The year of 1960 remains the milestone in the history of Minnesota sports. There were announcements in late January that we would be receiving an NFL expansion franchise for 1961 and, more dramatically, in late October that Calvin Griffith would be moving the Washington Senators here for the 1961 season.
In between, it became official in April that the NBA Lakers would be moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles.
The Minnesota football Gophers also went to California — to play in the Rose Bowl.
On Sunday, as the Vikings were defeating Green Bay 27-25 to reach 14-2 and set up a regular-season finale in Detroit for the No. 1 seed (and a bye) in the strong NFC, there was this thought up there in the nosebleed press box at the Zygidome:
Where do these Vikings currently rank in the “most unlikely” category for seasons of notable success within major team sports in Minnesota history?
And history, in this case, would be defined as going back to 1960.
This is the top 10, as determined by the wisest and most objective source you could hope to find … me. And remember the key caveat before complaining: “most unlikely.”
1. 1987 Twins
Gene Mauch was in his fifth season as Twins manager when he was offered a contract extension in August 1980. Mauch decided on a better strategy: He quit.