Thursday, November 17, 2016

#400 Tony Oliva 


A Minnesota Twin through and through....End of one phase of an amazing run......a career rescued just in time by the new DH rule....injured an already fragile knee at the end of June 1971.....story has it he fell on a sprinkler head... still held on to be AL batting champ...the lingering effects however virtually wiped out 1972 season.....Amazing 1964 debut, taking the AL batting crown and Rookie of the Year honors....Repeated batting crown in 1965...next three years (falling in the second dead ball era) Tony finished in the top 10 in batting...nifty run of 8 consecutive all star games....starting in 1969 racked up three consecutive .300+ seasons...lead AL in hits five times...taking over exclusive DH duties for three seasons hit .291, .285, .270 respectively...robbed of higher numbers because he had lost all speed similar to Orlando Cepeda...had more knee surgeries after 1975 season....retired mid season 1976...A Minnesota icon and the Minnesota populace vehemently support his induction to the HOF....achievements of note:  hit first DH home run...continued with the Twins in a variety of roles too numerous to mention....hit from the left side with so much intensity that the bat flew off his hands sometimes landing in the stands....Has visited his native Cuba many times....his statue stands at Target Field. 


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