The Minnesota Twins announced Thursday evening that longtime Major League reliever Al Worthington has died at 97. A 14-season veteran, Worthington made a fast impact with the New York Giants, later took issue with sign-stealing practices, and found his most pr
The Minnesota Twins announced Thursday evening that longtime Major League reliever Al Worthington has died at the age of 97. For many baseball fans in Minnesota and beyond, his name carried the steady weight of a bullpen that could be trusted.
Worthington. who was one of the oldest living former MLB players when he passed away. was born on February 5. 1929. in Birmingham. Alabama. He grew up in a baseball-focused family as one of 10 children. He later attended the University of Alabama. playing both baseball and football before his pro career began in 1951 with the Chicago Cubs after he signed with the team.
A season in the minors preceded his jump through the system, and then a turning point came quickly. Worthington was traded to the New York Giants following that season in the minors. He reached the majors in 1953 with the Giants. immediately delivering the kind of start that makes organizations take notice—throwing back-to-back complete-game shutouts in his first two starts.
He stayed with the franchise through its transition from New York to San Francisco, appearing in the 1954 World Series championship season. In 1958, he was part of the inaugural San Francisco Giants team, and he also played alongside Willie Mays during his time with the club.
But Worthington’s career wasn’t only defined by results. In 1959, he publicly challenged a Giants staff member over alleged sign stealing involving binoculars. The incident contributed to his eventual trade. In 1960. he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox. and later that same year moved on to the Chicago White Sox.
With Chicago, he again objected to sign-stealing practices, including claims involving a scoreboard light system. He also had a short run with the Cincinnati Reds before eventually returning to MLB action after time in the minors.
It was with the Minnesota Twins that Worthington found the stretch many remember most. He joined the Twins in 1964 and, over four consecutive seasons, recorded sub-3.00 ERAs and established himself as a reliable bullpen arm.
In 1965. after joining Minnesota. Worthington logged a 1.37 ERA and finished with a career-high 21 saves while helping the Twins reach the World Series. In that series, he allowed one unearned run in four innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Through 1969. he remained an important reliever as Minnesota won the American League West title and he appeared in the AL Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Across his 14-season Major League career, Worthington compiled a 75-82 record with a 3.39 ERA, 834 strikeouts, and more than 1,200 innings pitched across 602 games. He was retroactively credited with 111 career saves, with more than half of his appearances coming in relief.
After his playing days, Worthington coached at Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty University), where he won 343 games over 13 seasons. He later served as athletics director.
Worthington was married to Shirley for 73 years until her death in 2024. He is survived by a large, multigenerational family.
The Twins’ announcement on Thursday evening closed the chapter on a career that spanned everything from dramatic major league debuts and World Series nights to outspoken moments that carried real friction inside the game.
Al Worthington Minnesota Twins MLB reliever 1965 Twins 1965 World Series San Francisco Giants Willie Mays sign stealing