In its preview of the 1961 baseball season, Sports Illustrated commented on the fact that the old Washington Senators were now the Minnesota Twins:
"For 60 years the old Senators labored through the American League schedule, mostly clogging up the second division with inept players and impotent teams. There were a few bright years -- a world championship in 1924, pennants in 1925 and 1933 -- and a few heroes -- Walter Johnson, Joe Cronin, George Case, Cecil Travis -- but mostly there was sixth place and seventh and eighth.
"That legacy of defeat is gone now. There is no past, no Washington."
Oh, really, SI? Well, it's been 50 years now since 1961. The Twins have won three pennants -- 1965, 1987, and 1991 -- exactly the same number as the old Senators. They won two world championships, both of which with the help of that silly domed stadium that they finally traded in. And the Twins, unlike the old Senators, never inspired a single hit show on Broadway. What sort of legacy is that?
No wonder Douglas Wallop was so bitter.
see if i can remember the 1975 topps twins lineup ...
ReplyDeletec-Glenn Borgmann, Phil Roof
1b-?
2b-Rod Carew, all-star
3b-
ss-
of-Larry Hisle
of-Steve Brye
of-
hmmm ... tougher than i thought.