Slow afoot and a frequent strikeout victim, Alyea had one outstanding season. In
1970, in only 94 games, he hit .291, with 16 homers and 61 RBI, to help push the
Twins to the AL West title.
(MC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 12, 1965: Washington's Brant Alyea debuts with a pinch-hit home run on the first pitch from Rudy May in his first ML at bat. Yes, a major-league first. In Washington, 840 fans watch the Senators beat the Angels 7–1.
»April 7, 1970:
OF Brant Alyea has seven RBIs—a major-league record for opening day—on two homers and two singles, to back Jim Perry as the Twins win their opener, 12–0, against the White Sox. Alyea will have 21 RBI in his first 12 games; in Perry's first four starts Alyea will drive in 19 runs.
»April 25, 1970: Tiger P Earl Wilson fans for the 3rd out in the 7th inning against the Twins. On the 3rd strike by Jim Kaat, Twins C Paul Ratliff traps the ball in the dirt, and must either throw to 1B or tag the batter. Instead he rolls the ball back to the mound, ignoring the fact that ump John Rice has not signaled a K. As the Twins head for their dugout, Wilson begins running the bases and is around 3B when OF Brant Alyea retrieves the ball and throws to SS Leo Cardenas, who is standing by home. Wilson turns back to 3B but Cardenas and Alyea run him down for a 7-6-7 out on a 3rd strike. Wilson pulls a hamstring on the play and leaves, trailing, 2–1, and Detroit ties it up 3–3 in the 9th. But Harmon Killebrew singles home Tony Oliva in the bottom of the 9th for the win.
»September 7, 1970:
Brant Alyea drives in all seven Twins runs on two homers in game 1, then drives in two more in the nitecap as the Twins sweep the Brewers, 7–6, and 8–3. Stan Williams (9-0) wins his 9th straight to set a Twins record. In game 2, Hal Haydel makes his first ML appearance a good one, pitching five innings of relief to win, and also hitting his first ML home run.
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