Camilo Pascual elected to Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame
Pascual to Become 24th Member of the Twins Hall of Fame on July 14
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN - The Minnesota Twins announced today that former pitcher and five-time All-Star Camilo Pascual has been elected to the club's Hall of Fame. Pascual will become the 24th member of the Twins Hall of Fame when he is inducted during a special on-field pre-game ceremony July 14, when the Twins host the Oakland Athletics at Target Field.
The Twins Hall of Fame, which honors players, managers, coaches and off-field personnel who have contributed to the organization's growth and success since the Twin Cities broke into the Major Leagues in 1961, was created as part of the club's 40th Season Celebration in 2000. The inaugural class of Twins Hall of Famers -- Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and Calvin Griffith -- was inducted on August 12, 2000. Other inductees include pitcher Jim Kaat (2001), broadcaster Herb Carneal (2001), pitcher Bert Blyleven (2002), former manager Tom Kelly (2002), long-time public address announcer Bob Casey (2003), outfielder Bob Allison (2003), catcher Earl Battey (2004), pitcher Frank Viola (2005), owner Carl Pohlad (2005), shortstop Zoilo Versalles (2006), third baseman Gary Gaetti (2007), Farm Director Jim Rantz (2007), pitcher Rick Aguilera (2008), pitcher Brad Radke (2009), Farm and Scouting Director George Brophy (2009), shortstop Greg Gagne (2010) and pitcher Jim Perry (2011).
Pascual played 18 seasons in the Major Leagues, including 13 with the Minnesota Twins and Washington Senators franchise from 1954-66. He was the first ever Twins All-Star in 1961 and has appeared in more All-Star games than any pitcher in franchise history since 1950, playing in five of six games from 1959-64 and in four straight from 1959-61. He went 145-141 with a 3.66 ERA during his time with the Twins and Senators, ranking second on the franchise All-Time list in shutouts (31), third in strikeouts (1,885), fourth in innings pitched (2,465.0) and fifth in wins (145) and starts (331). He went 88-57 with a 3.31 ERA in six seasons in a Twins uniform from 1961-66, ranking third in shutouts (18), seventh in strikeouts (994), and eighth in wins (88), innings pitched (1284.2) and starts (179). He was the Twins first ever 20-game winner, recording 20 victories in 1962 and 21 in 1963, while leading the American League in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts in nearly every season from 1959-63.
Pascual was named one of the "50 Greatest" players in Twins history during the team's 50th Season Celebration held in 2010. Pascual, pitched in 529 games at the Major League level from 1954-71, playing for the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians. Born in 1934, Pascual becomes the oldest living member of the Twins Hall of Fame. The Havana-native ranks 55th on baseball's All-Time wins list and is a member of the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame and Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, ranking second to only Luis Tiant in strikeouts among Cuban-born Major Leaguers.
Pascual, who was also selected to the Twins 25th anniversary team in 1986 and the 40th anniversary team in 2000, was elected by a 55-member committee consisting of local and national media, club officials, fans and past elected members, using rules similar to those necessary for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The 55-member committee annually considers "player" personnel for induction into the Twins Hall of Fame. Pascual was the top vote getter, followed by Chuck Knoblauch, Eddie Guardado and Dan Gladden.
In addition, 10 "non-player" candidates are considered every-other-year for election by a Veteran's Committee existing of living Twins Hall of Famers, team historians and front office leadership.
The Twins Hall of Fame membership is permanently displayed in the Hall of Fame Gallery on the Target Field Suite Level as well as on Target Plaza.
Single-game tickets to the Twins Hall of Fame induction game and ALL Twins home games go on-sale March 19 and will be available online at www.twinsbaseball.com or by calling (612) 33-TWINS or (800) 33-TWINS. Starting that day tickets can also be purchased over-the-counter at the Twins' Target Field box office located at 290 Seventh Street North.