Jim Kaat

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Lore & Background

Kaat's tenure with the Twins began when the franchise moved west to Minnesota in 1961, transforming him into a permanent staff member. He became the face of the team during its golden era, culminating in the 1965 American League pennant. That year, he started three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, matching up with Sandy Koufax on all three occasions and securing a complete-game victory in Game 2. His best statistical season came in 1966 when he led the league with 25 wins and 19 complete games, finishing fifth in MVP voting. Beyond pitching, Kaat was a defensive marvel, winning 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1962 to 1977, including 12 with the Twins—the most for any player in franchise history. He famously used the same baseball glove for 15 seasons.

In Their Own Story

On July 24, 1963, Kaat etched his name into Twins history by throwing a complete-game shutout while hitting a home run in a 5–0 victory over the Indians. Such feats were rare; Minnesota pitchers had only accomplished this combination three times total, and Kaat did it twice, including again on October 1, 1970. His dominance continued into September 1967 when he went on a tear with a 7–0 record and a 1.51 ERA, nearly pitching the Twins to another World Series appearance before sustaining a season-ending arm injury in the third inning of his second-to-last game. Despite this setback, Kaat returned to win 20 games in 1974 and again in 1975 at age 36, setting a record for the largest gap between 20-win seasons. He transitioned to relief in 1979 and eventually earned his only World Series ring working four games out of the bullpen for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

Reader's Guide

Jim Kaat played for the Minnesota Twins from 1961 through 1973, establishing himself as a workhorse who led the American League in wins (25) and complete games (19) in 1966. He was an All-Star three times during his career (1962, 1966, 1975), with his 1962 season seeing him lead the league in shutouts with five. His defensive legacy is unmatched in Twins history, boasting 12 Gold Glove Awards and a unique habit of using one glove for 15 seasons. After leaving Minnesota, he played for the White Sox, Phillies, Yankees, and Cardinals before retiring in 1983 as the last original Washington Senator to play in the majors. Following his retirement, Kaat served as a pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds (1984–1985) where he guided rookie Tom Browning to a 20–9 record. He then became a legendary broadcaster for 22 years, calling games for the Yankees and Twins before joining the MLB Network in 2009, working there until August 2022. In 2022, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Days Era Committee.

Did You Know?

• Kaat played during the administrations of seven U.S. Presidents: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan.
• He won 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1962–1977), a record for pitchers at the time later surpassed by Greg Maddux.
• Kaat used the exact same baseball glove for 15 seasons throughout his career.
• He was the last major league player to have played in the 1950s and the last player from the original Washington Senators to retire.
• In 1963, Kaat became one of only three Minnesota pitchers to both hit a home run and throw a shutout in the same game.