Wendel: From worst to first: the 1991 Twins and Braves
From SABR member Tim Wendel at The National Pastime Museum on August 28, 2017:
As the 1991 season began, the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins were regarded as ball clubs with promise but certainly not pennant contenders. The year before, the Braves had finished in the cellar in the National League West Division with a 65–97 record, 26 games behind the Cincinnati Reds. The Twins had also found themselves in last place in 1990 in the American League West, sporting a 74–88 record, 29 games behind the Oakland Athletics, who had finished with the best record in baseball and were expected to return to the World Series.
But as they say, this is why you play the game. For the Braves and Twins were about to shock the baseball world—becoming the first teams in Major League history to go from “worst to first” in a single season.
Read the full article here: https://www.thenationalpastimemuseum.com/article/worst-first-atlanta-braves-and-minnesota-twins-1991
Originally published: August 28, 2017. Last Updated: August 28, 2017.