DUNDAS, MINN. – Water provided randomly by nature is the mortal enemy of baseball at all levels. Generally, the annoyances are based on rainfall, although in selected areas, it can be a product of snowmelt.
We’re one of those selected areas and, in 1965, a 27-inch snow cover in late March melted rapidly and historic floods shut down passages over the Minnesota River.
The Twins were opening the season at home against the Yankees on April 10. Starting pitcher Jim Kaat was stranded in Burnsville, along with pitcher Dick Stigman and infielders Rich Rollins and Bill Bethea.
Kaat called Paul Giel, the sports director at WCCO Radio. Giel rustled up a helicopter that delivered the players to the ballpark in two trips.
The Twins won the opener in extra innings, then won the American League pennant, and then lost the World Series in seven games to Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers.
The Twins avoided the nonsense of rain delays, postponements and the need for helicopters from 1982 to 2009, inside the confines of the Metrodome.
They have been back outdoors since 2010 and, a year ago, we were blessed with baseball’s best friend: blue or starry skies. They pushed the 2023 opener back one day due to cold and there was, what, one 30-minute rain delay the rest of the season.
As for our beloved summer ritual, town-team baseball across the state, it was equally fabulous for playing games as scheduled.