A lot was made about Justin Morneau’s 2006 season and while Morneau definitely got it done, what he did in 2006 would have been an average season for Harmon Killebrew in his hey day. Prior to 1967, Killebrew blasted 40 homeruns in a season five times and he did it again to help bring the Twins to the brink of an American League pennant in 1967.
Killebrew’s 44 homeruns in 1967 would lead (along with Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski) the American League and it was his fifth homerun crown. He also led the league with 131 walks and he was second to Yaz with 113 RBIs. He was also one of the most feared hitters and he led the league by being intentionally walked 15 times. His .408 OBP was third in the league as was his .966 slugging percentage. All of this took him closer to the American League MVP then in any other season to date (he eventually won it in 1969). Killebrew finished in second place to Carl Yastrzemski for that award.
Killebrew hit two homeruns in a game on four different occasions in 1967 and he had his best month down the stretch. In the final month, Killebrew hit an impressive .333/.438/.685. He hit ten homeruns, scored 26 times and drove in 23 runs. Killebrew also turned it up against when the Twins played at Fenway Park against the eventual pennant winners. Against the Red Sox at Fenway, Killebrew hit .394/.500/.848 in nine games with four homeruns and three doubles.
Here’s a look at Killebrews final 1967 numbers
Games 163
AB 547
Runs 105
Hits 147
Doubles 24
Triples 1
Homeruns 44
RBIs 113
Walks 131
Strikeouts 111
Stolen Bases 1
Caught Stealing 0
BA .269
OBA .408
SLG% .558
OPS .965
RC 129
RCAA 64
RCAP 47
RC/G 8.21
ISO .289
November 28th, 2006 at 4:30 am
[...] I recently penned column taking a look at Harmon Killebrew’s 1967 season over at the 1967 AL Pennant Race site. Man this guy was good. [link] [...]