Books and articles about Don Mincher

Mincher was a backup for Vic Power and Bob Allison at the beginning of his career, and gradually won more playing time. He hit 23 HR in just 287 at-bats in 1964 and earned the lead position in a first-base platoon for the pennant-winning 1965 team. He hit .251 with 22 HR and 66 RBI in 346 at-bats. In Game One of the World Series, he homered in his first WS at-bat, off Don Drysdale in the second inning, to give the Twins a lead they never surrendered. He tied a WS record for first basemen with four assists in Game Two as the Twins won again. However, he hit only .130 for the Series.

RELATED LINKS Submissions » A List And An Anniversary by Bruce Markusen

On June 9, 1966, Mincher contributed one of the Twins' AL-record five homers in one inning. But Mincher's power dropped off in 1966 (14 HR in 431 at-bats), and Minnesota traded him to the Angels after the season. He rebounded in 1967 with 25 HR (tied for fifth in the AL) and 81 runs, but on April 11, 1968 Mincher was beaned by Sam McDowell and suffered dizzy spells all season. Hitting only 13 HR, he was left unprotected in the expansion draft. Picked by the Pilots, he came back once again with 25 HR and a career-high 78 RBI, and the A's traded four players to acquire him and a throw-in for 1970. He hit a personal-best 27 HR that year, but led AL first basemen in errors.

Mincher's power dropped in the next two seasons as he was dealt to the Senators, who then moved to Texas (he is the only person to play for both Senators teams and the Twins and Rangers). The A's reacquired him for their 1972 pennant drive, and although he hit only .148, there was one moment of glory left for him. In Game Four of the World Series against the Reds, the A's trailed 2-1 in the ninth inning with one out and two on. Mincher's pinch-hit single off Reds bullpen ace Clay Carroll tied the score as the A's went on to win the game and the Series. It was Mincher's final major league at-bat. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 4, 1960: The White Sox send C Earl Battey and 1B Don Mincher plus cash to the Senators for 1B Roy Sievers. » May 29, 1961: The Indians sweep a pair from the Twins, winning, 4–3 and 7–5. They end Lenny Green's 24 game hit streak in the opener. Cleveland scores the winning run in the opener on a bunt by Jim Piersall, who reaches 2B on a wild throw by 1B Don Mincher. On a foul out, Piersall dashes for 3B, then scores on a sac fly. » May 17, 1965: At Chavez Ravine, Don Mincher cracks a pinch homer to tie the game at 4–4, but the Angels push across a run in the 10th to top Minnesota, 5–4. Bob Lee is the winner. Mincher's homer will be the only Twins round tripper this year at Chavez. » June 9, 1966: Minnesota rocks Kansas City with the first 5-HR inning in AL history. Rich Rollins, Zoilo Versalles connect off Catfish Hunter, along with successive roundtrippers by Tony Oliva, Don Mincher (off Paul Lindblad) and Harmon Killebrew (off John Wyatt) in the 7th inning to give the Twins a 9–4 victory. » December 2, 1966: California trades P Dean Chance and a player to be named to the Twins for OF Jimmie Hall, 1B Don Mincher, and P Pete Cimino. » October 15, 1968: Roger Nelson is the initial choice of the Royals in the American League expansion draft. Don Mincher is the Pilots' first choice. Other Seattle selections include Tommy Harper, Tommy Davis, Gary Bell, and Lou Piniella. Kansas City chooses Wally Bunker, Moe Drabowsky, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Joe Foy. » May 11, 1969: Frank Howard hits two homers for the Senators but Don Mincher hits one in the bottom of the 9th for a 6-5 Pilots victory. Diego Segui gets a win for the second straight day. Yesterday the Pilots beat the Senators, 16-13, on 12 hits and 12 walks. » July 17, 1969: Sal Bando is 5-for-5 and drives in the first four runs in the A's 8–2 win over Seattle. Don Mincher drives in both runs off Catfish Hunter (8-7). » January 15, 1970: The Oakland Athletics trade C Phil Roof, OF Mike Hershberger and pitchers Lew Krausse and Ken Sanders to the Brewers for 1B Don Mincher and infielder Ron Clark. It is the Brewers' first trade. » May 8, 1971: The A's trade 1B Don Mincher, P Paul Lindblad, C Frank Fernandez, and cash to the Senators for 1B Mike Epstein and P Darold Knowles. The Nats will sell Fernandez back to the A's in late June, and the A's will trade Frank to the Cubs.