StaTuesday: History and facts on every cycle hit by Twins
The anniversary of the first player hitting for the cycle in Minnesota Twins history was May 20. It will likely come as little surprise that Rod Carew was the initial player to accomplish that feat.
The anniversary of the last Twins player to hit for the cycle was May 22. It might very well surprise you that Michael Cuddyer -- back in 2009 -- was the last one to have done it.
The 10 players who hit for the cycle contain some clear choices, like Carew, and some less-than-obvious ones, such as Cuddyer, who had 42 triples in his 15 major-league seasons. Cuddyer, however, is probably not the biggest surprise on the list (we're looking at you Jason Kubel).
Some quick facts: Each of the 10 players who hit for the cycle all had exactly four hits. Four were leadoff hitters and none batted lower than fifth in the order. Only one -- Carew -- also stole a base. Nine of the 10 occurred in wins. And one really finished off his cycle with a bang.
See the list below to find out who's was in a losing effort, who had a walk-off as well as other items concerning their rare feat (in order of date):
ROD CAREW
Date: May 20, 1970 in 10-5 win at Kansas City
Last hit needed: Triple.
Details: Carew played second base and batted second. Single: 1st inning vs. Bob Johnson. Double: 5th vs. Johnson (he then stole third base). Triple: 8th inning vs. Al Fitzmorris. Home run: 3rd vs. Johnson.
Notable: Was 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Also was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a single in the first inning.
Season totals: 12 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs in 51 games.
CESAR TOVAR
Date: Sept. 19, 1972 in 5-3 win vs. Texas
Last hit needed: Home run.
Details: Tovar led off and played left field. Single: 5th inning vs. Dick Bosman. Double: 7th inning vs. Bosman. Triple: 1st inning vs. Bosman. Home run: 9th inning vs. Paul Linblad.
Notable: The home run was of the walk-off variety, a two-run shot to win the game. Texas was managed by Ted Williams. Tovar finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI.
Season totals: 20 doubles, 6 triples, 2 home runs in 141 games.
LARRY HISLE
Date: June 4, 1976 at Baltimore in an 8-6 win
Last hit needed: Home run.
Details: Hisle batted fifth and played left field. Single: 8th inning vs. Mike Flanagan. Double: 4th inning vs. Alexander. Triple: 5th inning vs. Alexander. Home run: 10th inning vs. Mike Flanagan.
Notable: Minnesota sent the game to extra innings in the ninth when Steve Brye doubled in Jerry Terrell with one out, giving Hisle one more chance for the cycle. Was 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 4 RBI. Baltimore's center fielder in this game as Reggie Jackson.
Season totals: 19 doubles, 5 triples, 14 home runs in 155 games.
LYMAN BOSTOCK
Date: July 24, 1976 in 17-2 win at Chicago.
Last hit needed: Single.
Details: Bostock batted fourth and played left field. Single: 9th inning vs. Blue Moon Odom. Double: 8th inning vs. Chris Knapp. Triple: 2nd inning vs. Pete Vukovich. Home run: 4th inning vs. Knapp.
Notable: Occurred exactly one month after Hisle's cycle. Bostock was taken out of the game in the bottom of the ninth and Steve Brye took his place. Finished 4 for 4 with 4 runs, 4 RBI a walk and sacrifice fly.
Season totals: 21 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs in 123 games.
MIKE CUBBAGE
Date: July 27, 1978 in 6-3 win vs. Toronto
Last hit needed: Triple.
Details: Cubbage batted fifth and played third base. Single: 5th inning vs. Jerry Garvin. Double: 2nd inning vs. Jim Clancy. Triple: 7th inning vs. Garvin. Home run: 4th inning vs. Clancy.
Notable: Cubbage got a little lucky (well, bad luck) in getting the cycle as he was thrown out at third base trying for a triple in the second inning, else perhaps he would have had two triples and no doubles. He finished 4 for 4 with 1 run and 4 RBI.
Season totals: 12 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs in 125 games.
GARY WARD
Date: Sept. 18, 1980 (game 1) in 9-8 loss at Milwaukee
Last hit needed: Triple.
Details: Ward led off and played left field. Single: 3rd inning vs. Mike Caldwell. Double: 1st inning vs. Caldwell. Triple: 7th inning vs. Reggie Cleveland. Home run: 5th inning vs. Caldwell.
Notable: With an 8-7 lead, Ward batted again in the eighth and lined out against John Flinn. He was taken out for a defensive replacement (Rick Sofield) in the ninth. Doug Corbett retired the first two batters in the ninth then allowed a single to Cecil Cooper and a homer to Gorman Thomas, accounting for the only loss in a game in which a Twins player hit for the cycle. The cycle occurred in just Ward's 14th career game and the home run was his first in the major leagues. He finished 4 for 5 with 1 run and 2 RBI -- and then didn't play in the second game of the doubleheader.
Season totals: 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run in 13 games.
KIRBY PUCKETT
Date: Aug. 1, 1986 in 10-1 win vs. Oakland
Last hit needed: Home run.
Details: Puckett led off and played center field. Single: 6th inning vs. Darrel Akerfelds. Double: 5th inning vs. Curt Young. Triple: 1st inning vs. Young. Home run: 8th inning vs. Akerfelds.
Notable: The first cycle to happen at the Metrodome. Puckett finished 4 for 5 with 3 runs and 2 RBI.
Season totals: 37 doubles, 6 triples, 31 home runs in 161 games.
CARLOS GOMEZ
Date: May 7, 2008 in 13-1 win at Chicago White Sox.
Last hit needed: Single.
Details: Gomez led off and played center field. Single: 9th inning vs. Ehren Wasserman. Double: 6th inning vs. Mark Buehrle. Triple: 5th inning vs. Buehrle. Home run: 1st inning vs. Buehrle.
Notable: First cycle for the Twins in nearly 22 years. Gomez's single was an infield hit. He finished 4 for 6 with 2 runs and 3 RBI and also struck out twice.
Season totals: 24 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs in 153 games.
JASON KUBEL
Date: April 17, 2009 in 11-9 win at Los Angeles Angels
Last hit needed: Home run.
Details: Kubel batted fourth and played left field. Single: 3rd inning vs. Dustin Moseley. Double: 1st inning vs. Moseley. Triple: 6th inning vs. Rafael Rodriguez. Home run: 9th inning vs. Jason Bulger.
Notable: Kubel's homer was a two-out, grand slam. Kubel had only 19 career triples. He finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 5 RBI and also struck out.
Season totals: 35 doubles, 2 triples, 28 home runs in 146 games.
MICHAEL CUDDYER
Date: May 22, 2009 in 11-3 win at Milwaukee
Last hit needed: Triple.
Details: Cuddyer batted fourth and played right field. Single: 4th inning vs. Mike DiFelice. Double: 3rd inning vs. Manny Parra. Triple: 6th inning vs. Jorge Julio. Home run: 1st inning vs. Parra.
Notable: Completed the cycle faster than any other Twins player (6th inning). Batted again in the eighth but grounded to short vs. Seth McClung. Cuddyer finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 5 RBI.
Season totals: 34 doubles, 7 triples, 32 home runs in 153 games.
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