Major League Baseball team season
The 1989 Minnesota Twins season was the 29th season for the Minnesota Twins franchise in the Twin Cities of Minnesota , their 8th season at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and the 89th overall in the American League .
The Twins finished 80–82, fifth in the American League West . 2,277,438 fans attended Twins games, the 7th highest total in the American League .
Offseason
October 24, 1988: Eric Bullock , Tom Herr and Tom Nieto were traded by the Twins to the Philadelphia Phillies for Shane Rawley and cash.[ 1]
November 3, 1988: Bert Blyleven and Kevin Trudeau (minors) were traded by the Twins to the California Angels for Mike Cook , Paul Sorrento , and Rob Wassenaar (minors).[ 2]
December 7, 1988: Jeff Bumgarner (minors), Steve Gasser (minors) and Toby Nivens (minors) were traded by the Twins to the New York Mets for Wally Backman and Mike Santiago (minors).[ 3]
December 12, 1988: Randy Bush was signed as a free agent by the Twins.[ 4]
December 21, 1988: John Christensen was released by the Twins.[ 5]
February 13, 1989: Lee Tunnell was signed as a free agent by the Twins.[ 6]
March 26, 1989: Keith Atherton was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Cleveland Indians for Carmelo Castillo .[ 7]
Regular season
Kirby Puckett tied a major league record when, on May 13, he hit four doubles in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays . He was the thirty-fifth player to accomplish the feat.
When Jeff Reardon got his 30th save on September 14, he became the first major leaguer to reach 30 saves in five consecutive seasons.
Offense
Puckett led the AL in batting with a .339 average and hits with 215. Kirby hit 9 HR, drove in 85 runs, scored 75, and was rewarded with a Silver Slugger Award . Kent Hrbek hit .272 with 25 HR and 84 RBI. Gary Gaetti hit 19 HR and 75 RBI. Al Newman led the team with 25 stolen bases.
*League leader
Pitching
Only two Twins had double digit wins: Allan Anderson (17-10) and Roy Smith (10-6).
Frank Viola was 8-12 before being traded to the New York Mets on July 31.
Reliever Jeff Reardon had 31 saves.
Defense
Third baseman Gary Gaetti and center fielder Kirby Puckett each won their fourth Gold Glove Award .
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
BAL
BOS
CAL
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIL
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TEX
TOR
Baltimore
—
6–7
6–6
6–6
7–6
10–3
6–6
7–6
4–8
8–5
5–7
6–6
9–3
7–6
Boston
7–6
—
4–8
7–5
8–5
11–2
4–8
6–7
6–6
7–6
7–5
5–7
6–6
5–8
California
6–6
8–4
—
8–5
5–7
11–1
4–9
7–5
11–2
6–6
5–8
7–6
6–7
7–5
Chicago
6–6
5–7
5–8
—
7–5
4–8
6–7
10–2
5–8
5–6
5–8
7–6
3–10
1–11
Cleveland
6–7
5–8
7–5
5–7
—
5–8
8–4
3–10
5–7
9–4
2–10
6–6
7–5
5–8
Detroit
3–10
2–11
1–11
8–4
8–5
—
6–6
6–7
5–7
6–7
4–8
4–8
4–8
2–11
Kansas City
6–6
8–4
9–4
7–6
4–8
6–6
—
8–4
7–6
6–6
7–6
9–4
8–5
7–5
Milwaukee
6–7
7–6
5–7
2–10
10–3
7–6
4–8
—
9–3
8–5
5–7
7–5
5–7
6–7
Minnesota
8–4
6–6
2–11
8–5
7–5
7–5
6–7
3–9
—
6–6
6–7
7–6
5–8
9–3
New York
5–8
6–7
6–6
6–5
4–9
7–6
6–6
5–8
6–6
—
3–9
8–4
5–7
7–6
Oakland
7–5
5–7
8–5
8–5
10–2
8–4
6–7
7–5
7–6
9–3
—
9–4
8–5
7–5
Seattle
6–6
7–5
6–7
6–7
6–6
8–4
4–9
5–7
6–7
4–8
4–9
—
6–7
5–7
Texas
3–9
6–6
7–6
10–3
5–7
8–4
5–8
7–5
8–5
7–5
5–8
7–6
—
5–7
Toronto
6–7
8–5
5–7
11–1
8–5
11–2
5–7
7–6
3–9
6–7
5–7
7–5
7–5
—
Notable transactions
Roster
1989 Minnesota Twins
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Player stats
= Indicates league leader
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games pitched; 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
Awards and honors
Kirby Puckett – American League Batting Champion (.339)
Gary Gaetti – Gold Glove Award winner, third base
Kirby Puckett – Gold Glove Award winner, center field
Kirby Puckett – Silver Slugger Award, outfield All-Star Game
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Elizabethton [ 14]
References
^ Eric Bullock at Baseball Reference ^ "Bert Blyleven Stats - Baseball-Reference.com" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved April 23, 2018 .^ "Wally Backman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More" . Baseball-Reference.com .^ Randy Bush at Baseball Reference ^ John Christensen at Baseball Reference ^ Lee Tunnell at Baseball Reference ^ "Keith Atherton Stats - Baseball-Reference.com" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved April 23, 2018 .^ Randy St. Claire at Baseball Reference ^ Chuck Knoblauch at Baseball Reference ^ Denny Neagle at Baseball Reference ^ Dan Masteller at Baseball Reference ^ Dennis Hocking at Baseball Reference ^ Greg Booker at Baseball Reference ^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball , 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007
External links
Franchise Ballparks Culture and lore Rivalries Key personnel World Series Pennants (6) Division titles (13) Wild Card titles (1) Minor league affiliates
Seasons (125)
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