Minnesota Twins

The franchise began as the Washington Senators in 1901, one of the American League's charter members. For most of their six decades in Washington, the Senators were among baseball's weakest teams, inspiring the famous quip: "Washington - first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League." The lone bright spot was Walter Johnson, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, whose blazing fastball earned him 417 career wins.

Johnson led the Senators to their only World Series championship in 1924, defeating the Giants in seven games. The franchise reached the Fall Classic again in 1925 but lost. Those two pennants represented the high-water mark of Washington baseball, and the team spent most of the subsequent decades in the lower half of the standings.

By the late 1950s, attendance had cratered and the franchise was desperate for a new start. Owner Calvin Griffith relocated the team to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the 1961 season, naming them the Twins to represent both cities. A new expansion Senators team was created to keep baseball in Washington.

The Twins thrived in Minnesota from the start. Harmon Killebrew, the powerful slugger who had been with the franchise since its Washington days, became the face of Twins baseball, hitting 573 career home runs and winning the 1969 AL MVP. The 1965 team won the AL pennant behind Killebrew, Tony Oliva, and a deep pitching staff, though they lost the World Series to the Dodgers in seven games.

Rod Carew arrived in 1967 and became one of the greatest pure hitters in baseball history, winning seven batting titles in a Minnesota uniform. His .388 average in 1977 was the closest anyone had come to .400 in decades and captivated the baseball world. Carew's artistry at the plate - his ability to hit the ball wherever he wanted - made him a fan favorite and cemented the Twins' reputation as a franchise that developed exceptional position players.

The Twins struggled through much of the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing in the cavernous Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome beginning in 1982. The indoor stadium was widely derided for its artificial turf and antiseptic atmosphere, but it would soon become the site of some of baseball's most electric moments.

The Twins' two World Series championships - 1987 and 1991 - rank among the most dramatic in baseball history, and both were powered by the deafening noise of the Metrodome and an incredible home-field advantage. The 1987 Twins, managed by Tom Kelly, won the World Series despite an 85-77 regular season record, defeating the Cardinals in seven games. Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek led a roster that was far better than its regular season record suggested.

The 1991 World Series against the Braves is widely considered the greatest ever played. Four games were decided in the final at-bat, three went to extra innings, and the drama escalated with each game. Puckett's leaping catch and walk-off home run in Game 6 - "And we'll see you tomorrow night!" - is one of the most iconic calls in broadcasting history. Jack Morris then threw a ten-inning shutout in Game 7 to deliver the championship.

The Twins' ability to win two championships in five years with modest payrolls was remarkable, but the franchise couldn't sustain the success. By the late 1990s, the team was so financially strapped that MLB considered contracting the franchise entirely.