MAMA 2004 Nominee InfoMAMA - A tribute to the most OK athletes in Minnesota history! |
Gary Anderson
Vikings 1998-2002, 78 games, 109-129 FGs, 215-217 XPs
Best Season: 1998 NFL best 35-35 FGs and 59-59 XPs, Pro-Bowl
Only 49 Kickoffs and 1 Touchback as a Viking, 74-80 from under 40, 35-49 from 40+. One of the best kickers ever (points scored), but wasn't able to kick the long FGs and became a FG only specialist, giving up kickoff duties. Will always be remembered for his only FG miss in the 1998 season, costing the Vikes a trip to the Super Bowl!
Fred Barrett
North Stars 1970-1971, 1972-1983, 730 games, 23 goals, 123 assists
Best Season: 1979-1980, 80 games, 8 goals, 14 assists, 71 PIM
Defenseman known as "Steady Freddie", he never did anything spectacular, but was always reliable and in the right position.
Ron Coomer
Twins 1995-2000, 2397 ABs, .278 ave, 121 2B, 77 HR, 364 RBIs
Best Season: 2000, 544 ABs, .270 ave, .415 slg, 16 HR
1999 All Star. Best power hitter on a team without power. One of the leaders for the Twins after the World Series years but before the rebuilding process got them back to the top.
Marty Cordova
Twins 1995-1999, 2322 ABs, .277 ave, 139 2B, 79 HR, 385 RBIs, 52 SB
Best Season: 1996 569 ABs, .309 ave, 46 2B, 16 HR, 111 RBIs, 11 SB
1995 ROY. Twins career - in like a lion, out like a lamb!
Greg Gagne
Twins 1983-1992, 3386 ABs, .249 ave, .287 OB, 35 3B, 69 HR, 79 SB, 676 Ks, 188 BB
Best Season: 1989, 460 ABs, .272 ave, .298 OB, 7 3B, 9 HR, 11 SB
Great Defensive SS with a tendency to swing at the low and FAR away pitch for strike 3!
Dennis Green
Vikings 1992-2001, 97 wins, 62 losses. 4-8 post season record!
Liked by his players, but teams always had poor clock management and committed lots of penalties. Couldn't win the big games.
Calvin Griffith
Twins 1961-1984, Moved Senators to Minnesota.
11 winning seasons, 11 losing seasons, 2 .500 seasons. 1965 World Series (loss).
Brought the Twins to the Metrodome - the worst park in baseball!
Denny Hocking
Twins 1993-2003, 2204 ABs, .252 ave, .310 OB, 25 HR, 36 SB
Best Season: 2000, 373 ABs, .298, .373 OB, 4 3B, 4 HR, 7 SB
Solid switch hitting utility player, did everything but pitch and catch.
Dave Huffman
Vikings 1979-1990, 128 Games at O-line.
In 1983, 3 kick returns for 42 yards! 0 Pro-bowls.
Tim Irwin
Vikings 1981-1993, 188 games at O-line.
Started 197 consecutive regular season games. Member of Vikings 40th anniversary All-Viking team. 0 Pro-bowls.
Gene Larkin
Twins 1987-1993, 2321 ABs, .266 ave, .348 OB, 32 HR, 23 SB
Best Season: 1988, 505 ABs, .267 ave, .368 OB, 8 HR, 30 2B, 15 HBP
Great switch hitting pinch hitter, DH/PH that occasionally played 1B.
2 World Series Championships, Game winning pinch hit in Game 7 of 1991 World Series. Knew how to lean into a pitch!
Brian Lawton
North Starts 1983-1988, 303 games, 71 goals, 91 assists
Best Season: 1986-1987, 66 games, 21 goals, 23 assists
#1 overall pick in 1983 draft. Never lived up to expectations.
Matt Lawton
Twins 1995-2001, 2672 ABs, .277 ave, 163 2B, 72 HR, 96 SB
Best Season: 2000, 561 ABs, .305 ave, 44 2B, 13 HR, .405 OB, .460 SLG, 23 SB
Good defense in RF, great pitch selection, solid speed, solid power. Mediocre from top to bottom. One of the leaders for the Twins after the World Series years but before the rebuilding process got them back to the top.
Leo Lewis
Vikings 1981-1991, 140 games, 182 catches, 2924 yards, 16 TDs
Best Season: 1984, 16 games, 47 catches, 830 yards, 4 TDs
10 catches for 124 yards and 1 TD in 5 playoff games.
A little guy who wasn't very fast, but good hands and a great work ethic made him into a solid punt returner and good 3rd down WR.
Bob Lurtsema
Vikings 1972-1976, 55 games at DE/DT. 0 Ints.
Nicknamed "Benchwarmer Bob"
Sam Mitchell
Timberwolves 89-92, 95-02, 757 games, 9.5 ppg, 4.0 RPG
Best Season: 1990-1991, 38.1 MPG, 14.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Two tours with Wolves, on floor coach, would start when team needed a spark, but more typically was a 7th or 8th man playing limited minutes or filling in for injured players.
Mike Morris
Vikings 1991-1999, 144 games at Center. 0 Pro-bowls.
Reliable long snapper. Currently brings his average talents to Minnesota talk radio.
Joe Smith
Timberwolves 98-00, 01-03, 247 games, 10.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Best Season: 1998-1999, 33 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.53 BPG
Great hustle defender, always took the charge. Infamous for the "under the table" deal that cost the T-Wolves numerous draft picks, suspensions, and cash!
Jesse Ventura
American Wrestling Association 1979-1984
Tag Team Champion with Adrion Adonis as the "East West Connection" in 1980.
Created nickname "Mean Gene" for Gene Okerlund. More known for his mouth than wrestling skills. In and out of wrestling as an announcer.
Mayor of Brooklyn Park 1991-1995
Mediocre assistant High School football coach
Governor of Minnesota 1998-2002 - blocked all new stadium efforts!
Wade Wilson
Vikings 1981-1991, 76 games, 12135 yards, 66 TDs, 75 Ints
Best Season: 1988, 14 games, 2746 yards, 15 TDs, 9 Ints
Pro-Bowl in 1988, 3-3 playoff record
Always seemed too good to be a backup, but only had one good year as a starter.