Major League Manager
On June 9, 1967, Ermer was promoted from the Twins' AAA affiliate, the Denver Bears of the Pacific Coast League, to replace Minnesota manager Sam Mele with the club stalled in sixth place with a 25-25 record. Under Ermer, the Twins caught fire, winning 66 of 112 games and jumping into a four-team American League pennant race that went down to the season's final weekend. Needing only one win in two games at Boston's Fenway Park to clinch a tie for the championship, the Twins lost both contests to the Red Sox, who became improbable league champions.
Ermer was brought back for 1968, but a big off-season trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers backfired, Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew suffered a serious hamstring injury during the 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, nearly ending his career, and the Twins tumbled to 79-83 and a seventh place finish. At season's end, Ermer was fired and replaced by his former coach Billy Martin — the volatile Martin's first major league managing job.
Read more about this topic: Cal Ermer
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