The 10 greatest games in Metrodome history

They say all good things must come to an end. That also holds true for the Metrodome. The “Mistake by the 10,000 Lakes”—a building that has all the charm and aesthetic appeal of Eastern European architecture circa the Cold War—will host its final baseball games next month.

Over the years I’ve done several “10 best games” columns, and the Metrodome’s impending demise inspires me to write a piece on its greatest games . I realize I’m jumping the gun on this column, writing it not only prior to the season’s finale, but despite the fact the Twins have stumbled into a tight pennant race. It’s possible this column will be immediately out-of-date.

Worst comes to worst, this list gives you all an idea of how good the final games will have to be in order to crack the list. This can serve as a point of comparison, should the pennant race go down to the wire.

As for my list, the criteria is fairly simple: look for games that were exciting and exceptional. Obviously, it helps if the games have special meaning and importance.

I have one final random comment before the list. I originally planned to even it out with about as many Twins losses as wins. (This ain’t a Twins blog. I don’t have a rooting interest). However, in general most great baseball games involve the home team winning. Name your 10 best games of all-time and most will have ended on a walk-off play, which means the home squad won. Thus even though I don’t care who won, Minnesota triumphalism litters the list.

1. Well, duh

Oct. 27, 1991: Twins 1, Braves 0 (10). Normally, you start with number 10 and work your way to the top, in order to build suspense. But what suspense? Nothing will top this one.

So much has already been written about this game, I don’t know what else to say. Tom Kelly famously let Jack Morris pitch for all 10 innings, giving him the longest start by any pitcher in the World Series since 1969, when Tom Seaver defeated the Orioles 2-1 in 10 innings.

This was one of only three Fall Classic contests to enter extra innings without either team scoring. As the only Game Seven of that trio, it is easily the coolest of the bunch.

2. The other “duh”

Oct. 26, 1991: Twins 4, Braves 3 (11). Games ending on a walk-off hit, including this one, are typically memorable. It’s all the better if the blast was a homer, like the one that ended this game. A walk-off in extra innings heightens the drama still further. The coup de grace: the Twins would have lost the World Series if they lost this game, as they entered the night trailing three games to two. It certainly doesn’t hurt that the night’s hero was Kirby Puckett, arguably the most popular player in team history and a Hall of Famer

I should note that this the last entry from the 1991 World Series on my list. Games One and Two were both fine, but not enough to make this list. Game One was actually a fairly routine victory for Minnesota, and Game Two was more exciting, but not quite enough to be considered one of the 10 best out of more than 2,200 games.

3. Triumph of Sisyphus

Sep. 28, 2006: Twins 2, Royals 1 (10).

Throughout the Twins’ amazing run I’ve served the role as punchbowl turd by curbing enthusiasm a bit, and this is why. Winning 21 of 23 is fantastic and has without question restored my obsession with the Twins’ season. However, the problem is that because of how strong the division is and how big of a hole the Twins dug for themselves early, they basically had to keep winning for the rest of the year.

In normal circumstances it’s certainly not the end of the world when a team that has been playing extremely well loses a series to the Royals, but in the Twins’ case they simply don’t have the margin for error to live with many setbacks. The All-Star break arrives after the next series, and even with all the progress they’ve made over the past month the Twins are still 8.5 games out of a playoff spot.

Aaron Gleeman, 7/6/06.

Ever heard the Greek myth of Sisyphus? He was sentenced to a lifetime of toil, forever rolling a boulder up a hill. Each time he nearly got to the top, the boulder would roll back down the hill.

The 2006 Twins appeared to be Sisyphus’s kind of team. They began at the bottom of the hill, 11.5 behind the Tigers on June 7. Then they caught fire, but, as the Gleeman quote above indicates, it was futile, as the Tigers were even hotter. Despite winning 24 of 31, the Twins found themselves 12 games back on July 15. Somehow, despite their torrid pace, they were further from the hilltop than ever.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Like Sisyphus, the Twins kept toiling, winning series after series. Though the task appeared hopeless—they were still 10.5 games back on Aug. 7—they rolled closer to the apex of first place. They began Sep. 28 just one game behind the Tigers and on the verge of rising to the top of the mountain. In the myth, this is when the boulder rolls backwards.

It looked like that was going to be the case. In that day’s game, the visiting Royals took an early 1-0 lead, which Minnesota’s hitters seemed helpless the overcome. Through eight innings, only one Twins batter had made it past first base. However, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, Joe Mauer connected on a game-tying home run. Minnesota’s first rally of the game won it in the 10th. Combined with a Tigers loss, the Twins stood atop the mountain, tied for first.

The game encapsulated Minnesota’s entire 2006 season. They fell behind early and seemed unable to come back until the last possible moment. And just as the game ended with a dramatic, walk-off victory, the Twins’ finally took sole possession of the division lead on the last day of the season.

4. At the time, it looked like a great moment in franchise history

Sep. 25, 2008: Twins 7, White Sox 6 (10). For all the national media’s talk about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, it’s worth noting that the Twins and White Sox have enjoyed a nice little back-and-forth in the new millennium. Both teams frequently find themselves in the thick of the pennant race while far exceeding expectations. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen famously referred to the Twins as “piranhas” for their relentlessness.

2008 was one of the years that both teams surprised the game’s punditry by battling for first place late into the season. With six games left to play, the Sox came to town for a three-game series. Minnesota seemingly needed a sweep, as the Sox led them by 2.5 games. Though Minnesota’s odds seemed long, the piranhas lived up to their nickname, winning the first two games, and devouring most of Chicago’s once comfortable lead in the process. Whoever won this game would enter the final series of the year in first place.

At first, it looked like an easy Chicago win, as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead. Ah, but one should place a lead so meaty before a school of piranhas. They won’t consume it in one swallow, but they’ll devour it bite by bite until nothing remains. That’s exactly what happened here.

Minnesota scored twice in the fourth, once in the sixth, and twice in the eighth, and the game headed into overtime tied at 6-6. After the piranhas ate away the Sox’s lead, they proceeded to finish off the visitors, scoring the winning run in the 10th and securing first place.

The division was Minnesota’s to lose—which is precisely what they did. Sure, the Twins may be piranhas, but the South Siders weren’t a bunch of guppies.

5. Damn Yankees

Oct. 9, 2004: Yankees 6, Twins 5 (11). I suppose it’s appropriate that the highest ranking loss by the Twins comes from the ALDS. In franchise history, the Twins are 5-11 in this postseason round. This loss stung the most.

Heading into the eighth inning, Minnesota possessed a formidable 5-1 lead. Not only did that seemingly ensure victory, but it put them in great position to take the series. Though the next game would be in New York, a fully rested Johan Santana would start for the Twins. All they had to do was record six outs before allowing four runs.

Instead, the Yanks engineered a big eighth inning rally to tie it. In the 11th, the winning run scored in a most ignominious manner for Minnesota. After Alex Rodriguez blasted a one-out double, he stole third and scored on a wild pitch. That ended Minnesota’s 2004 season.

6. (TIE). No-nos that weren’t

May 5, 1987: Orioles 5, Twins 4. August 23, 2005: Twins 1, White Sox 0. There are two main ways a game can live in people’s memory. It can either be a fantastically exciting contest or feature an especially great performance. These games combined both elements.

On May 5, 1987, Eric Bell, in only his ninth career start, was pitching the game of his life for the Orioles. Through eighth inning, he held the Twins hitless as his offense staked him to a 4-0 lead. Had it not been for one walk, he would be three outs from perfection. The Minnesota faithful on hand can be forgiven for switching allegiances during the game and rooting for the kid. After all, attending a no-hitter is something you can talk about for years afterwards.

The bottom of the ninth began with the normally sure-handed Cal Ripken Jr. muffing a grounder, putting a man on first. That was okay—there was no perfect game on the line anyway. However, the second batter ended everyone’s fun by getting a single. Deflated fans across the stadium began heading for the exits. I’m sure there was some polite applause for Bell’s near-accomplishment, but the drama must be over now. There was no way Minnesota’s lifeless bats could do anything.

Could Bell get the shutout at least? Perhaps, as he then got a groundout, putting him two outs away from a complete game victory. However, a single then scored Minnesota’s first run and manager Cal Ripken Sr. lifted Bell. He’d lost his stuff, and Baltimore’s bullpen should be able to hold such a sizable lead, right?

Well, Minnesota star Kirby Puckett greeted the new Orioles pitcher most rudely by slamming a three-run homer to put Minnesota within one run, 5-4. Stunned fans now had to suddenly re-accustom themselves to rooting for the home team again. The odds were against them, but a rally had broken out when rooters least expected it.

Up next, Gary Gaetti singled and Kent Hrbek followed it up by singling him into scoring position. It was the most bizarre bottom of the ninth in memory: after 24 of the first 25 batters made outs, six out of seven Twins had reached base.

The fans cheered as fearsome slugger Tom Brunansky stepped to the plate. He could easily give Minnesota the win with one swing. Alas, he could only bounce one back to the mound, but at least advanced the runners. Now a base hit could win it.

The Orioles manager, recognizing both the need for a force and that any runner on first was now meaningless, issued an intentional walk to allow the seventh Twin of the inning to reach base. Twins fans were standing on their feet as their boys were on the verge of the unthinkable as pinch hitter Roy Smalley took his practice swings at the plate.

If this was a Hollywood script, he’d have belted home the winning run, but instead he just made the final out. Neither a great performance nor an awe-inspiring rally had occurred, but in some ways this game was more special than most of those contests. Once in a rare while, a game will have an eight-inning no-hitter. Once in a rarer while a team will nearly blow a five-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. But how often do both happen in the same contest?

In the 2005 game, an exciting game occurred simultaneous to a great performance, rather than immediately after one. In fact, this was arguably the greatest pitchers duel of all-time, as the two teams combined for only four hits all game long, the fewest in Metrodome history.

Though Johan Santana provided one of his typical great performances, the night appeared to belong to Sox starter Freddy Garcia. Though seven innings, not a single Twin had gotten a hit against him. Heading into the bottom of the eighth, only one player on either team had even made it to third, and that was only because of a defensive error.

Jacque Jones ended Garcia’s no-hitter, shutout, and victory bid with one swing of the bat. Jones’s homer was not only the game’s only run, it was Minnesota’s only hit that day.

7. (TIE). A seven-run lead ain’t what it used to be

May 16, 1983: A’s 7, Twins 6. May 10, 2000: Twins 10, Indians 9. Oakland appeared to have the contest well in hand. In the top of the ninth inning, they added a seemingly needless insurance run to their already impressive lead, to go up 7-0. Minnesota, down to their last three outs, appeared doomed.

Instead, Minnesota’s batters went bonkers. Back-to-back homers led off the inning, and a few minutes later, two more balls had left the field. That seemingly insurmountable Oakland lead now stood on the edge of being surmounted, as Minnesota trailed only 7-6. Though a single put the tying run on base, he died at first as Oakland recorded the last out to end the game.

Seventeen years later, the Twins appeared to have learned their lesson: if you want to overcome a seven-run lead, start as early as you can. At the seventh inning stretch in the 2000 contest, the Indians led 8-1. Six hits, two walks, and 11 batters later, the inning ended with the Tribe clinging to an 8-7 lead. They put one more run on the board in the top of the ninth, but that merely added to the drama as the Twins piled on three more late runs for an unlikely 10-9 victory.

While I may have missed something, this is the largest comeback in Metrodome history that I found. I discovered seven different games in the Metrodome where a team overcame a six-run deficit, and a pair of games in which a team blew a six-run lead but managed to rally for the win anyway. This tops them all (as far as I know).

8. (TIE). No-nos that were

April 27, 1994: Twins 6, Brewers 0. Sep. 11, 1999: Twins 7, Angels 0. Wait, why are the actual no-hitters ranked below the non-no-hitters? Simple, those were not only memorable performance but also great games. While the performances here were greater (they were, after all, actual no-hitters), the games were pretty boring.

Actually, I feel like I should apologize to Scott Erickson for including his 1994 gem alongside Eric Milton’s big day in 1999. Milton had the advantage of facing one of the most pathetic lineups ever no-hit, while Erickson had to do it the hard way, facing real batters.

9. The Minnesota Marathon

Aug. 31, 1993: Twins 5, Indians 4 (22). This is the longest game in Metrodome history in terms of both innings and time, 6 hours, 17 minutes. (If you’re curious, at 113 minutes this was the shortest game in Metrodome history).

The Indians vaulted to a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, but couldn’t put the game away. The Twins scored two that inning and the game-tying run in the ninth to send the game into a seemingly endless overtime.

Neither team could score. The Indians had plenty of opportunities, as they put runners on in five of the first six extra frames, but they couldn’t get the last hit to bring any of those runner home. Meanwhile, the Minnesota offense was totally incapacitated, getting a runner past first in only one of the first nine overtime innings.

However, Minnesota made a big swing first, as a homer to lead off the bottom of the 22nd ended the game, allowing the handful of diehards who remained to go home happily.

10. (TIE). The Jack Morris Seal of Approval

Sep. 19, 1990: Twins 1, Royals 0 (11). Aug. 13, 2003: Indians 5, Twins 0 (14). April 26, 2007: Twins 1, Royals 0 (11). I have to admit, I think there is something very cool about a game that features no scoring after nine innings. Of all games in Metrodome history, this trio of contests went the longest before the first run was scored. The only other extra-inning 0-0 game was the Jack Morris Game.

In the 1990 contest, both starting pitchers achieved Game Scores of 80 or higher. Unless I missed something, that is the only time in Metrodome history that happened.

The 2003 game has the distinction of being the longest game without runs in the Stadium That Aesthetic Taste Forgot, but the avalanche of runs in the 14th inning by the Indians causes it to lose a few points.

The 2007 affair featured an appalling lack of clutch hitting. Prior to the bottom of the 11th, a runner made it to third base seven times, but no one could figure out how to make them move those last 90 feet. The Royals had six at-bats in four separate frames with a runner on third, but never did get one home.

There are many others worthy of contention, but that’s part of the great things about these lists. They make a nice way to start a conversation on the subject, rather than end one. While this weekend’s Detroit series didn’t provide a new inclusion, it’s possible the season’s finale might do so, especially if the division race remains tight. As this list shows, though, any future aspirant will have to earn it

References & Resources
I spent waaaaaay too much time at Retrosheet figuring out this one. On a mercenary note, I spent a lot of time researching this going through the Retrosheet gamelogs, and I don’t want anyone to think I’m just leeching off any similar columns that come out when it closes (in fact, this is inspired by an old ESPN piece on the Kingdome’s greatest moments).


21 Comments
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Joe
14 years ago

My addition to this list;  http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200606130.shtml

Two great pitchers (possible Hall of Famers both) going at it for 8 innings then a bullpen battle.  “Groundout SS-2B” by Gonzalez in the 12th doesn’t do justice to the play Punto made to keep the Sox from having a 3-4 run inning.

Josh Johnson
14 years ago

The only other game I’d make mention of (off the top of my head) was the June 13, 2006 game against the Boston Red Sox. Not only did Jason Kubel hit a walk-off grand slam to win the game (a game in which both Johan Santana and Curt Schilling pitched), it really helped catapult the Twins on their great stretch that eventually helped win them the A.L. Central.

Perhaps I’m a little bias as I was there, three rows up above the Twins’ dugout.

chris
14 years ago

After watching Saturday’s fly ball lost in the ceiling debacle they can’t implode the dump fast enough for me.  Good riddance.

Rob
14 years ago

Josh,

I second that game as one of the best, although I may also be biased.  (I was in the upper general section, and it was my 21st B-day.  What a great present!)

13 K’s by Santana and a few innings of the best closers in the game made for high entertainment and a really long game of Twingo.

Stevenell
14 years ago

Jason Kubel’s Grand slam to complete a huge comeback and the cycle was a pretty awesome moment.  Maybe not top 10, but probably top 20.

Trent
14 years ago

Let’s not forget that in 1990 the Twins turned two triple plays in one game.  Typically for that 1990 team, they lost the game 1-0 to the Red Sox.

Dave in Bloomington, MN
14 years ago

Fun article, thanks.  Here’s the game I would add to the mix:  Oct 7, 1987.  Twins 8 Detroit 5.  This was the first playoff game at the dome and showed what a factor the crowd would play in two World Series championships.  The pundits panned the Twins because they lost their last 6 games of the year (partying after clinching the division), and the Tigers were portrayed as unbeatable.  The Twins led early, the Tigers came back to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the 8th, then the Twins got 4 in the bottom of the 8th and the roof almost blew off the dome from the noise.  Puckett and Gaetti had big games, Reardon got the win in relief of Viola.  A great game.

Kurtis
14 years ago

There are fifteen items on this list.

Kurtis
14 years ago

I believe that was in Boston, Trent. I could be wrong, though.

Ted
14 years ago

How could you leave out the 6th game of the ‘87 Series?

Don Baylor hits his only home run as a Twin in the 5th to tie the game and then in the 6th Hrbek hits this first pitch from Joe Dayley for a grand slam home run?

Brett
14 years ago

What about the game Dave Kingman hit the pop up that never came down.  It came out later that the ball got caughtin drainage pipe.  5/4/84

Chris J.
14 years ago

Brett,

I’d classify that as distinctive, but not a great game.  That gets put in the pile with the Joe Niekro nailfile (wasn’t that at the Metrodome, too?)

Moss
14 years ago

The Scott Baker near-perfect game could easily have been included. That was every bit as exciting as Scott Erickson’s no-hitter, maybe even moreso.

Jason
14 years ago

Joe and Josh I completely agree about the June 13, 2006 Twins-Red Sox game.  Even though I was only able to “watch” it on MLB Gameday it was extremely exciting.  My grandparents were at the game which made me really jealous.  Excellent starting pitching followed by a dramatic ending… couldn’t ask for more.

TBird
14 years ago

I’d nominate this game:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200508230.shtml

Johan pitched 8 innings of shut out ball, and Freddy Garcia gave up one hit, a solo home run by Jacque Jones in the 8th inning to break up the no hitter

Tom Snee
14 years ago

I’d have to agree that Game 6 of the ‘87 Series belongs on this list. In a do-or-go-golfing game, Lester Straker spots the Cards a 5-2 lead before the bats come back and Baylor’s blast puts them in front. Then Herby’s grand slam ices the game, and breaks ABC’s decibel meter. That one’s way, way, way above Milton’s lame no-hitter.

Ben
14 years ago

I nominate this game: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2002/B06100MIN2002.htm

The first matchup between the Twins and Braves since the ‘91 world series. Twins score early off of Maddux with five straight singles to start the game, Braves claw back to tie it in the 5th. A full games worth of 0’s follow while intermittent thunderstorms outside provide entertainment. Tom Prince(!) scores from first on a Guzman double off the baggy to win in the 15th.

Jojo
14 years ago

TBird, that’s under #6 above already.

bkru
14 years ago

Couple thoughts:  I’ve always thought of the “Damn Yankees” Game as the “Ruben Sierra” Game – he hit a 3-run homer off Rincon in the 8th, devastating.  I’m surprised you didn’t mention him.

Likewise, the Sept 25, 2008 game against the White Sox ended on Alexi Casilla’s base hit. 

Game #6 of the ‘87 World Series definitely has to be on the list—I can remember being despondent mid-game, feeling it was over, ‘til Don Baylor hit the big home run that brought us back.  Then Hrbek sealed it with a late grand slam.

Also on board with the guy who said Game #1 of the 1987 A.L.C.S. – Gaetti hit two home runs, and proved the Twins belonged.  It was so fun beating heavily-favored Detroit.

One other game that may or may not be worthy, but comes to mind, is the last home game of the 1987 regular season, a Sunday.  The Twins clinched at least a tie for the A.L. Western Division, there was a huge crowd and I remember Gaetti saying some words to the fans and shedding a few tears.

Peter S
14 years ago

1st game of the 1987 season. Puckett goes over the fence in the 9th to snag a catch to win the game. Got the season off to a great start.

Last home game of 1987 when the Twins beat the Royals in a game they needed.

Game 1 of the 1987 ALCS. First game of the homer hanky. Loudest game probably ever. Great come-from-behind rally. I second that would be on there.

Also Santana beating Schilling on a Kubel extra-inning HR. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200606130.shtml

I always that that was a great regular season game.

Ryne
14 years ago

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200708190.shtml

This game sticks out for me. Johan striking out 17 batters in a 1-0 game during his last season with the Twins.