Major League Baseball season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1987
Minnesota Twins won the
World Series for the first time since moving from
Washington in 1961, the second time that the franchise won the
World Series (the
Washington Senators won it in
1924 ). Having won only 85 games during the
1987 regular season , they won the World Series with the then-fewest regular season wins since Major League Baseball expanded to a 162-game season in
1961 , and the fewest of any team since the
1889 New York Giants (excluding the
strike -shortened
1981 and the
COVID-19 pandemic -shortened
2020 seasons and later surpassed by the
2006 St. Louis Cardinals who won 83 games that season). They also became the first team to win the World Series despite being outscored by their opponents in the regular season, having scored 786 runs and allowed 806.
Tom Kelly became the fifth
manager to win a World Series in his first full season on the job, and one of seven total, as of 2023, to accomplish the feat.
[1]
Offseason
November 12, 1986: The Twins traded a player to be named later to the
New York Mets for
Ron Gardenhire . The Twins completed the trade by sending Dominic Iasparro (minors) to the Mets on April 4, 1987.
[2] Gardenhire would spend the next 28 years in the Twins Organization including a 13-year stint as manager from 2002-2014.
January 9, 1987:
Juan Berenguer was signed as a free agent by the Twins.
[3]
February 3, 1987:
Neal Heaton ,
Yorkis Pérez ,
Jeff Reed and minor leaguer Al Cardwood were traded by the Twins to the
Montreal Expos for
Jeff Reardon and
Tom Nieto .
[4]
February 20, 1987: Minor leaguer Mike Shade was traded by the Twins to the Montreal Expos for
Al Newman .
[5]
February 24, 1987:
Billy Sample was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Twins.
[6]
Regular season
The Twins were 85-77, first in the
American League West , two games ahead of the Kansas City Royals. The team had one of the lowest winning percentages ever for a World Series champion, at .525. They also had the remarkably bad road record of 29-52 (.358 percentage) but made up for it winning 56 home games (best in MLB). Fortunately for the Twins, they played in a very weak division; only two teams finished above .500 and only 10 games separated the Twins from the last-place
California Angels (the previous year's division champion) and
Texas Rangers . The Twins' 85-77 was the lowest for a World Series champion for nearly two decades, until the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series with an 83-78 record.
1987 was the first year the Twins started using their modernized logos and uniforms, which are still in use today.
Only one Twin made the
All-Star Game , outfielder
Kirby Puckett . The highest paid player was
Kent Hrbek at $1,310,000; followed by
Bert Blyleven at $1,150,000.
Over a late August weekend at Milwaukee, Puckett went 10 for 11, with four homers and two doubles, raising his batting average 13 points. The feat tied a major league record.
Joe Niekro , a pitcher for the Twins, was suspended for 10 games when
umpire
Tim Tschida discovered an
emery board in his pocket. Tschida suspected Niekro was scuffing the ball, and saw the emery board fly out of Niekro's pocket. Niekro said he was filing his nails in the dugout, but
American League president
Dr. Bobby Brown didn't believe him, and ordered the suspension. When the Twins won the pennant, Niekro set a major league record as he'd waited 20½ years since his debut to reach a World Series game.
2,081,976 fans attended Twins games, the sixth highest total in the
American League .
The
Homer Hanky was introduced in 1987's pennant drive. When the Twins made the playoffs for the first time since 1970, three members of that team remained with the club now seventeen years later. Bert Blyleven was the only remaining player;
Tony Oliva became the hitting coach and
Rick Renick the third base coach.
Offense
This was the last year for a long time that the Twins were stocked with power hitters. In particular,
Kirby Puckett ,
Kent Hrbek ,
Gary Gaetti , and
Tom Brunansky combined to hit 125 home runs. (The team as a whole hit 196.) Hrbek, Gaetti, and Brunansky each surpassed 30 home runs, a number that no Twin would reach again until
Justin Morneau and
Torii Hunter in 2006.
Kirby Puckett led the
AL with 207 hits.
Despite the power in their lineup, the Twins were outscored 806-786, one of the largest such differentials for a World Series champion.
Pitching
The top three starting pitchers,
Frank Viola ,
Bert Blyleven , and
Les Straker provided stability throughout the year.
Mike Smithson ,
Joe Niekro , and
Jeff Bittiger were less reliable. Newly acquired closer
Jeff Reardon was a reliable option at the end of games.
Juan Berenguer was the most reliable set-up man, posting a 3.94 ERA.
Bert Blyleven led the
AL with 46 home runs allowed.
Defense
The defense was not as strong as would be typical for Twins teams under manager Tom Kelly. Hrbek was the most reliable fielder at first base, and the outfield of
Dan Gladden , Puckett, and Brunansky was reliable.
Third baseman
Gary Gaetti and center fielder
Kirby Puckett each won their second
Gold Glove Award .
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
Team
BAL
BOS
CAL
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIL
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TEX
TOR
Baltimore
—
1–12
9–3
8–4
7–6
4–9
9–3
2–11
5–7
3–10
7–5
4–8
7–5
1–12
Boston
12–1
—
4–8
3–9
7–6
2–11
6–6
6–7
7–5
7–6
4–8
7–5
7–5
6–7
California
3–9
8–4
—
8–5
7–5
3–9
5–8
7–5
8–5
3–9
6–7
7–6
5–8
5–7
Chicago
4–8
9–3
5–8
—
7–5
3–9
6–7
6–6
6–7
5–7
9–4
6–7
7–6
4–8
Cleveland
6–7
6–7
5–7
5–7
—
4–9
6–6
4–9
3–9
6–7
4–8
5–7
2–10
5–8
Detroit
9–4
11–2
9–3
9–3
9–4
—
5–7
6–7
8–4
5–8
5–7
7–5
8–4
7–6
Kansas City
3–9
6–6
8–5
7–6
6–6
7–5
—
4–8
8–5
5–7
5–8
9–4
7–6
8–4
Milwaukee
11–2
7–6
5–7
6–6
9–4
7–6
8–4
—
3–9
7–6
6–6
4–8
9–3
9–4
Minnesota
7–5
5–7
5–8
7–6
9–3
4–8
5–8
9–3
—
6–6
10–3
9–4
6–7
3–9
New York
10–3
6–7
9–3
7–5
7–6
8–5
7–5
6–7
6–6
—
5–7
7–5
5–7
6–7
Oakland
5–7
8–4
7–6
4–9
8–4
7–5
8–5
6–6
3–10
7–5
—
5–8
6–7
7–5
Seattle
8–4
5–7
6–7
7–6
7–5
5–7
4–9
8–4
4–9
5–7
8–5
—
9–4
2–10
Texas
5–7
5–7
8–5
6–7
10–2
4–8
6–7
3–9
7–6
7–5
7–6
4–9
—
3–9
Toronto
12–1
7–6
7–5
8–4
8–5
6–7
4–8
4–9
9–3
7–6
5–7
10–2
9–3
—
Game log
Regular season
1987 game log: 85−77 (Home: 56−25; Away: 29−52)
April: 12–9 (Home: 7–3; Away: 5–6)
#
Date
Time (
CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
1
April 7
Athletics
5–4 (10)
Frazier (1–0)
Krueger (0–1)
—
43,548
1–0
W1
2
April 8
Athletics
4–1
Viola (1–0)
Plunk (0–1)
Reardon (1)
12,577
2–0
W2
3
April 9
Athletics
5–4
Berenguer (1–0)
Howell (0–1)
—
11,586
3–0
W3
4
April 10
@
Mariners
8–1
Smithson (1–0)
Morgan (0–1)
—
38,122
4–0
W4
5
April 11
@
Mariners
5–6
Nunez (1–0)
Reardon (0–1)
—
26,312
4–1
L1
6
April 12
@
Mariners
8–5
Blyleven (1–0)
Langston (0–2)
Berenguer (1)
9,358
5–1
W1
7
April 13
@
Athletics
3–6
Howell (1–1)
Frazier (1–1)
—
14,447
5–2
L1
8
April 14
@
Athletics
9–8
Atherton (1–0)
Codiroli (0–1)
Reardon (2)
10,435
6–2
W1
9
April 15
@
Athletics
5–2
Smithson (2–0)
Stewart (0–2)
Reardon (3)
17,182
7–2
W2
10
April 17
@
Angels
1–2
Witt (2–1)
Blyleven (1–1)
—
36,175
7–3
L1
11
April 18
@
Angels
0–1
Candelaria (2–0)
Viola (1–1)
Moore (2)
36,881
7–4
L2
12
April 19
@
Angels
6–5
Portugal (1–0)
Sutton (0–3)
Reardon (4)
49,627
8–4
W1
13
April 20
Mariners
13–5
Smithson (3–0)
Morgan (0–3)
—
11,927
9–4
W2
14
April 21
Mariners
6–1
Straker (1–0)
Trujillo (1–1)
—
10,776
10–4
W3
15
April 22
Mariners
3–4
Langston (2–2)
Frazier (1–2)
—
11,247
10–5
L1
16
April 23
Angels
3–7
Candelaria (3–0)
Viola (1–2)
Moore (3)
14,204
10–6
L2
17
April 24
Angels
1–8
Sutton (1–3)
Portugal (1–1)
—
20,116
10–7
L3
18
April 25
Angels
8–7
Reardon (1–1)
Finley (0–1)
—
51,717
11–7
W1
19
April 26
Angels
10–5
Frazier (2–2)
Cook (1–1)
—
19,116
12–7
W2
20
April 28
@
Blue Jays
1–5
Clancy (2–2)
Viola (1–3)
—
21,182
12–8
L1
21
April 29
@
Blue Jays
1–8
Johnson (1–2)
Smithson (3–1)
—
19,020
12–9
L2
May: 14–14 (Home: 9–8; Away: 5–6)
#
Date
Time (
CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
22
May 1
Yankees
7–4
Blyleven (2–1)
Rhoden (2–3)
Reardon (5)
23,531
13–9
W1
23
May 2
Yankees
4–6
John (2–0)
Viola (1–4)
Righetti (7)
33,173
13–10
L1
24
May 3
Yankees
4–3
Frazier (3–2)
Stoddard (0–1)
Reardon (6)
23,798
14–10
W1
25
May 5
Orioles
4–5
Bell (3–1)
Smithson (3–2)
Dixon (1)
8,891
14–11
L1
26
May 6
Orioles
0–6
McGregor (1–4)
Blyleven (2–2)
—
10,840
14–12
L2
27
May 7
Orioles
5–2
Viola (2–4)
Flanagan (0–5)
Reardon (7)
14,198
15–12
W1
28
May 8
@
Yankees
7–11
Guante (2–1)
Reardon (1–2)
—
25,921
15–13
L1
29
May 9
@
Yankees
2–0
Straker (2–0)
Rasmussen (2–2)
Reardon (8)
27,220
16–13
W1
30
May 10
@
Yankees
1–6
Hudson (5–0)
Smithson (3–3)
—
41,691
16–14
L1
31
May 11
@
Orioles
10–4
Blyleven (3–2)
McGregor (1–5)
—
25,353
17–14
W1
32
May 12
@
Orioles
7–10
Dixon (3–2)
Reardon (1–3)
—
14,279
17–15
L1
33
May 13
Blue Jays
0–7
Clancy (5–2)
Portugal (1–2)
—
9,158
17–16
L2
34
May 14
Blue Jays
4–16
Stieb (2–2)
Straker (2–1)
—
10,053
17–17
L3
35
May 15
Red Sox
3–1
Frazier (4–2)
Hurst (4–4)
—
13,878
18–17
W1
36
May 16
Red Sox
1–6
Clemens (3–3)
Blyleven (3–3)
—
23,414
18–18
L1
37
May 17
Red Sox
10–8 (10)
Atherton (2–0)
Schiraldi (1–3)
—
20,716
19–18
W1
38
May 19
@
Indians
3–4
Schrom (3–4)
Portugal (1–3)
—
7,045
19–19
L1
39
May 20
@
Indians
8–2
Berenguer (2–0)
Candiotti (1–6)
—
6,226
20–19
W1
40
May 21
@
Indians
3–6
Swindell (3–3)
Blyleven (3–4)
—
7,401
20–20
L1
41
May 22
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Tigers
L 2–3
Morris (5–2)
Viola (2–5)
—
2:43
15,423
20–21
L2
42
May 23
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Tigers
W 7–5
Anderson (1–0)
Terrell (3–5)
Reardon (9)
3:10
18,601
21–21
W1
43
May 24
1:15 p.m.
CDT
Tigers
L 2–7
Robinson (3–2)
Atherton (2–1)
—
3:07
16,351
21–22
L1
44
May 26
Brewers
4–2
Blyleven (4–4)
Nieves (3–2)
Reardon (10)
23,276
22–22
W1
45
May 27
Brewers
7–2
Viola (3–5)
Wegman (3–5)
Frazier (1)
22,947
23–22
W2
46
May 28
Brewers
13–1
Berenguer (3–0)
Birkbeck (1–4)
—
26,203
24–22
W3
47
May 29
6:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Tigers
L 7–15
Terrell (4–5)
Straker (2–2)
—
2:28
19,031
24–23
L1
—
May 30
@
Tigers
Postponed (rain) (Rescheduled May 31)
48
May 31 (1)
12:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Tigers
W 9–5
Reardon (2–3)
King (2–4)
—
3:25
n/a
25–23
W1
49
May 31 (2)
4:30 p.m.
CDT
@
Tigers
W 11–3
Frazier (5–2)
Tanana (4–3)
—
2:56
20,993
26–23
W2
June: 17–11 (Home: 10–2; Away: 7–9)
#
Date
Time (
CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
50
June 1
@
Red Sox
9–5
Viola (4–5)
Clemens (4–5)
—
20,221
27–23
W3
51
June 2
@
Red Sox
5–6
Schiraldi (3–3)
Reardon (2–4)
—
16,910
27–24
L1
52
June 3
@
Red Sox
6–7 (10)
Schiraldi (4–3)
Klink (0–1)
—
20,638
27–25
L2
53
June 5
Rangers
9–15
Harris (2–4)
Blyleven (4–5)
—
16,092
27–26
L3
54
June 6
Rangers
3–2 (13)
Atherton (3–1)
Williams (3–3)
—
24,992
28–26
W1
55
June 7
Rangers
7–4
Atherton (4–1)
Russell (0–1)
—
15,795
29–26
W2
56
June 8
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Royals
W 5–3
Niemann (1–0)
Gubicza (3–7)
Reardon (11)
2:35
17,815
30–26
W3
57
June 9
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Royals
W 5–2
Niekro (1–0)
Jackson (2–8)
Atherton (1)
3:00
18,563
31–26
W4
58
June 10
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Royals
W 4–3 (10)
Reardon (3–4)
Gleaton (1–2)
—
3:04
18,560
32–26
W5
—
June 11
@
White Sox
Postponed (rain) (Rescheduled June 12)
59
June 12 (1)
@
White Sox
5–2
Viola (5–5)
Long (3–2)
Reardon (12)
n/a
33–26
W6
60
June 12 (2)
@
White Sox
7–4
Berenguer (4–0)
Nielsen (0–1)
Atherton (2)
18,906
34–26
W7
61
June 13
@
White Sox
2–6
Dotson (4–4)
Straker (2–3)
James (8)
28,087
34–27
L1
62
June 14
@
White Sox
6–3
Niekro (2–0)
DeLeon (4–6)
Berenguer (2)
17,334
35–27
W1
63
June 15
@
Brewers
5–0
Blyleven (5–5)
Wegman (5–6)
—
18,403
36–27
W2
64
June 16
@
Brewers
7–3
Viola (6–5)
Crim (3–4)
Reardon (13)
21,613
37–27
W3
65
June 17
@
Brewers
5–8
Clear (5–1)
Straker (2–4)
Plesac (14)
23,389
37–28
L1
66
June 19
White Sox
7–6
Reardon (4–4)
Winn (2–3)
—
24,123
38–28
W1
67
June 20
White Sox
5–10
DeLeon (5–6)
Blyleven (5–6)
—
33,636
38–29
L1
68
June 21
White Sox
8–6
Berenguer (5–0)
Winn (2–4)
Reardon (14)
29,240
39–29
W1
69
June 23
Indians
9–4
Smithson (4–3)
Candiotti (2–8)
Frazier (2)
17,393
40–29
W2
70
June 24
Indians
14–8
Straker (3–4)
Swindell (3–7)
—
19,885
41–29
W3
71
June 25
Indians
4–3
Blyleven (6–6)
Niekro (5–7)
Reardon (15)
27,489
42–29
W4
72
June 26
@
Rangers
0–1
Witt (3–3)
Viola (6–6)
Mohorcic (10)
20,605
42–30
L1
73
June 27 (1)
@
Rangers
6–11
Correa (3–5)
Frazier (5–3)
Russell (2)
n/a
42–31
L2
74
June 27 (2)
@
Rangers
2–7
Hough (8–3)
Atherton (4–2)
—
35,677
42–32
L3
75
June 28
@
Rangers
3–6
Guzman (6–6)
Smithson (4–4)
Mohorcic (11)
17,477
42–33
L4
76
June 29
7:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Royals
L 2–3 (5)
Jackson (4–10)
Straker (3–5)
—
1:22
35,872
42–34
L5
77
June 30
7:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Royals
W 3–1
Blyleven (7–6)
Leibrandt (8–6)
Reardon (16)
2:44
21,515
43–34
W1
July: 13–14 (Home: 7–3; Away: 6–11)
#
Date
Time (
CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
78
July 1
7:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Royals
L 3–4
Quisenberry (3–0)
Atherton (4–3)
—
2:59
26,899
43–35
L1
79
July 2
7:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Royals
L 3–10
Saberhagen (14–2)
Niekro (2–1)
—
2:42
35,992
43–36
L2
80
July 3
Orioles
6–5 (11)
Reardon (5–4)
Niedenfuer (1–1)
—
26,331
44–36
W1
81
July 4
Orioles
4–1
Straker (4–5)
Bell (6–6)
Berenguer (3)
23,724
45–36
W2
82
July 5
Orioles
4–3
Blyleven (8–6)
Niedenfuer (1–2)
—
21,294
46–36
W3
83
July 6
@
Yankees
2–0
Viola (7–6)
Guidry (1–4)
—
20,141
47–36
W4
84
July 7
@
Yankees
7–12
Stoddard (2–1)
Atherton (4–4)
—
27,697
47–37
L1
85
July 8
@
Yankees
4–13
Rhoden (11–5)
Smithson (4–5)
Clements (4)
38,168
47–38
L2
86
July 9
@
Orioles
3–1
Straker (5–5)
Bell (6–7)
Reardon (17)
22,656
48–38
W1
87
July 10
@
Orioles
12–13
Williamson (3–6)
Frazier (5–4)
—
28,057
48–39
L1
88
July 11
@
Orioles
2–1
Viola (8–6)
Griffin (1–3)
—
25,690
49–39
W1
89
July 12
@
Orioles
0–5
Schmidt (9–2)
Niekro (2–2)
—
27,486
49–40
L1
58th All-Star Game in Oakland, California
90
July 16
Blue Jays
2–5
Key (10–6)
Blyleven (8–7)
Henke (18)
34,334
49–41
L2
91
July 17
Blue Jays
3–2
Viola (9–6)
Eichhorn (8–5)
Reardon (18)
28,234
50–41
W1
92
July 18
Blue Jays
5–7
Stieb (8–5)
Niekro (2–3)
—
38,365
50–42
L1
93
July 19
Blue Jays
7–6
Schatzeder (1–0)
Lavelle (1–1)
Reardon (19)
32,095
51–42
W1
94
July 20
Yankees
1–7
John (9–3)
Straker (5–6)
—
34,966
51–43
L1
95
July 21
Yankees
2–1
Blyleven (9–7)
Stoddard (2–2)
—
37,391
52–43
W1
96
July 22
Yankees
3–1
Viola (10–6)
Rhoden (12–6)
Reardon (20)
40,054
53–43
W2
97
July 23
@
Blue Jays
3–4
Stieb (9–5)
Frazier (5–5)
—
35,320
53–44
L1
98
July 24
@
Blue Jays
6–8
Eichhorn (9–5)
Reardon (5–5)
Henke (20)
30,382
53–45
L2
99
July 25
@
Blue Jays
13–9
Schatzeder (2–0)
Musselman (7–4)
—
36,395
54–45
W1
100
July 26
@
Blue Jays
2–4
Key (11–6)
Blyleven (9–8)
Henke (21)
33,393
54–46
L1
101
July 27
@
Mariners
4–3
Viola (11–6)
Nunez (3–2)
Reardon (21)
13,858
55–46
W1
102
July 28
@
Mariners
1–6
Morgan (8–11)
Niekro (2–4)
—
13,495
55–47
L1
103
July 29
@
Mariners
3–8
Guetterman (9–2)
Smithson (4–6)
—
14,320
55–48
L2
104
July 31
@
Athletics
5–3
Blyleven (10–8)
Lamp (1–2)
Reardon (22)
32,097
56–48
W1
August: 13–15 (Home: 10–4; Away: 3–11)
#
Date
Time (
CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
105
August 1
@
Athletics
2–3
Stewart (14–7)
Viola (11–7)
—
40,929
56–49
L1
106
August 2
@
Athletics
5–6 (11)
Nelson (5–2)
Reardon (5–6)
—
33,215
56–50
L2
107
August 3
@
Angels
11–3
Schatzeder (3–0)
Witt (13–7)
—
33,983
57–50
W1
108
August 4
@
Angels
3–12
Sutton (8–9)
Carlton (0–1)
Lucas (2)
37,371
57–51
L1
109
August 5
@
Angels
1–6
Candelaria (6–3)
Blyleven (10–9)
—
34,059
57–52
L2
110
August 6
Athletics
9–4
Viola (12–7)
Stewart (14–8)
—
39,177
58–52
W1
111
August 7
Athletics
9–4
Niekro (3–4)
Lamp (1–3)
—
36,146
59–52
W2
112
August 8
Athletics
9–2
Carlton (1–1)
Young (10–6)
—
50,237
60–52
W3
113
August 9
Athletics
7–5
Blyleven (11–9)
Ontiveros (6–6)
Reardon (23)
33,948
61–52
W4
114
August 11
Angels
7–2
Viola (13–7)
Candelaria (6–4)
—
39,163
62–52
W5
115
August 12
Angels
2–8
McCaskill (3–4)
Straker (5–7)
—
33,033
62–53
L1
116
August 13
Angels
1–5
Witt (14–8)
Carlton (1–2)
—
35,837
62–54
L2
117
August 14
Mariners
6–3
Blyleven (12–9)
Morgan (10–12)
—
26,291
63–54
W1
118
August 15
Mariners
14–4
Smith (1–0)
Guetterman (9–4)
—
31,154
64–54
W2
119
August 16
Mariners
5–1
Viola (14–7)
Moore (5–15)
—
28,006
65–54
W3
120
August 17
Mariners
4–2
Straker (6–7)
Langston (13–10)
Reardon (24)
29,623
66–54
W4
121
August 18
6:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Tigers
L 2–11
Morris (14–6)
Carlton (1–3)
—
2:36
32,053
66–55
L1
122
August 19
6:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Tigers
L 1–7
Terrell (10–10)
Blyleven (12–10)
—
2:12
38,163
66–56
L2
123
August 20
12:35 p.m.
CDT
@
Tigers
L 0–8
Alexander (1–0)
Niekro (3–5)
—
2:46
45,804
66–57
L3
124
August 21
@
Red Sox
3–11
Clemens (13–7)
Viola (14–8)
Gardner (5)
33,490
66–58
L4
125
August 22
@
Red Sox
5–6
Schiraldi (8–5)
Straker (6–8)
—
29,794
66–59
L5
126
August 23
@
Red Sox
4–6
Sellers (5–6)
Carlton (1–4)
Gardner (6)
32,956
66–60
L6
127
August 24
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Tigers
W 5–4
Reardon (6–6)
King (6–9)
—
3:07
27,338
67–60
W1
128
August 25
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Tigers
L 4–5
Alexander (2–0)
Niekro (3–6)
Henneman (4)
2:52
30,639
67–61
L1
129
August 26
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Tigers
L 8–10
Petry (8–6)
Reardon (6–7)
Hernández (7)
3:29
29,265
67–62
L2
130
August 28
@
Brewers
0–1
Bosio (8–5)
Straker (6–9)
—
22,461
67–63
L3
131
August 29
@
Brewers
12–3
Blyleven (13–10)
Barker (2–1)
—
34,834
68–63
W1
132
August 30
@
Brewers
10–6
Atherton (5–4)
Crim (5–6)
Reardon (25)
22,417
69—63
W2
September: 16–11 (Home: 13–5; Away: 3–6)
#
Date
Time (
CT )
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Time of Game
Attendance
Record
Box/ Streak
133
September 1
Red Sox
0–9
Sellers (6–6)
Niekro (3–7)
—
25,508
69–64
L1
134
September 2
Red Sox
5–4
Straker (7–9)
Nipper (8–11)
Reardon (26)
19,565
70–64
W1
135
September 3
Red Sox
2–1 (10)
Atherton (6–4)
Gardner (1–6)
—
20,009
71–64
W2
136
September 4
Brewers
2–1 (12)
Berenguer (6–0)
Plesac (5–5)
—
27,380
72–64
W3
137
September 5
Brewers
2–1
Atherton (7–4)
Crim (5–7)
—
51,122
73–64
W4
138
September 6
Brewers
0–6
Higuera (15–9)
Carlton (1–5)
—
36,586
73–65
L1
139
September 7
White Sox
8–1
Bittiger (1–0)
LaPoint (3–3)
—
22,623
74–65
W1
140
September 8
White Sox
3–4
Bannister (12–10)
Blyleven (13–11)
Thigpen (9)
12,360
74–66
L1
141
September 9
White Sox
2–1
Viola (15–8)
Winn (4–6)
—
15,394
75–66
W1
142
September 11
@
Indians
13–10 (11)
Reardon (7–7)
Gordon (0–3)
Berenguer (4)
7,964
76–66
W2
143
September 12
@
Indians
4–5
Jones (4–4)
Berenguer (6–1)
—
9,156
76–67
L1
144
September 13
@
Indians
7–3 (10)
Reardon (8–7)
Candiotti (7–16)
—
7,474
77–67
W1
145
September 14
@
White Sox
2–8
LaPoint (4–3)
Viola (15–9)
—
7,898
77–68
L1
146
September 15
@
White Sox
2–6
McDowell (1–0)
Niekro (3–8)
—
7,947
77–69
L2
147
September 16
@
White Sox
10–13
DeLeon (10–12)
Smithson (4–7)
Thigpen (11)
8,921
77–70
L3
148
September 18
Indians
9–4
Blyleven (14–11)
Akerfelds (2–5)
—
23,173
78–70
W1
149
September 19
Indians
3–1
Viola (16–9)
Candiotti (7–17)
Reardon (27)
23,581
79–70
W2
150
September 20
Indians
3–2
Straker (8–9)
Yett (3–8)
Reardon (28)
18,906
80–70
W3
151
September 22
Rangers
6–4
Niekro (4–8)
Harris (5–10)
Reardon (29)
18,294
81–70
W4
152
September 23
Rangers
4–2
Berenguer (7–1)
Guzman (14–12)
Reardon (30)
20,640
82–70
W5
153
September 24
Rangers
4–0
Viola (17–9)
Hough (17–12)
—
23,496
83–70
W6
154
September 25
7:05 p.m.
CDT
Royals
L 4–6
Farr (4–3)
Schatzeder (3–1)
Garber (6)
3:07
52,704
83–71
L1
155
September 26
11:00 a.m.
CDT
Royals
L 4–7
Davis (5–2)
Reardon (8–8)
Garber (7)
3:04
46,263
83–72
L2
156
September 27
1:15 p.m.
CDT
Royals
W 8–1
Blyleven (15–11)
Leibrandt (15–11)
—
2:12
53,106
84–72
W1
157
September 28
@
Rangers
5–3
Berenguer (8–1)
Guzman (14–13)
Reardon (31)
9,986
85–72
W2
158
September 29
@
Rangers
5–7
Hough (18–12)
Atherton (7–5)
—
10,328
85–73
L1
159
September 30
@
Rangers
1–2
Witt (8–10)
Straker (8–10)
—
9,309
85–74
L2
October: 0–3 (Home: 0–0; Away: 0–3)
Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Twins team member
Postseason Game log
1987 Postseason game log: 8−4 (Home 6−0; Away 2−4)
Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Twins team member
Detailed records
American League
Opponent
W
L
WP
RS
RA
AL East
Detroit Tigers
4
8
0.333
58
83
Toronto Blue Jays
3
9
0.250
47
81
Total
7
17
0.292
105
164
AL West
Kansas City Royals
5
8
0.385
47
60
Minnesota Twins
Total
5
8
0.385
47
60
Season Total
12
25
0.324
152
224
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Total
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
Away
Notable transactions
Opening Day Lineup
[21]
Roster
1987 Minnesota Twins
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Other batters
Manager
Coaches
Game umpires
Regular season
Playoffs
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Postseason
See
1987 American League Championship Series and
1987 World Series .
The Twins won the
American League Championship Series beating the
Detroit Tigers 4 games to 1.
Gary Gaetti was named the
ALCS
MVP . He'd set a record by homering in his first two post-season at-bats. The Twins won the series by winning two of the three road games at Detroit despite a 4-8 regular season record vs the Tigers as well as 29 regular season wins on the road.
The Twins won all four home games to top the
St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
Frank Viola was named the Series' MVP even though it was the Twins bats that were instrumental in the first three wins outscoring St. Louis 29-10 in the process.
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Kenosha
[22]
References
^ Simon, Andrew; Kelly, Matt.
"Rookie managers who won the World Series" . MLB. Retrieved January 13, 2020 .
^
Ron Gardenhire at Baseball Reference
^
Juan Berenguer at Baseball Reference
^
Jeff Reardon at Baseball Reference
^
Al Newman at Baseball Reference
^
Billy Sample at Baseball Reference
^
Dan Gladden at Baseball Reference
^
Bill Latham at Baseball Reference
^
Sal Butera at Baseball Reference
^
Willie Banks at Baseball Reference
^
Terry Jorgensen at Baseball Reference
^
Larry Casian at Baseball Reference
^
Mark Guthrie at Baseball Reference
^
Chip Hale at Baseball Reference
^
Bret Boone at Baseball Reference
^
Craig Paquette at Baseball Reference
^
"Eric Bullock Stats - Baseball-Reference.com" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^
Mark Salas at Baseball Reference
^
Dan Schatzeder at Baseball Reference
^
"Don Baylor Stats - Baseball-Reference.com" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^
1987 Opening Day Lineup at Baseball-Reference
^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball , 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007
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