A Pennant for the Twin Cities: The 1965 Minnesota Twins

This volume celebrates the 1965 Minnesota Twins, who captured the American League pennant in just their fifth season in the Twin Cities. Led by an All-Star cast, from Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Zoilo Versalles, and Mudcat Grant to Bob Allison, Jim Kaat, Earl Battey, and Jim Perry, the Twins won 102 games, but bowed to the Los Angeles Dodgers and a herculean performance by Sandy Koufax in Game Seven of the World Series.

Included are the life and baseball stories of all 35 roster players, the coaches, and manager of the 1965 Twins, plus team owner Calvin Griffith; broadcasters Herb Carneal, Halsey Hall, and Ray Scott; and sportswriters Dick Gordon and Max Nichols. A comprehensive summary of the regular season, as well as meticulous essays highlighting important games and the All-Star Game played in Minnesota, an overview of the 1965 Dodgers, and thorough summaries the World Series games are included. Chapters about how the Griffith family built its pennant winner, the fate of the Twins after 1965, Metropolitan Stadium, and the 1965 season "by the numbers" round out the book.

Members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) researched and wrote all of the biographies and essays in this book.

Contents:
Calvin Griffithby KevinHennessy
The Last of the Family Owners: The Griffiths Build Their Lone Minnesota Pennant Winnerby Daniel R. Levitt and Mark L.Armour
Metropolitan Stadiumby Stew Thornley
Spring Trainingby Stew Thornley
The 1965 Minnesota Twins Regular Season Summaryby Ben Klein
Bernie Allenby ChipGreene
Bob Allisonby GregoryH. Wolf
Earl BatteybyJackHerrman
Dave Boswellby GregoryH. Wolf
April 12, 1965: Twins Win in Extra Innings on Opening Dayby Steve West
Pete Ciminoby JeffEnglish
Jerry Fosnowby Greg Erion
Mudcat GrantbyJosephWancho
May 12, 1965: Killebrew Belts Two Homers, Including Game-Winner In Eighth Inningby Gregory H. Wolf
Jimmie Hallby Norm King
Jim Kaatby Patrick Lethert
Harmon Killebrewby JosephWancho
May 26, 1965: Jim Perry Makes Most of His Opportunityby JoelRippel
Jerry KindallbyTom Tomashek
Johnny Klippsteinby Gregory H. Wolf
Andy Koscoby Norm King
July 11, 1965: The Killer CloutsWalk-Off Two-Run Round-Tripperby Gregory H. Wolf
Frank Kostroby J.G. Preston
Jim Merrittby Gregory H. Wolf
Don Mincherby Marc Z.Aaron
Mel Nelsonby Doug Skipper
Minnesota and 1965 All-Star Game: The Senior Circuit Takes Chargeby GregErion
Joe Nossekby Rick Schabowski
Tony Olivaby Peter C. Bjarkman
Camilo Pascualby Peter C. Bjarkman
Jim PerrybyJosephWancho
Bill Pleisby JoelRippel
September 8 and 9, 1965: The ChicagoShowdown: The Twins Take Two at Comiskey Parkby Steve Schmitt
Frank Quiliciby Norm King
Rich Reeseby ChipGreene
Garry Roggenburkby MarkArmour
Rich Rollinsby Rick Schabowski
John Sevcikby John Swol
September 25, 1965: "Clinching a Tie is toBeer What Winning the Championship is to Champagne"by AlanCohen
Dwight Sieblerby Gregory H. Wolf
Dick StigmanbyTom Tomashek
Cesar TovarbyRory Costello
Ted Uhlaenderby JosephWancho
Sandy Valdespinoby AlanCohen
Zoilo Versallesby Peter C. Bjarkman
September 26, 1965: A Pennant for the Twinsby AlanCohen
Al Worthingtonby BillNowlin
Jerry Zimmermanby Norm King
Sam MelebyBillNowlin
Jim Lemonby Gregory H. Wolf
Billy MartinbyJimmy KeenanandFrankRusso
Hal NaragonbyTracy J.R. Collins
Johnny Sainby JanFinkel
Herb Carnealby Stew Thornley
Halsey Hallby Stew Thornley
Ray Scottby Stew Thornley
Dick Gordonby Steve West
Max Nicholsby Steve West
The 1965 Los Angeles Dodgersby GregErion
The 1965 World Series SummarybyNorm King
By the Numbers: Major League Baseball in 1965by DanFields
A Surprising Disappointment: Twins of the Late 1960sby Daniel R.Levitt