1987 Twins were most improbable champs of era

[PDX Twin]

From the Washington Post:

 

The least likely World Series winners ever

 

1969 to 1993: Two rounds

1987 Minnesota Twins

11 percent chance to win the World Series

The Twins won 85 games during the 1987 regular season. We would expect a team with a similar run differential as Minnesota (786 scored and 806 allowed, minus-20 run differential) to win just 79 games. If we adjust again for the sequence of events that occurred, we would reduce those expectations to a 74-win season. In other words, these Twins were lucky to have been a part of the playoffs at all, let alone world champions.

 

They separated MLB history into three periods based on the number of rounds of post-season play. In the 25 years of two rounds (LCS and WS), the 1987 Twins were the least likely to prevail. I knew that they were big underdogs, but didn't remember that they actually had a negative run differential during the season. Amazing!

[woolywoolhouse]

The 1987 Twins, as a team, were pretty much outnumbered in virtually every major statistical category. As ABC play-by-play man Al Michaels put it in the pre-game show for Game 1 "They were out everything!"

 

[notoriousgod71]

 

The 1987 Twins, as a team, were pretty much outnumbered in virtually every major statistical category. As ABC play-by-play man Al Michaels put it in the pre-game show for Game 1 "They were out everything!"

And as McCarver said, "YOU HAVE TO BE PHYSICAL TO WATCH A GAME HERE!"

 

Very different from the passive, disinterested, selfie taking Target Field crowds.

 

"Look how cool I am! I'm at the new stadium!"

 

Nevermind, that is like someone saying that while at the Dome in 1992.

[Nine of twelve]

In 1994 MLB went to three divisions in each league with one wild card team. The 1987 Twins would not have qualified for the postseason in that alignment. Moreover, in 1987 the postseason home field advantage still rotated instead of being awarded to the team with the better record. We lucked into that in both the ALCS and the WS. We did beat the Tigers even though 3 of the 5 games were played in Detroit, but would we have beaten the Cardinals?