Sight For Sore Ears

In a curious epilogue to the World Series, the fans of Minnesota were commended more than the players. And not just for the clamor they put up in the Metrodome, where the decibel level approximated an airplane full of mothers-in-law. The Twins won 62 of 87 games there, only 31 of 87 elsewhere, becoming the first World Series team to sweep four home games (not to mention the only series participant to be out-scored for the season).

It was their fans' deportment that amazed the country, so used to New York City trashing its stadium or Detroit setting fire to the neighborhood. From the first game to the last, both won by the series' MVP Frank Viola, Minnesotans were content to twirl cotton hankies for Kirby Puckett and to blow tin whistles at the Cardinals. Gracious winning was the story of the year in baseball. When Minnesota finally won something, it knew how.