The Twins were only 2 games back on September 1st, but they pretty much played .500 ball during the final month of the season, while the Angels won just enough to claim the AL West Flag. Jerry Koosman, rewarded his hometown team with a 20 win season (20-13, 3.38). To say that Kooz was elated to be traded by the downtrodden Mets to the Twins in the offseason was an understatement. Kooz went from losing 20 two seasons ago to winning 20 thanks to the change in scenery. 1974 Cy Young Award winner Mike Marshall (10-15, 2.65) saved 32 games and pitched an incredible 142 innings in relief, which the team needed since the starters (after Kooz) were inconsistent at best. As a whole the team hit .278, but with very little power (12th in homers). Roy Smalley led the team with 24 dingers and 95 RBI's. After that you had Ken Landreaux with 15 and Ron Jackson with 14. Based on their lack of power and lack of starting pitching, after Kooz, you have to give Gene Mauch an awful lot of credit for keeping them in contention. It must have hurt to see free agent defector Rod Carew make the post season with the eventual division winners California.
Editor’s Note: Tony found half of these photos and Jim and I split the other half. Kevin Stanfield and Dan Graham wound up in their minor league uni’s. I’m hoping someone will find a Twins photo or two of them before we finish the project. Same for Ken Brett. I got real lazy here and used his 1977 Chisox card as a place holder until we find something better.
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