6/17/13

The Twins and the Yankees have been at it longer than anyone can remember.

For a large fraction of the Minnesota Twins fans, the Yankees clearly represent three things:  a franchise that has a bottomless pit for a budget and can buy players and championships, a team that after the wild card was established the Twins have to face in every  post-season, and the team that the Twins (the good Twins' teams) lost to in every post-season.   So the Yankees have been the proverbial thorn on the Twins' side or a major pain on their back side.  For most fans, this relationship of the Twins-Yankees franchises is a recent one and it became apparent as the Twins got better this Millennium, since the Yankees were always in the other division.   But this cannot be further than the truth.  The two franchises have a long intertwining history that goes all the way back to the dark ages (of baseball.)

Both the Twins and Yankees franchises were founding members of the American League in 1901.  The Yankees started their American League life as the Baltimore Orioles and the Twins as the new franchise in Washington that moved from Kansas City (the Blues,) which took the name of the NL team that was there and dissolved in 1899, the Senators.   The KC Blues were part of the old Western League the predecessor of the American League.  I am digressing here, but it is important for Twins' fans.  The league was founded in 1893 and was comprised by mainly Midwestern teams.  One of the founding teams of the Western League was the Sioux City Corn Huskers.  In 1894 Charles Comiskey bought the Sioux City club and transferred to St. Paul, MN and called them the St. Paul Saints.   The Saints moved to Chicago (the time the Blues moved to Washington DC to become the Senators) and became the White Stockings aka the White Sox.   So think about that the next time the Twins decide to wear Saints' uniforms.  But I am digressing.  Back to the Twins and the Yankees...

The Yankees did not last much in Baltimore.  Just a couple years before they moved to the Bronx and became the Highlanders with pretty much a brand new squad.  The first ever game of the Highlanders, fate has it, was against the Twins nee Senators in Washington.  Promptly the Senators won 3-1:


Both teams were wallowing in mediocrity in the aughts and the teens (and the Highlanders changed their name to the Yankees in 1913 to no avail). But in the roaring twenties, the Yankees and the Senators were the 2 teams that dominated the AL. The Yankees of Babe Ruth, Wait Hoyt and Lou Gehrig went to the World Series from '21-'23 and from '26-'28 (won in '23, '27 and '28) and the Senators of Walter Johnson, Goose Goslin and Sam Rice went in '24 and '25 and won their first trip.  
 
 
 
 
With the interruption of a World Series trip by the Senators in 1933, the two franchises went in opposite ways from then on, with the Yankees (well) being the Yankees and the Senators (well) being the Senators.   Twins' fans might dislike the Yankees right now, but the two teams have had pretty good relationships at least in their front offices since day one and a lot of cross-polination.

In addition to Billy Martin who managed both the Twins and the Yankees, the following two Hall of Fame managers managed in both franchises: Clark Griffith (1903-1908 Highlanders and 1912-1920 Senators; Bucky Harris (1924-1928, 1935-1942, 1950-1954 Senators and 1947-1938 Yankees.)  Harris won World Series with both teams (1924 and 1947, which were in his first year with each team).  Griffith and Martin, in addition to managing MLB teams in the Twins and Yankees franchises, they also played for both teams.
 
Speaking about playing for both teams, there are not 2 other teams in major league baseball that have more players playing for both than the Twins and the Yankees.   The proximity and the train between New York and Washington DC helped in the early ages before the airplanes (and there were a lot of players who were going up and down the east coast try to make a living before the '40s,)  but the exchanges have continued up to now.   The following 175 players (including many All Stars and four Hall of Famers) played for both the Yankees' and the Twins' franchises (and a lot of these players got traded between the 2 franchises; look for players who played for both in the same season or in consecutive seasons) :  
 
Spencer Adams (Senators 1925, Yankees 1926),
Bernie Allen (Twins 1962-66, Yankees 1972-73),
John Anderson (Senators 1905-07, Highlanders 1904-05),
Pete Appleton (Senators 1936-39, 1945, Yankees 1933),
Luis Ayala (Twins 2009, Yankees 2011),
Willie Banks (Twins 1991-93, Yankees 1997-98),
Walter Beall (Senators 1929, Yankees 1924-27),
Lou Berberet (Senators 1956-58, Yankees 1954-55),
Garland Braxton (Senators 1927-30, Yankees 1925-26),
Tommy Byrne (Senators 1953, Yankees 1943, 1946-51, 1954-57),
Bullet Joe Bush (Senators 1926, Yankees 1922-24),
Archie Campbell (Senators 1929, Yankees 1928),
John Candelaria (Twins 1990, Yankees 1988-89),
Roy Carlyle (Senators 1925, Yankees 1926),
Ben Chapman (Senators 1936-37, 1941, Yankees 1930-36),
Mike Chartak (Senators 1942, Yankees 1940, 1942),
Al Cicotte (Senators 1958, Yankees 1957),
Tex Clevenger (Senators 1956-60, Yankees 1961-62),
Orth Collins (Senators 1909, Highlanders 1904),
Wid Conroy (Senators 1909-11, Highlanders 1903-08),
Ron Coomer (Twins 1995-2000, Yankees 2002),
Don Cooper (Twins 1981-82, Yankees 1985),
Clint Courtney (Senators 1955-59, Yankees 1951),
Stan Coveleski, HOF (Senators 1925-27, Yankees 1928),
Herb Crompton (Senators 1937, Yankees 1945),
Roy Cullenbine (Senators 1942, Yankees 1942),
Nick Cullop (Senators 1927, Yankees 1926),
Jim Deshaies (Twins 1993-94, Yankees 1984),
Chili Davis (Twins 1991-92, Yankees 1998-1999),
Ron Davis (Twins 1982-86, Yankees 1978-81),
Rick Dempsey (Twins 1969-72, Yankees 1973-76),
Jimmie DeShong (Senators 1936-39, Yankees 1934-35),
Sonny Dixon (Senators 1953-54, Yankees 1956),
Jack Doyle (Senators 1902, Highlanders 1905),
Lew Drill (Senators 1902-04, Orioles 1902),
Kid Elberfeld (Senators 1910-11, Highlanders 1903-09),
Roger Erickson (Twins 1978-81, Yankees 1982-83),
Scott Erickson (Twins 1990-95, Yankees 2006),
Alvaro Espinoza (Twins 1984-86, Yankees 1988-91),
Alex Ferguson (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1918, 1921, 1925),
Wes Ferrell (Senators 1937-38, Yankees 1938-39),
Tom Ferrick (Senators 1947-48 and 1951-52, Yankees 1950-51),
Pete Filson (Twins 1982-86, Yankees 1987),
Ray Fontenot (Twins 1986, Yankees 1983),
Eddie Foster (Senators 1912-19, Highlanders 1910),
Ray Francis (Senators 1922, Yankees 1925),
George Frazier (Twins 1986-87, Yankees 1981-83),
Billy Gardner (Senators/Twins 1960-61, Yankees 1961-62),
Milt Gaston (Senators 1928, Yankees 1924),
Joe Gedeon (Senators 1913-14, Yankees 1916-17),
Al Gettel (Senators 1949, Yankees 1945-46),
Lefty Gomez, HOF (Senators 1943, Yankees 1930-42),
Wayne Granger (Twins 1972, Yankees 1973),
Clark Griffith, HOF (Senators 1912-14, Highlanders 1903-07),
Randy Gumpert (Senators 1952, Yankees 1946-48),
Bump Hadley (Senators 1926-31, 1935, Yankees 1936-1940),
Jimmie Hall (Twins 1963-66, Yankees 1969),
Joe Harris (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1914),
Harry Harper (Senators 1913-19, Yankees 1921),
LaTroy Hawkins (Twins 1995-2003, Yankees 2008),
Neal Heaton (Twins 1986, Yankees 1993),
Sean Henn (Twins 2009, Yankees 2005-07),
Steve Howe (Twins 1985, Yankees 1991-96),
Tom Hughes (Senators 1904-09, 1911-13, Orioles/Highlanders 1902, 1904),
Jackie Jensen (Senators 1952-53, Yankees 1950-52),
Don Johnson (Senators 1951-52, Yankees 1947, 1950),
Sad Sam Jones (Senators 1928-31, Yankees 1922-26),
Tim Jordan (Senators 1901, Highlanders 1903),
Jim Kaat (Senators/Twins 1959-1973, Yankees 1979-80),
Bill Keister (Senators 1902, Orioles 1901),
Roberto Kelly (Twins 1996-97, Yankees 1987-92),
Frank Kitson (Senators 1906-07, Highlanders 1907),
John Knight (Senators 1912, Highlanders/Yankees 1909-11, 1913),
Andy Kosco (Twins 1965-67, Yankees 1966),
Chuck Knoblauch (Twins 1991-97, Yankees 1998-01),
Bob Kuzava (Senators 1950-51, Yankees 1951-54),
Frank LaPorte (Senators 1912-13, Highlanders 1905-10),
Dave LaRoche (Twins 1972, Yankees 1981-83),
Lyn Lary (Senators 1935, Yankees 1929-34),
Chris Latham (Twins 1997-99, Yankees 2003),
Jack Lelivelt (Senators 1909-11, Highlanders/Yankees 1912-13),
Duffy Lewis (Senators 1921, Yankees 1919-20),
Jim Lewis (Twins 1983, Yankees 1982),
Slim Love (Senators 1913, Yankees 1916-18),
Kevin Maas (Twins 1995, Yankees 1990-93),
Danny MacFayden (Senators 1941, Yankees 1932-34),
Billy Martin (Twins 1961, Yankees 1950-57),
Tippy Martinez (Twins 1988, Yankees 1974-76),
Mickey McDermott (Senators 1954-55, Yankees 1956),
Danny McDevitt (Twins 1961, Yankees 1961),
Darnell McDonald (Twins 2007, Yankees 2012),
Mike McNally (Senators 1925, Yankees 1921-24)
Doug Mientkiewicz (Twins 1998-04, Yankees 2007),
Larry Milbourne (Twins 1982, Yankees  1981-82, 1983),
Willy Miranda (Senators 1951, Yankees 1953-54),
Chad Moeller (Twins 2000, Yankees 2010),
George Mogridge (Senators 1921-25, Yankees 1915-20),
Mike Morgan (Twins 1998, Yankees 1982),
Tom Morgan (Senators 1960, Yankees 1951-52; 1954-56),
George Murray (Senators 1926-27, Yankees 1922)
Dan Naulty (Twins 1996-98, Yankees 1999),
Denny Neagle (Twins 1991, Yankees 2000),
Graig Nettles (Twins 1967-69, Yankees 1973-83),
Bobo Newsom (Senators 1935-37, 1943, 1946-67, 1952, Yankees 1947)
Joe Niekro (Twins 1987-88, Yankees 1895-87),
Irv Noren (Senators 1950-52, Yankees 1952-56),
Jesse Orosco (Twins 2003, Yankees 2003),
Al Orth (Senators 1902-04, Highlanders 1904-09),
Champ Osteen (Senators 1903, Highlanders 1904),
John Pacella (Twins 1982, Yankees 1982),
Carl Pavano (Twins 2009-12, Yankees 2005-08),
Roger Peckinpaugh (Senators 1922-26, Yankees 1913-21),
Eddie Phillips (Senators 1934, Yankees 1932),
Sidney Ponson (Twins 2007, Yankees 2006, 2008),
Bob Porterfield (Senators 1951-55, Yankees 1948-51),
Jake Powell (Senators 1930-36, 1943-45, Yankees 1936-40),
Jerry Priddy (Senators 1943, 1946-47, Yankees 1941-42),
Pedro Ramos (Senators/Twins 1955-61, Yankees 1964-66),
Shane Rawley (Twins 1989, Yankees 1982-84),
Jeff Reardon (Twins 1987-89, Yankees 1994),
Harry Rice (Senators 1931, Yankees 1930),
Roxey Roach (Senators 1912, Highlanders 1910-11),
Eddie Robinson (Senators 1949-50, Yankees 1954-56),
Kenny Rogers (Twins 2003, Yankees 1996-97),
Jim Roland (Twins 1962-64, 1966-68, Yankees 1972),
Braggo Roth (Senators 1920, Yankees 1921),
Muddy Ruel (Senators 1923-30, Yankees 1917-20),
Dutch Ruether (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1926-27)
Allen Russell (Senators 1923-25, Yankees 1915-19),
Mark Salas (Twins 1985-87, Yankees 1987),
Fred Sanford (Senators 1951, Yankees 1949-51),
Ray Scarborough (Senators 1942-43, 1946-50, Yankees 1952-53)
Germany Schaefer (Senators 1909-14, Yankees 1916),
Art Schult (Senators 1957, Yankees 1953),
Johnny Schmitz (Senators 1953-55, Yankees 1952-53),
Everett Scott (Senators 1925, Yankees 1922-25),
Kip Selbach (Senators 1903-04, Orioles 1902),
Hank Severeid (Senators 1925-26, Yankees 1926),
Howie Shanks (Senators 1912-22, Yankees 1925),
Spec Shea (Senators 1952-55, Yankees 1947-49, 1951),
Ruben Sierra (Twins 2006, Yankees 1995-96, 2003-05),
Roy Smalley (Twins 1976-82, 1985-87, Yankees 1982-84),
Elmer Smith (Senators 1916-1917, Yankees 1922-23),
Gabby Street (Senators 1908-11, Highlanders 1912),
Eric Soderholm (Twins 1971-75, Yankees 1980),
Jake Stahl (Senators 1904-06, Highlanders 1908),
Dick Starr (Senators 1951, Yankees 1947-48),
Bud Stewart (Senators 1948-50, Yankees 1948),
Steve Sundra (Senators 1941-42, Yankees 1936-40),
Jesse Tannehill (Senators 1908-09, Highlanders 1903),
Dick Tettelbach (Senators 1956-57, Yankees 1955),
Bob Tewksbury (Twins 1997-98, Yankees 1986-87),
Myles Thomas (Senators 1929-30, Yankees 1926-29),
Jack Thoney (Senators 1904, Orioles/Highlanders 1902, 1904),
Luis Tiant (Twins 1970, Yankees 1979-80)
Cesar Tovar (Twins 1965-72, Yankees 1976),
Bob Unglaub (Senators 1908-10, Highlanders 1903),
Elmer Valo (Senators 1960/Twins 1961, Yankees 1960),
Hippo Vaughn (Senators 1912, Highlanders 1908-12),
Bobby Veach (Senators 1925, Yankees 1925),
Jake Wade (Senators 1946, Yankees 1946),
Danny Walton (Twins 1973, 1975, Yankees 1971),
Gary Ward (Twins 1979-83, Yankees 1987-89),
Jim Weaver (Senators 1928, Yankees 1931),
Rondell White (Twins 2006-07, Yankees 2002),
Bob Wiesler (Senators 1956-58, Yankees 1951, 1954-55),
Stan Williams (Twins 1970-71, Yankees 1963-64),
Archie Wilson (Senators 1952, Yankees 1951-52),
Dave Winfield, HOF (Twins 1993-94, Yankees 1981-90),
Barney Wolfe (Senators 1904-06, Highlanders 1903-04),
Harry Wolverton (Senators 1902, Highlanders 1912),
Dick Woodson (Twins 1969-70 & 1972-74, Yankees 1974),
Butch Wynegar (Twins 1976-82, Yankees 1982-86),
Tom Zachary (Senators 1919-25, 1927-28, Yankees 1928-29),
Bill Zuber (Senators 1941-42, Yankees 1943-46). 
 
 
 
And thus the story goes...  

If you are interested, you can find more Twins history posts here.