Jim "Mudcat" Grant

Jim "Mudcat" Grant made his Major League debut in 1958 with the Cleveland Indians. He was given the nickname Mudcat by roomate Larry Doby. Who claimed he was "ugly as a Mississippi Mudcat." The name stuck, and Grant won ten games in his rookie season winning, in which he made 28 starts and 14 appearances out of the bullpen.

Grant would write his own chapter into baseball history by becoming the first black pitcher in the American League to win twenty games. He did it in 1965 with the Minnesota Twins, when he went 21-7 with an ERA 3.30. His 21 wins were the best in the American League, along with a league leading 6 shutouts in the leading the Twins to the American League pennant. In the World Series, he would become the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, and in game six of the series he launched a three run homer, making him only the second pitcher from the American League history in accomplish the feat.  He was honored by The Sporting News that season as their Pitcher of the Year.

Grant was an American League all-star in 1963 and 1965. After 1966, he worked out of the bullpen, and as with many relief pitchers it was have arm will travel.  He made stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and two tours with the Oakland Athletics.  He finished with a won-loss record of 145-119 with a career ERA of 3.63. He earned 54 saves along the way.

Grant wrote a book titled The Black Aces: Baseball's Only African-American Twenty-Game Winners. Featuring a chapter on each of the African-American pitchers who have accomplished the feat.  A book I can recommend.

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Tony Oliva: A Bright And Shining Star

Tony Oliva exploded onto the American League scene during his rookie year of 1964. Where Oliva would win the batting hitting .323, adding 32 home runs and 94 RBI, and led the league in doubles with 43,  217 hits, and 109 runs scored. It was the first of back-to-back batting titles for the rightfielder. He would be named the American League Rookie of the year at the conclusion of the season. 

It was a career that almost wasn't for Oliva. Born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba in 1938. He arrived in the United States in the spring of 1961, and managed to play in the Twins final three games showing exceptional hitting going 7 for 10. The knock was on his defense, and with minor league rosters set the young outfielder was released. While working out in North Carolina with a friend in the Twins farm system at Charlotte, North Carolina, general manager Phil Howser convinced the front office of the Twins to re-sign Oliva, and the rest as they say is history.

Oliva displayed his offensive prowess during era that was dominated by pitching, and referred by many as the second dead ball era of baseball. He would be an all-star eight consecutive seasons until the ravages of knee, leg and shoulder problems put a damper on this can't miss Hall-of-Fame career. 

A career that included three batting titles (1964-65, and 1971), and a Gold Glove in 1966. He ended his career with 220 home runs, 947 RBI, and a slash line of .304/.353/.476. He only struck out only 664 times in 6880 plate appearances. In 2014, he narrowly missed being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee by one vote.  Always popular in Minnesota with the Twins fans and media. Oliva's #6 was retired by the Minnesota Twins, and 2011 a statue of Oliva was unveiled at Target Field.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Justin Verlander's 2,000th Strikeout

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander got Eddie Rosiaro of the Minnesota Twins to chase a pitch up and out of the strike zone for his 2,000th career whiff. Verlander is only the second pitcher in Tigers history to top the 2,000 strikeouts mark, and only the 76th in MLB history to top the mark.  Mickey Lolich is the franchise leader at 2,679.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Catfish Hunter Pitches Perfect Game

May 8, 1968. Jim "Catfish" Hunter of the Oakland A's tossed the first perfect game in the American League in forty-six years over the Minnesota Twins 4-0. Charlie Robertson of the Chicago White Sox had been the last to accomplish the feat in 1922. Only 6,298 witnessed the perfect game.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

Francisco Liriano Fires First No-Hitter

May 3, 2011.  Minnesota Twins southpaw Francisco Liriano no-hits the Chicago White Sox at Cellular Field 1-0. It is also Liriano's first career complete game in six seasons. Liriano would enter the game with an ERA of 9.13, and a record of 2-4.

Scott Erickson Fires No-Hitter

April 27, 1994, Scott Erickson no-hits the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0 at the Metrodome. It is the first no-hitter at the stadium. He was the third Twins pitcher to throw a no-hitter. Scott Erickson's won-loss record 142-136 with an ERA of 4.59 for his career. His best year was 1991, when he led the American League in wins, and was a member of the All-Star team.