This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history.
This is the story of the 1965 Minnesota Twins. The American League tennis winners.
Here's the pitch.
The Minnesota Twins, when we were veterans and youngsters, time and again showed an amazing ability to come from behind in the late 80s.
These are the broadcasts that tell the Twins' 1965 story of winning the tennis.
The pattern started to develop early in the season. On May 11, first place is at stake. The Twins are playing the Los Angeles Angels.
The score is tied at 2-2. The Angels' great right-hander, Dean Chance, is pitching.
2-2, last of the ninth inning. A leave-on third one out. The infield is up all around. The outfield is coming in very shallow for the triple reason that it won't do them any good to get the long play ball since they'll leave us at score.
The first pitch to Harmon. Swinging left, a breaking hit on the outside corner.
It's turning right.
Going into the explanation of what killed a bird. Harmon is grounded out and struck out twice tonight.
The infield right up to the ground. The outfield's shallow.
Chance into the lineup. Here's the pitch.
Harmon hits back to Chance. He can't find the ball. A leave-on short.
Gooder. And a low shot off the pitcher's chance. He couldn't find the ball as it just got towards the plate.
He probably will leave us short. It'll be a roll of the big hits. But that doesn't matter to him.
The Twins win. 2-2.
Most of the Twins' 10 victories over the Detroit Tigers were accomplished the last time at that.
On June 25th, the first place Twins had a half game lead over Chicago and Cleveland.
The Twins and the Tigers were tied 3-3. It was the last of the ninth.
3-3 here in the last of the ninth with two out and the bases loaded for the Twins.
Two strike count on thin-shitter Joe Nussick. Fred Gladding working in relief for Wickersham.
Here's a wind-up to the pitch. He sends the ground ball. 40-40 seconds.
Top plate for the second base. It was the first.
State! Twins win!
The Twins win.
The Twins score. The Twins score.
And the Tigers three.
It was a rally with two out and none on the base. And the Twins are assured of staying in first place for at least another 24 hours.
All game and I'll tell you again, you can now get up from underneath the bench.
The game is over. All is forgiven.
You wouldn't say the Twins had them all the way, would you?
Boy, that's the way to crash that nugget. In a pinch.
Pull down the ball and dribble it toward second and lumpy coming and fast.
Might have gotten a slower man, but Nussick can run and so the Twins really pulled one out of the fire tonight.
The last game before the plate for the All-Star game.
The Twins and the defending champion New York Yankees meet at Metropolitan Stadium.
It's a tense rhubarb-filled game.
Twins manager Sam Neely has already lodged a protest over a ruling that went against the Twins.
The Twins are down by a run. All two strike through, two out, one on, five for the Yankees, last of the night.
Nicholson comes to the set. Here's the pitch. Way outside, almost a wild pitch.
So Rollins will be moving as it's three and two to Killibrew.
He tried to sidearm Harmon and came way outside that time.
Richardson back on the grass, the second baseman in near seconds.
Killibrew's ready. Rollins leads at first.
Here's the set and the pitch. A foul behind the plate. He changed up on him three and two.
It's out of play. Rollins goes back to first.
Full of mind. Imagine the season's only half over.
One after another of games that go right down to the wire.
It makes for great baseball, but a little tough on the blood pressure.
Here's the pitch. A drive, it's a left wing.
Over! Twins win!
And the season was only half over. It's July 31st now.
The contending Orioles are in town. It's the last of the 11th.
One of baseball's premier release pitchers is working for the Orioles.
Last of the 11th. New Miller pitching, Tony Oliva batting.
Oliva today is one for three a single, walked one time.
The last time he faced Stu Miller was in Baltimore last Sunday.
Tony hit a three run homer to tie the game at 5-5.
A game eventually won for the twins 8-5. Here's the windup and the first pitch.
A smash through the middle and a scrap by Upheaval behind second. He has no play. Oliva is on.
Oliva is sacrificed to second.
Hank Fowler, the Baltimore manager, orders an intentional walk to Killibrew.
And then with Joe Nauticops, Miller looks back at second.
Miller rates, Brown ball's floating at the third. Robinson has it on to second out there.
On to first, not in time. Oliva's got it. He saw it! He saw it!
Oliva went all the way to the plate.
Oliva scored it for second as the Orioles missed the double play.
The winning one comes across on a tremendous bit of daring base running by Tony Oliva.
As Bukow took the relay at first, which was not in time, he took that fatal look. He didn't believe it.
He hesitated just that long. By the time he made his throw to the plate, Oliva was in with a slide.
The Twins win it in 11 innings by a score of 2-1. Halsey, that's the way I saw the winning run.
Well, I don't see how anybody can see it differently.
Unless they were yelling so loud they couldn't see it. Please see.
That's the way with a lot of folks here. Another last inning time for the Twins.
On August 2nd, the Orioles' sixth round hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to tie the Twins at 5-5.
In the last of the ninth, Jimmy Hall batted for Johnny Cliffside.
One and two to Jimmy Hall. The windup and the pitch.
The ball is out of the left field. It's going deep. Now it's a pass. It's going low. And a homer in. He's got over the left field. He's a homer under the out of the field.
Jimmy Hall and the Twins win it quick to the ground.
The game now is August 4th. The Washington Senators lead the Twins 3-2.
It's the last of the ninth. Jerry Kendall, 10-6 for Dick Stigman.
Jerry Kendall up the back for Stigman. And there's a long with the left.
It is a...
...trible game.
This new eight, their seniors won.
Bridges to the set. There's a pitch.
A fair ball over the mound. And it is in the center for a hit.
The Tigers are on second. Seeking for third. Runners first and third and nobody out.
Up or over the mound. The shortstop, Brinkman, couldn't get it.
The second baseman, Hamlin, couldn't get it.
The Twins are runners first and third.
Left-hander batting, Jimmy Hall up. Versailles on third. Oliva on first. No outs.
Last of the ninth, 3-3. Bridges out of the windup. There's a pitch.
A ground ball right side.
The time of four is the Twins win 4-3.
And the first pitch again. Holy cow, can you imagine that?
Three first pitches win the ball game for the Twins.
Out to here.
Are you gonna make this next trip in a basket or a wheelchair?
August 23rd. Yankees and the first place Twins are tied 3-3 in the last of the tenths.
Allison is on second. Mincher is on first. There is one out.
Gary Kendall, that's for Al Webbington. Yankees have the infield back. Short and second.
Papaton is retreated now at first. Boyer has stepped behind third.
Here's the pitch. There's a drive at the straightaway center field.
It is a base hit. It is through to the center field.
Allison Rooschor.
The third is Healter. Charged the ball and went off his grab or his knee.
Four of the Twins win by a score of 4-3. All team aboard.
Well, I don't believe it.
Come from behind rallies, we're now a Twins trademark.
And all along great defensive plays contributed to the Twins third to first place in the standings.
In the same Yankee series, two days later, the Twins are leading one to nothing.
The Yankees have runners at first and second with no outs.
There's a fly ball hit into right center field. Deep Costco racing to his right.
And he makes a great diving cast. Ball to the ground. Yankee runners are snapped through to second.
Out there double play.
A tremendous pass by Costco. Deep in right center field.
Pushing. He held on. Skidded on the ground. Held up the ball.
How it was already a third base. And I'll tell you, if there had been someone on first, they could have had a double play.
Easy triple play. That's the first thing I looked for.
But Mentor had to leave the bag for an expected cutoff.
In the seventh, the Twins have a slender, two-nuping lead.
The batter is Mantle.
A ball and two strikes to Mantle.
Merritt checking his sign of Earl Batty. Here's the windup. In comes the pitch.
One on a line guy. Claps by the fans. A sensational whiffing blast.
With the Twins now ahead five to two in the Yankees eighth inning of this same game, two are out.
Merritt delivers to him.
The serve is not slowly towards short. Charge by Versace. Here's the throw. He is out.
Beautiful play.
The class has a good try on the net throw. And he did it with a real two-back for the third out.
Austin Howard homered with one on in the ninth inning.
The Twins lead is only five to four. And with two outs, Creek Boyer is on second base with a double.
Al Worthington is the twin picker.
Oh, they aren't you glad you don't bite your nails?
What nails?
Okay, Nubby.
One ball, two strikes to the Barker.
And the pitch.
This time a breaking ball and Barker with an aftertick. Breaking out for Worthington.
August 30th. The Twins and the Tigers are in extra innings.
With the score two-two in the last of the 11th, John Mincher is on second base with two outs.
Sandy Valdezino is called on to back for Johnny Cliff's time.
Larry Sherry is the Detroit pitcher.
Sherry second is back.
Mincher leading a second with two outs. Detroit Sandy. Of course right. Here's Sherry's pitch.
Breaking ball is lined to the right field.
Mincher's running free. Here comes the 12 of Mike Beale.
And it is time for Andy Schorz and the Twins win three to two.
The other teams came up with late in 0-8-2.
On September 4th, the second place White Sox were leading the Twins four to three.
Bill Flake was the twin pitcher with Don Guford on third base.
Guford's coming home. Here's a pitch. He is back. He steals home.
Don Guford steals home.
And that was really a surprise with the left-handed batting Pete Ward at the plate.
Guford stole home.
Labor Day in Kansas City.
The Twins won the first game of the double header, but the third game White Sox were winning two.
In the second game, the A's have the bases loaded against the Twins with the score tied at three to three.
Bases loaded, one out, infield still up, outfield still shallow.
Worthington trying to pick out of a king-size jam.
Briefly, last of the night, Grisaglio stands in.
The wind up and the pitch.
A drive in the right field. One-handed pass to run the table.
The third of the plate. It is high. It is in front.
It's all the same.
Bally is arguing. Bally is arguing vehemently that he's holding up the plate.
The play-off by Reynap says no.
Dan Neely came out. Earl Bally on his feet, arguing vehemently.
Now the speed of the throw is right on target.
Bally is still putting up a tremendous speed for that.
Putting up a tremendous speed.
He has the plate blocked. Earl Bally.
The plate is locked. The throw is right on target.
But Reynap said that Landis beats Aldous Spino's terrific throw.
The A's win the ball game and the Twins lose one game to the White Sox.
The first half of the Twins' highlight album ends with a loss.
But now the stretch drive is coming up.
The showdown in Chicago. The hottest team in the league, the White Sox.
There are five games behind the league leading Twins.
On September 8th, the score is Chicago team and the Twins won.
Earl Bally is on first base with one away. Jimmy Hall the batter.
Hall's last home run on August 2nd beats the Orioles.
Beside checks the runner. Here's the pitch.
Long drive to right. It is way back. Robinson at the wall. Home run.
Jimmy Hall hits his 19th home run of the season with Bally aboard.
And the Twins lead for the first time. It is 3-2.
The Twins won that game 3-2.
Went on to take command of the American League race.
And the tenth numbers game is on as the Twins invade Washington on the final road trip of the season.
The magic number with the Baltimore Orioles is 3.
Jim Grant beats victory number 20.
Hall's being as the broadcaster as the Twins lead 5-0 in the Washington ninth inning of the first game.
Willie has struck out twice, grounded into a double play, cited by Quillity.
Mudcat's pick up. Line drive to Quillity on the hop.
Mike has it. Mudcat has picked a one-hit shutout and they're enticing him on the diamond.
Bally embraces him. Killebou runs up. He's coming out. A one-hit shutout.
He only hits a clean double by down-rising game in the third inning.
The Twins reduce their magic number to two and the crowd is giving them an ovation.
In the second game, with the score tied at 3-3 in the Twins eighth inning,
Frank Privacy, rookie second baseman, is up.
On third, Killebou, on second, Natsik, on first, Mincher, and to the plate is Frank Privacy.
He has struck out twice and walks.
3-3, top of the eighth.
Klein can work out of a wind-up now.
Here's the pick. A shot to left-hits.
Killebou scores. Natsik being waved in the plate.
The 3 of the 3 is Privacy, three of the 8 hits to left.
A solid single.
And the Twins go ahead, tie the 3.
The score is still tied to 3, the Twins.
And in the last of the ninth, the burden and pressure is on young Twins left-hander Jim Merritt.
Merritt has baddies signed.
Here's his wind-up at the pitch.
3-3, Carl got him looking. The Twins have nailed down at least the tie.
Jim Merritt getting congratulations.
As among others, young Jimmy Merritt joins Joe Natsik, Frank Privacy, Sandy Valdez-Peno among twin heroes.
The stage is set now for the afternoon of September 26.
Two of the main finest left-handers are matched.
The Senators, Pete Richard, the Twins, Jim Cox.
A Twins victory and the Senators come to Minnesota.
The score is 1-1 as Frank Privacy leads off the 8.
Privacy yesterday singled in the winning and insurance run.
3-1. Here's the pitch.
Ground ball that is past the colon in the left field.
Near the line, Privacy around first. He's headed for second. Howard's going to second.
Counting time. Privacy is on.
He's managed a 3-1 offering that McMullin could not quite hold. It's a double.
Privacy moves to third on a pass ball and with one out.
Dread over Saez. What earlier scored the Twins only run is the batter.
This Richard really has good stuff.
Saez stands back in.
The lefty one. Here it is. High fly ball.
Center field. Not too deep. Privacy tagging.
The catch is made by Ross. Here comes the throw.
It's a pretty strong run but the rim scores and the Twins take the lead by 2-1.
And now the spotlight is on the pitching. Jim Cox pitching.
It's the last of the night. There are two outs.
Two outs. None on. This is the last of the night.
The Twins are leading 2-1. And here is Don Zimmer.
Single for last in the second.
Chuck out in the fourth and again in the seventh. Both times swinging. Right handed batter.
Swing and a miss and there goes the bat over for the Twins. Chuck out.
Take one. That took a little bit off that one. Billy Martin flips the bat out to Zimmer.
John Flaherty dusts off home plate. Two out and none on in the last of the night.
Out into that easy wind up. Here's the pitch.
Strike two call over hand breaking ball has been left.
Perhaps just one swing left. Here's the pitch.
All the way on the right side is still on two.
The Twins have won 98 games. Number 99 means the pennant.
Here's the wind up and the pitch.
Strike three, body ball. The Twins win.
The Twins win. The Twins have won the American League pennant.
The Twins as you might expect celebrated in wild fashion in the clubhouse.
Tony, Tony come here. Tony you don't care if you win the batting title or not.
I don't care. He's the best friend of the lifetime.
How do you feel? How do you like?
I'm feeling good.
Okay boy.
I'm feeling good.
Alright boy.
It's moving it boys. It's moving.
How you doing?
Hey Anna boy. Hey Sam.
Hey boy.
Hey Sam my boy congratulations.
This is the most thrilling moment of my life.
You know expecting a baby to him, that's going to be a great big thrill.
Alright boy.
I'm going home tonight and see my wife and children and we're going to have a ball.
I'll tell you that.
And you know the vice president wished you well yesterday.
Maybe that was a winning touch man.
Well maybe so. Everybody did their part.
Jim Clark was great. Everybody did a great part.
You fellas are throwing for us and everything else.
Ah wonderful Sam.
Alright.
Thank you.
Okay boy.
How are you my boy?
How's the old fella? Isn't he great isn't he?
You can tell me now on the plane when we're off the ground you know.
Okay I'll tell you when we're off the ground right now.
Say how you swinging?
I'm real good. I'm not making much contact but I'm swinging good.
It seemed funny to see a home run contest today without the big killer in there.
But I know it was arranged while you were still on the jump.
That's right. I'm swinging real good now.
What game this year stands out most?
This one right here.
Alright Jim.
Anna boy.
Billy I know this is a stupid question. This is the highlight of the season.
If you look back quickly to your memory and this is no rehearsal.
What one of the games would you pick out as extremely violent?
Well I think right from the beginning the first day we played the Yankees opening day.
Right from the start it was a push push push all year long.
Cover from behind.
A lot of drive.
Without a ball so they had a lot of momentum and it was that way all year long.
This was something looking up at that scoreboard continually and seeing Baltimore and LA nothing to nothing.
And then Baltimore announcing them out.
Now we have the great pleasure of going to Baltimore completely relaxed.
Billy you've been on championship clubs every night.
Well how's it around look at it.
We wanted our stuff so we can't expect anybody else to win it for us.
And this just made it a little bit sweeter today.
That's right. No backing in. Ladies and gentlemen no backing in.
Thanks Billy Martin who did a tremendous effort toward this winning of the pennant.
Hey hey hey.
How you doing my friend Carlo?
How's my favorite most valuable player?
I know yesterday I got a little bump right there but I feel really happy right now.
Yeah the other guy had to go to the hospital so I was just covered.
You know all the bump I got.
Hey Kimmy.
Hi Jack Kimmy.
I think you had a lot to do with driving the final A-Lem pennant with that remarkable relief job yesterday.
Well thanks very much Halsey.
It's a big thrill for all of us right now especially for me.
You know I have a good team here.
This makes me feel a little more like I belong.
When you came up from Denver did you get the feeling then that you might be with a pennant winner?
Well yeah. I mean the way they were going and I didn't see any reason why anybody was going to stop them.
And here we are and we just won the whole thing today.
Very good Jimmy. Nice going wife.
Hey Mugcat.
You know you came up and visited the second guessers paradise yesterday.
The radio booth and television booth.
Mug, did you get your first championship team?
Yes it is Halsey. In fact this is my...
Well in the major league this is my first championship team because I wasn't as pleased when they won it in that championship before.
My dad was a beautiful exhibition you gave and I want to congratulate you.
You're the only 20 game winner in the American League so far and they can't take that away from you.
Thank you very much Halsey.
Well folks I've had a considerable problem not only since the game is over but during the last moments of the game.
In putting my thoughts into words and we've been asking the players to sum things up the way they feel about it.
A thoroughly drenched and a thoroughly happy Jim Cotter walked into our little ante room here.
Jim that was a great pitching performance today.
I don't mind telling you I sort of crossed my fingers in the earlier innings but if ever anybody finished strong you certainly did.
What were your thoughts as you fished that game today as far as your stock was concerned Jim?
Well Ray I crossed my fingers along with you. I was throwing not the way I can throw in the early innings.
I felt myself throwing kind of flat and sidearm.
Suddenly I recalled a Warren Spahn theory that you taught me several years ago.
A toe to toe where I come up over the top similar to the way Jimmy Merritt does because he gets a lot on the ball for his say a seller as he is.
I noticed Jim that in the last of the night you mentioned now and you remind me of it that it did seem to me you were coming closer to over the top.
Particularly as you were pitching to the right handed batter in the ninth inning but the many times earlier in the game and your breaking pitches were magnificent in the latter portion of that game.
Ray Ray I was trying to more or less jump at the hitter and told myself in the situation that if they're going to beat me they're going to hit me.
I'm not going to walk anybody or make a lollipop pitch. I was going to challenge them with the best I had and that gave me a little more incentive to jump at the hitter and fortunately I had the proper rhythm and everything just really fell into place.
Well congratulations to you Jim not only on your effort today because the timing on this was particularly opportune but in your contributions for the entire season.
Thank you very much Ray. Here's Coach Jimmy Lemon. Jim I guess this makes all of the travel and all of the work and all of the worry worthwhile doesn't it?
Oh I sure does. I'll tell you it's been 18 years now and the first one I've been on it's really something. I was just talking with Frank Willis and I said it's to my way of thinking how fortunate he must feel in his first year in the big leagues to be on the big leagues.
To be on the pinnacle of winning. And I've talked to some guys in the league and they say I've been in the league 14 years and I haven't even gotten close. It really must be. I'll tell you it's something for me believe me.
Well Jim certainly our congratulations to you on your part in building this ball club. I know that there's a quite phrase you know where everybody has contributed but believe me in my years in sports I can't think of an organizational effort that is so much wrapped up in that phrase where everybody has contributed.
Everyone considered it every day and a different man seemed like but I didn't get a hit all year. Jim congratulations. Thank you very much Ray. Well Halsey my boy do you believe now Halsey that we're home free? You know something the way I got on a limb I think we're going to be in the World Series.
Well Halsey as we close out this what certainly I think could be properly called a memorable if not a historic occasion I want to tell you how happy I am Halsey that I know you've been with championship teams in many sports.
I know you've been a broadcaster but to be with a big league team I couldn't be happier for you and to tell you Halsey what a real pleasure it's been to call on your vast experience throughout these years and to have this thing all culminate in winning a pennant and how almost ironic I guess it is to wind it up in the old home city on the part of the twins when they were the senators.
This has been a great historic day. Ray it's been such a treat working with you and Herb Carniel and thank you old fella. It's been an occasion for tears as well as laughter and I think a lot of the guys worth choking up on.
And that's the story of the twins pennant thrive in 65. For President Calvin Griffith and the twins official family a fitting reward for years of effort. For manager Sam Neely, coaches Hal Niragan, Billy Martin, Jim Lennon and John Scene the climax for a year of hard work.
For the players a place in the world too. From the twins broadcasters Herb Carniel, Halsey Hall and your single Ray Scott our thanks to wonderful twins fans. We'll see you at the match in 1966.