Editor’s note: Second Chance Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games. The first and second rounds will be decided with a best of three series, while the championship series will be a best of five format.
American League Most Valuable Player Zoilo Versalles led the Minnesota Twins into the World Series for the time since the club’s move from Washington. The Twins would eventually fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games.
The 1965 season was the best for Versalles in his 12-year career. He topped the AL in doubles (45), triples (12), runs scored (126) and total bases (308).
In addition to Versalles, the Twins had three other players finish in the top 10 of the MVP balloting. AL batting champ Tony Oliva was second, 20-game winner Mudcat Grant was sixth and Earl Battey was 10th.
The team’s only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Harmon Killebrew, led the squad with 25 homers.
The Batting Order
Zoilo Versalles SS (19 HR, 77 RBI)
Jimmie Hall CF (20 HR, 86 RBI)
Tony Oliva RF (16 HR, 98 RBI, .321)
Harmon Killebrew DH (25 HR, 75 RBI)
Bob Allison LF (23 HR, 78 RBI)
Don Mincher 1B (22 HR, 65 RBI)
Rich Rollins 2B (5 HR, 32 RBI)
Earl Battey C (6 HR, 60 RBI)
Jerry Kindall 3B (6 HR, 36 RBI)
Starting Pitchers
Mudcat Grant (21-7, 3.30 ERA)
Jim Kaat (18-11, 2.83 ERA)
Jim Perry (12-7, 2.63 ERA)
Second Chance Tournament First Round Schedule
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1969 Baltimore Orioles
1969 Baltimore Orioles at 1965 Minnesota Twins
1965 Minnesota Twins at 1969 Baltimore Orioles, if necessary