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Minnesota Twins: best starting pitching staff in team history

By Benjamin Chase

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 11: Former pitchers Bert Blyleven (L) and Jack Morris of the Minnesota Twins present Francisco Liriano
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 11: Former pitchers Bert Blyleven (L) and Jack Morris of the Minnesota Twins present Francisco Liriano /
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Minnesota Twins
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 1: Tony Oliva, former player with the Minnesota Twins, shakes hands with former teammates Frank Quilici and Jim Kaat during a ceremony honoring the 1965 American League Championship team before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners on August 1, 2015 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

4. 1966 staff – Jim Kaat, Mudcat Grant, Jim Perry, Dave Boswell, Jim Merritt, Camilo Pascual

While the staff that got the team to the 1965 World Series against the Dodgers was excellent, the 1966 team was just a tick better overall. The 1966 staff finished tied with the 1972 staff for the best overall opponents’ OPS+, tallying an 87 OPS+ allowed by the starting staff in the 1966 season, as the entire staff racked up the second-most innings of any starting staff in team history.

The 1966 staff was led by a pair that is still popular around the team today, as Jim Kaat and Mudcat Grant combined to hurl 553 2/3 innings between them, striking out 315 combined hitters. Kaat threw 304 2/3 innings with a 2.75 ERA and 205 strikeouts and 19 complete games. Grant threw 249 innings with a 3.25 ERA and 110 strikeouts.

Perry led the staff in ERA with a 2.54 in 184 1/3 innings, while Dave Boswell made an impressive showing at 21 years old, striking out 173 over 169 1/3 innings, and 1966 was one of his best seasons as far as control as he walked 65.

When veteran Camilo Pascual struggled to open the season to the tune of a 4.89 ERA on the season, 22 year-old Jim Merritt moved from the bullpen to the rotation, and he put up excellent numbers through the rest of the season.

While the 1966 staff was solid, the bullpen was certainly top heavy. Al Worthington and Pete Cimino threw 156 innings between them, striking out 160 between them. They were the only two bullpen members with an ERA under 3, however.

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