Opening Day Roster:
The Twins arrived in Minneapolis from Washington, D.C. in 1961, and had more success in their first years as the Twins than in most of their 60 years as the Senators. 90-win seasons in 1962 and 1963 were followed by a 102-win season and an A.L. pennant in 1965. Another 90-win season in 1967 was followed soon after by the Twins taking the first two American League Western Division titles in 1969 and 1970. Then, things began to go south. Owner Calvin Griffith wasn't prepared to play ball, so to speak, with the modern player who could demand increasing wages under free agency. Between 1976 and 1977, he let Bert Blyleven, Bill Campbell, Lyman Bostock, Larry Hisle and others get away. Also, he could be something of a bigot (saying he brought the team to Minneapolis because they only had 15,000 black people there who, in his experience, did not like baseball) and a rube (suggesting players should seek the company of eager single women instead of getting married, as the latter would lessen their game). They had been competitive in 1977, with only a September swoon dropping them out of the race. In 1978, they finished 73-89, good for a distant fourth-place finish, 19 games behind the Royals. In the coming years, the Twins would part ways with Rod Carew, Dave Goltz, Butch Wynegar and others, leading to a series of very disappointing finishes before they were finally able to put something together in the mid-to-late 1980s.
In the minors, the American League's 1979 co-Rookie of the Year John Castino was a AA Orlando, future Cleveland flame-out Joe Charboneau was at A Visalia, and future ageless wonder Jesse Orosco was getting his first taste of professional ball at the rookie level in Elizabethton.
Presiding over all this was manager Gene Mauch. His coaches included Tony Oliva doing double duty both at 1st and as hitting coach, Karl Kuehl at 3rd, Camilo Pascual with the pitchers and Jerry Zimmerman in the bullpen. There was specualtion throughout the year that Mauch would depart following 1978, but instead he signed a 3-year deal in August.
Roger Erickson, SP:
With no previous major league experience, Roger went north with the Twins in 1978. He made his major league debut on April 6, going 6.1 innings at Seattle. He gave up 5 hits and 3 runs and earned the win. He went on to start another 36 games, winding up with a 14-13 record and leading the Twins with 121 strikeouts. He reminded some observers of Mark Fidrych in that he openly cheered for his teammates and occasionally spoke to his right arm. 1978 turned out to be an anomoly in his brief career - he pitched another 3+ seasons for the Twins, never winning more than 7 games, and finished out his career in the early 80s with the Yankees.
Pete Redfern, SP:
Pete's first two starts saw him get clobbered and take the loss each time (against the Angels on April 12th, he pitched just 2/3 of an inning and gave up 7 runs). He made a relief appearance on April 16, and was shipped to Toledo on the 17th. He pitched well enough there, going 9-8, but over the next few years could never quite stick it at the major league level, going a combined 28-29 for the Twins over the next four seasons. 1982 was his final year in the bigs.
Dave Goltz, SP:
Dave followed up his 20-win season of 1977 with a 15-10 record in 1978. He led the starters with a 2.45 ERA and struck out 116 batters, but missed a good bit of action with injuries (though he never went on the DL): 4 starts to a cracked ribbed suffered in a brawl with the Angels; 3 starts to a burned finger; and 2 starts to a hurt back). After a 14-win performance in 1979, the Dodgers signed him to a lucrative deal, and the remainder of his career served as one of the early 80s' many cautionary tales about unwise free agent contracts.
Paul Thormodsgard, SP:
"Thor" went 11-15 as a rookie in 1977. In '78, he made 12 starts, going 1-6 with a 5.05 ERA before being demoted to Toledo for the rest of the year on June 2. One September relief appearance in 1979 was all that was left in his major league career.
Geoff Zahn, SP:
1978 saw Geoff in the midst of a 4-season run as one of the Twins most dependable starters. He went 14-14 with 106 strikeouts and a 3.03 ERA. All year, he was the victim of poor run support. In July and August, he lost 4 straight decisions - his ERA during this stretch was 3.20, and the Twins scored just 4 runs for him. He signed with California in 1981 and had several good years there before retiring in the mid-80s.
Dave Johnson, RP:
Dave made 6 relief appearances, compiling an 0-2 record and 7.20 ERA, before being shipped out to Toledo on May 15 to make room for the newly-acquired Mike Marshall. His final major league appearance was on May 10 in Chicago.
Gary Serum, RP:
A mid-season call-up in 1977, Gary made the Twins' opening day roster in 1978 as a bullpen arm. When Pete Redfern was demoted in April, Gary took his place in the rotation. He threw a complete game win at the A's in his first start, which broke a Twins' 9-game losing streak. On August 19, he had his first shutout, a 2-hit gem against Toronto. He wound up with a record of 9-9, and recorded 80 strikeouts against only 44 walks.
Greg Thayer, RP:
An 8-1 record with 9 saves at Orlando in 1977 and a good spring led the Twins to bring Greg north as a rookie in 1978. He made his major league debut April 7 in Seattle in relief of Pete Redfern. He appeared in relief in another 19 games, posting a 3.20 ERA, before being sent to Toledo on June 29. His final major league appearance came on June 26 when he threw two thirds of an inning in relief of Gary Serum in Milwaukee, giving up 2 earned runs.
Tom Johnson, CL:
After posting 15 saves and a 16-7 record in relief in 1977, Tom entered 1978 as the Twins' closer. He managed only 3 saves before going on the DL on June 21 with shoulder trouble. He returned to action on September 1, and made what would be his final major league appearance on September 27 in Texas, pitching an ineffective 9th inning in a 10-5 Twins loss.
Glenn Borgmann, C:
Glenn spent 1978, as he had spent the previous two years: backing up Butch Wynegar behind the plate. He made it into 46 games, and continued to back up Wynegar in 1979 before being signed as a free agent by the White Sox in 1980.
Jose Morales, C:
Jose was acquired late in spring training more for his bat than anything else. He was used as the right-handed half of Gene Mauch's DH platoon, and came through with a .314 average and 34 RBI. He excelled as a pinch-hitter - his 13 were the most by a Twin since 1967.
Rod Carew, IF:
Rod was in his 12th season with the Twins in 1978. As the starting first baseman, he led the league with a .333 average. However, he wanted a deal with the Twins similar to those which lured Bostock and Hisle away after 1977. Griffith was not that kind of owner, so everyone knew he'd likely be somewhere else in 1980, if not 1979. The club tried unsuccessfully to trade him by the deadline, and he turned down an offer of 5 years, 2 million. Then, as if icing on the cake, he announced he didn't want to play for a bigot after Griffith's remarks about blacks. Just before spring training in 1979, he was shipped to California for Ken Landreaux and some spare parts. It was truly the Twins' loss, as he continued to perform to his usual standards for another 7 years with the Angels.
Craig Kusick, IF:
Formerly the Twins' right-handed DH, Craig was unseated by the arrival of Jose Morales in 1978. He spent the year providing general reserve services at DH as well as at first and in the outfield. He missed a few games in May with a bruised elbow he suffered when hit by a pitch.
Butch Wynegar, C:
1978 found Butch in the middle of a 5-year run as the Twins regular catcher. One of the finest young game-callers in baseball, he still needed to work on his skills with the bat - he hit only .229 with 4 HR and 45 RBI - all down from 1977. Owner/orator Calvin Griffith attributed this to his having gotten married in the off season. When Butch learned of the comment he punched a dugout trash can, breaking the his right pinky. In the middle of the 1982 season, he was the featured player in in a multi-player deal that sent him to the Yankees.
Mike Cubbage, IF:
Part of the Twins' 3rd base platoon with Larry Wolfe, Mike started 100 games against righties in 1978. He hit .282 (second on the team only to Carew), and added 7 HR and 57 RBI. He was fifth in baseball in fielding percentage by third basemen, and on July 27 against Toronto he hit for the cycle.
Bob Randall, IF:
Bob was the right-handed hitting half of the Twins' second base platoon. He hit .270 and had 5 stolen bases to his credit. His best performance of 1978 came on April 22 against California - he went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored off of Frank Tanana.
Roy Smalley, IF:
Roy had it tough - as Gene Mauch's nephew, shouts of nepotism were in the air any time he made an error or had a bad day at the plate. Fortunately, bad days were few and far between. After having gone on a weight lifting regime in the off-season, Roy had his best season by far in 1978 - he hit .273 with 77 RBI and a team-leading 19 HR. At the beginning of the 1982 season he was traded to the Yankees, but he returned to the Twins in time to contribute to their 1987 World Series championship.
Rob Wilfong, IF:
The other half (with Bobby Randall) of the Twins' second base platoon, Rob went down with a broken left hand in just the second game of the season. He was on the DL from April 7 through the 23. When he returned he was initially limited to pinch-running duties because he still wore a cast. By June 13, he was hitting just .132, the lowest in baseball among non-pitchers. But, he managed to raise his average to .291 by July 17 by going on a 20-for-48 tear.
Larry Wolfe, IF:
Larry played third against lefties. On June 3 at Tiger Stadium, he went 3-for-5 with 2 HR, 5 RBI and 3 runs scored to key a Twins' 9-2 win. Traded to the Red Sox before the start of the 1979 season, he spent two years in Boston and was out of the major leagues for good after 1980.
Rich Chiles, OF:
Used as the left-handed half of the team's left field platoon, Rich hit .268 with 22 RBI and a single home run. His final major league appearance came in an unsuccessful pinch-hitting role on September 30 in Kansas City.
Willie Norwood, OF:
In just his first full season in the majors, Willie was the right-handed half of the Twins' left field platoon. He was second on the club to Rod Carew in stolen bases with 25, but his speed could also get him into trouble - in the first 2 months of the season he was twice thrown out on inside-the-park HR tries. Defensively, he could be a liability. He started out so poorly that he was almost demoted. He hung around and improved, but still set the team record with errors by an outfielder with 14.
Glenn Adams, OF:
The left-handed half of the Twins' DH platoon, Glenn also saw limited action as a reserve outfielder. His batting was less than you'd expect from a DH - on May 20 he was hitting just .195, and by July 1 only .205. At one point, he endured an 0-for-30 slump. He somehow managed to end the year at .258 with 7 HR and 55 RBI.
Dan Ford, OF:
The only one of 1977's starting outfielders to return in 1978, Dan felt pressure to perform - people were looking to him to help minimize the impact of the losses of Hisle and Bostock. On the plus side, he was moved from right field to center, which he considered his more natural position. He responded by having one of his most productive seasons - he hit .274 with 11 HR and a team-leading 82 RBI. After the mess with Griffith's comments, he said he felt used and wanted to be traded. He was sent to the Angels for 1979, and had the best year of his career in helping them to the division title.
Hosken Powell, OF:
With no prior major league experience, Hosken started for the Twins in right on opening day in the Kingdome and went 1-4. For the remainder of the year, he platooned there with Bombo Rivera, a righty. He hit just .247 with 3 HR, 31 RBI anf 11 stolen bases. He had a few decent years for the Twins and Blue Jays before leaving the majors for good following the 1983 season.
Bombo Rivera, OF:
Acquired from Montreal after the 1977 season, Bombo quickly became a fan favorite in Minnesota (cheers of "Bombo...Bombo!" rang out whenever he came to bat at the Met). He spent 1978 as the right-handed alternative to Hosken Powell in right field, hitting .271 with 3 HR and 23 RBI.
April 22, 1978 - The Twins and Angels confer after a Roger Erickson pitch flew too close to Bobby Grich's ear for the latter's liking.
In-Season Moves:
Mac Scarce, RP:
Mac was called up from Toledo when Pete Redfern went down on April 17. He took Gary Serum's place in the pen as Serum moved into Redfern's place in the rotation. He made 17 relief appearances before being sent back to Toledo on June 29. The journeyman's final major league action came on June 25 in Chicago when he threw two largely ineffective innings in relief of Roger Erickson.
Darrell Jackson, SP:
Summoned from Orlando when Paul Thormodsgard was sent to Toledo on June 2, Darrell made his major league debut on June 16 in a start against the Tigers. He threw 7.1 innings and came away with the win. He tended to jump around on the mound and show a lot of emotion, which made some oppenents consider him a hot-dog. But, there was no artifice to it - he was a naturally enthusiastic kid. He threw a complete game 3-hit shutout against the A's in just his fourth start, but by mid-August he was getting erratic, and he wound up spending the last month and a half in the pen.
Mike Marshall, CL:
Mike was signed by the Twins on May 15 when it became apparent their designated closer, Tom Johnson, wasn't performing to expectations. It was risky move, as he had been limited to just 16 games with the Braves and Rangers in 1977 due to knee problems, but it paid off. He saved 21 games, and went 10-12 with a team-best 2.45 ERA. He played with a contract not approved by the league - the A.L. didn't care for the fact it called for him to become a free agent at the end of the year. Mike loved playing for Gene Mauch so much he wanted to be able to follow wherever he might go if he left the Twins.
Roric Harrison, RP:
The well-traveled Harrison was called up from Toledo when Tom Johnson was placed on the DL on June 21. In 9 relief appearances, he compiled a 7.50 era and struck out just 7, while walking 11 in 12 innings pitched. His final major league appearance came on July 23 against the Orioles - he lasted a third of an inning, and managed to give up a hit and walk 3, yet surrender only a single run. He was returned to Toledo in exchange for Stan Perzanowksi on July 26.
John Sutton, RP:
John was summoned from Toledo on June 29 when Mac Scarce and Greg Thayer were sent down. He made 17 relief appearances, totaling 44.1 innings. The left-hander's final major league action came on September 29 when he threw three innings in relief of Darrell Jackson in Kansas City.
Jeff Holly, RP:
Jeff was brought up from Orlando, where he had gone 6-0 with 10 saves, to help replenish the Twins' bullpen after Mac Scarce and Greg Thayer were sent to Toledo on June 29. In 14 relief appearances and 1 spot start, he went 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA.
Stan Perzanowski, SP:
Stan passed Roric Harrison going the other way on his way up from Toledo on July 26. Like Harrison, Stan was a journeyman who hadn't seen major league action in over a year. He initially was inserted into the Twins' rotation, gaining a complete game victory over the Blue Jays in his first outing, but eventually found himself in the pen. He finished the year at 2-7 with a 5.24 ERA and a save. His final major league apppearance came on September 27 in Texas. In relief of Roger Erickson, he threw one third of an inning, giving up 2 walks, a hit and three runs to take the loss.
Dave Edwards, OF:
The Twins' only September call-up, Dave made his major league debut on the 11th in Chicago, starting in center field. He appeared in 14 more games, and was a reserve outfielder for the Twins the next two seaons, and for the Padres for two years after that. Dave's brother Mike played for the A's in 1978.
Other 1978 Twins Stuff:
Metropolitan Stadium
8000 Cedar Ave., S.
Bloomington, MN
Twins' Coaches:
Owner and General Manager - Calvin Griffith
Minor League Affiliates:
Rookie: Elizabethton Twins (Appalacian League)
41-28, 1st of 6
Manager: Fred Waters
Future Star: Jesse Orosco
A: Visalia Oaks (California League)
97-42, 1st of 4
Manager: Roy McMillan
Future Star: Joe Charboneau
A: Wisonsin Rapids Twins (Midwest League)
62-76, 3rd of 4
Manager: Rick Stelmaszek
Future Star: Mark Funderburk
AA: Orlando Twins (Southern League)
82-61, 1st of 5
Manager: John Goryl
Future Star: John Castino
AAA: Toledo Mud Hens (International League)
74-66, 3rd of 8
Manager: Cal Ermer
Future Star: Gary Ward
Karl Keuhl
Summary of Roster Moves:
April 7 - Wilfong to DL (active roster to 24)
April 17 - Redfern to Toledo, Scarce from Toledo
(active roster holds at 24)
April 23 - Wilfong from DL (active roster to 25)
May 15 - Dave Johnson to Toledo, Marshall signed
June 2 - Thormodsgard to Toledo, Jackson from Orlando
June 21 - Tom Johnson to DL, Harrison from Toledo
June 29 - Scarce and Thayer to Toledo, Sutton from Toledo, Holly from Orlando
July 26 - Harrison to Toledo, Perzanowski from Toledo
September 1 - Tom Johnson from DL
September Call-Up: Edwards
Camilo Pascual
Tony Oliva
Jerry Zimmermann
