Frank Viola emerged as a left-handed powerhouse for Minnesota in the early 1980s, eventually becoming the rotation's definitive ace. While he earned the nickname "Sweet Music" for his specialized changeup and poise, he served as the high-voltage engine that powered the franchise's first championship run.
Viola achieved a historic streak of four 16-win seasons, reaching his peak in 1987 when he helped the Twins secure the division and then was named World Series MVP, cementing his postseason legend and bringing Minnesota its first title. During the 1987 World Series, Viola led with three key starts against the St. Louis Cardinals. In Game 1, he allowed one run over eight innings for a win. After a setback in Game 4, he pitched eight innings in Game 7, allowing two runs. His poise earned him the MVP trophy.
While the Twins did not make an appearance in October baseball in ’88, that year was Viola’s finest, winning the Cy Young Award with a 24-7 record. With the Twins struggling during the 1989 season, Viola was traded midway through to the New York Mets.
He would win 112 Games as a Twin and was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2005.
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