pohlad Award Carl Ray Pohlad (August 23, 1915 – January 5, 2009) was an American financier from Minnesota. Pohlad is best known as the owner of the Minnesota Twins baseball franchise from 1984 (succeeding Calvin Griffith) until his death in 2009. In 20 ...
''(Outstanding Community Service)'' – Kirby Puckett *
Sherry Robertson Award Sherrard Alexander Robertson (January 1, 1919 – October 23, 1970) was a Canadians, Canadian-American utility player, front office executive, and coach (baseball), coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played three outfield and three infield ...
''(Twins Outstanding Farm System Player)'' –
Javier Valentín José Javier Valentín Rosario (born September 19, 1975) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. From -, he played for the Cincinnati Reds after playing with the Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays () and four brief stints for t ...


Farm system

Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007


References


External links


Player stats from www.baseball-reference.comTeam info from www.baseball-almanac.comTwins history through the 1990s, from www.mlb.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1995 Minnesota Twins Season Minnesota Twins seasons
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
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