25 years later, 0-9 Twins and Braves on wrong side of history

In 1991, a stunning thing happened. The Twins and Braves — who finished last in their respective divisions in 1990 — made it all the way to the World Series. Not only that, of course, but they played in what is widely regarded as one of the best Fall Classics (if not the very best) in baseball history.

Locally, there has been some chatter about that series since 2016 marks the 25-year anniversary. Sports fans (and the sports media) sure do love anniversaries. The Twins are making remembrances of 1991 part of this year’s theme.

Plenty of you know that I was a massive Braves fan as a kid, even though I was living in the heart of extended Twins Territory (Grand Forks, N.D.). Pretty much everyone I knew, including my best friend, was a Twins fan. I got hooked on the Braves at an early age because of the Superstation (TBS), on which most of their games were televised. So for me, it has been a painful 25 years being on the wrong side of history.

Let’s stick with that phrase for a moment and jump again to the present. Just as they did 25 years ago, the Twins and Braves are going neck and neck in a heated baseball pursuit. But unlike 25 years ago, when they made worst-to-first magic, both teams this year are on the wrong side of history.

In this anniversary season, both have started 0-9. Yes, you might not realize it if your focus has been squarely fixed on the Twins’ troubles, but the Braves have been equally inept. In the case of Atlanta it is perhaps less surprising since that franchise won just 67 games a year ago (compared to 83 for the Twins). But still, here they both are.

How rare is it to have two teams start so poorly? Per ESPN, this is just the second time since 1900 that it has happened. I remember the other occasion distinctly, since it also involved my once-beloved Braves (my interest in Atlanta eventually waned once I moved to Minneapolis for college in the mid-1990s). The year was 1988, and the only thing sparing the public from fixating on the 0-10 Braves was the 0-21 Orioles (of whom Jim Souhan wrote entertainingly today).

If there is solace to be had for either organization, it is this: the 1991 Twins actually started almost as poorly as this year’s team, going 2-9 out of the gate and seeming to be destined for the cellar again. The 1991 Braves were under .500 at the All-Star break. So things can get better.

If you prefer an even longer and more pessimistic version of solace — if that can be a thing — you may also consider this: there is no chance either team will go 0-162 since the Twins and Braves are slated to play each other four times this season (twice in July and twice in August).

But I dare say there might be some longer think pieces than this one written if both manage to still be on historically bad paces when they meet in a few months.