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Minnesota Twins, 1961 Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:
The Washington Senators move to Minnesota, November 26, 1960!
Fifty-eight years ago this week, November 26, 1960, the Washington Senators franchise moved out of D.C. and into an area in Minnesota near St. Paul and Minneapolis, known at the Twin Cities. The team then became known as the “Twins.”
The first game was played there on April 21, 1961 at Metropolitan Stadium. The Twins lost 5-3. They drew 1,256,723 fans their first year in Minneapolis, much better than the previous year attendance in Washington of 743,404, the worst gate in the American League.
In the featured photo, we see a scene from the first game played at Metropolitan stadium with Camilo Pascual on the mound for the Twins.
Now here’s a quiz: Who do you think beat the Twins – the former Washington Senators – in that first game? Would you believe me if I told you the Twins lost to…none-other-than…the Washington Senators!!
That’s right. Baseball – in its infinite wisdom – moved the Washington Senators to Minnesota to become the Minnesota Twins due to failing attendance, while at the same time, started an expansion team in Washington…named the Washington Senators! But wait…it gets even more confusing!
This “second” Senators franchise lasted in D.C. until 1972, when they also moved, this time to Texas, where they became the Texas Rangers with Ted Williams as their first manager.
The city of Washington, D.C. was without a team until the Montreal Expos moved there in 2005, and became…you got it!…the third and current incarnation of baseball in Washington, this time known as the Washington Nationals!
The “original” Washington Senators were one of the American League’s eight charter franchises in 1901. The Senators began their history as a perennially losing team, at times so inept that the a quote by sportswriter Charley Dryden turned them into a national joke: “Washington, first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League!”
The team’s fortunes finally changed in the 1920’s as they won American League pennants in 1924 and 1925, and the franchise’s only World Series championship in 1924. Another pennant followed in 1933. This short-lived success was followed by many more years of mediocrity which including six last place finishes in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
The Twins, in the meantime, won the American League pennant in 1965 under manager Sam Mele; and World Series championships in 1987 and 1991 with Tom Kelly at the managerial helm.
Meanwhile, back to the Twins. Here’s some Twins’ Firsts:
First Twins manager: Cookie Lavagetto
First pitcher: Camilo Pascual
First batter in Met Stadium: Marty Keough, Washington
First Twins batter: Zoilo Versalles
First Twins hit: Reno Bertoia
First Twins run: Don Mincher
First Twins home run: Don Mincher
First Twins win: April 22, 1961, 5-4 vs. Washington
Gary Livacari
Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback: “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire”and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation
Hi Gary,
Your timely article about the brand-new Twins brings back fond memories of watching the old Washington Senators take their regular punishment at Griffith Stadium in the late 1950s. Albie Pearson and Bob Allison won back-to-back rookie-of-the-year awards; the “Fearsome Foursome” of the time consisted of Allison, Roy Sievers, Jim Lemon and Harmon Killebrew; and the fastest runner on the club was a certain Pedro Ramos, Camilo Pascual’s pitching partner and fellow Cuban.
Gunther Beer was a big sponsor. My kid brother and I were admonished daily to “get (our) hand around a cool GEE! (what a wonderful beer),” but we were way too young, and had to content ourselves with dreams of future guzzling — long since realized you understand.
Yes, Washington. “First in war; first in peace, and last in the American League.” Once they went west they became a contender, and left a truly crummy ball club in their wake.
Here’s hoping your post sparks similar and equally fond recollections. Many thanks!
Best regards,
Michael
Thanks Michael for your interesting comments about the Senators. Greatly appreciated…please stay in touch! If you’re on Facebook, you might also want to check out my Old-Time Baseball Photos page.
I live in Louisiana and have been following the Texas Rangers since they moved to my region of the country. I knew they had been the Washington Senators before they moved here, but didn’t realize they were the second Washington Senators and that the Minnesota Twins were actually the first Washington Senators. Ultimately in 1972 both the Rangers and Twins were members of the American League West.