For today’s MLB Monday miniseries entry, we take on a fun season in history: that of the last-place teams rising to the top! Both World Series teams this year finished dead last their respective 1990 divisions, but big turnarounds happened in both leagues. What we got was a very memorable Fall Classic that many still rank as one of the best matchups ever. Don’t remember? Read on to find out, re-live, or just savor … enjoy!

1991 World Series MVP: Jack Morris, SP, Minnesota (original, confirmed)

There were 5 games in this Series decided by 1 run, and the home team won every game in the matchup as well—just like 1987, ironically. The Atlanta Braves outscored the Minnesota Twins, 29-24, in the Fall Classic, but it was the Twins escaping with a Game 7, extra-innings victory at home by a 1-0 score to claim the MLB championship. Minnesota starting pitcher Jack Morris (2-0, 1.17 ERA, 23 IP) was named the MVP.

Morris tossed a 10-inning shutout in Game 7, which won him the hardware, but he also won Game 1 and took a no decision in Game 4. The first start was an incidental win, where Morris walked more batters than he struck out, and the second start featured 3 more walks in only 6 IP. He was extremely lucky to get through both those starts personally unscathed, before pitching the gem of shutout in Game 7. Hmmm.

There’s no one else on the Twins to consider, however, so we look to the Braves roster just to be sure: second baseman Mark Lemke (3 3Bs, 4 RBI, .417 BA, 1.170 OPS) is the standout there. And his defense was pretty good, too, but he only had 1 hit in Game 7, and he would have needed to do more than that in a losing effort to pry this trophy away from Morris. So we confirm the vote at the time, a heat-of-the-moment choice.

Morris becomes the first non-New York Yankees player to win this award from us twice, joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Allie Reynolds, and Reggie Jackson in the annals of our analyses, since we gave this trophy to him in 1984 for his work with the Detroit Tigers. That’s quite an achievement, actually. Celebrate it.

1991 ALCS MVP: Kirby Puckett, CF, Minnesota (original, confirmed)

The Twins dropped the Toronto Blue Jays in 5 games to clinch the AL pennant, and star centerfielder Kirby Puckett (.429 BA, 2 HRs, 6 RBI, 1.197 OPS) won the MVP vote. The Minnesota starters were garbage in this matchup, and only closer Rick Aguilera (3 SVs, 0.00 ERA, 3 K, 3 1/3 IP) could compete with Puckett for this vote. And we can’t reward a mere 3 1/3 IP in comparison to Puckett’s outstanding batting line. Confirmed.

1991 NLCS MVP: Steve Avery, SP, Atlanta (original, confirmed)

The Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games, outscoring them 19-12—with 5 of the Pirates runs coming in Game 1. Pittsburgh was shutout 3 times in this matchup, as the “worst” of the Atlanta starters went 0-2 with a 3.21 ERA. Go figure. Regardless, Braves SP Steve Avery (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.796 WHIP) got the MVP for winning Games 2 and 6 with 16 1/3 shutout IP with 17 Ks. That seems like a tall order to beat.

Only Atlanta catcher Greg Olson (.333 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BBs, .929 OPS) is worth considering in comparison. Considering the Braves hit just .231 in this matchup while posting a 1.57 ERA, it’s clear that Olson’s efforts stand out a little more than Avery’s, since every Atlanta pitcher basically stifled the Pirates lineup. Avery’s Game 6 win on the road, though, facing elimination was a huge victory, psychologically.

Olson combined to go 2-for-7 with 1 RBI in Games 6 and 7, must wins for the Braves on the road. If he had performed a bit more evenly, maybe we’d switch our vote here, but he did not—so we confirm Avery’s win.

1991 AL MOTY: Tom Kelly, Minnesota (original); Cito Gaston, Toronto (revised)

Twins Manager Tom Kelly (plus-1 PPP) won this award vote for turning around the team, but Minnesota won the AL West by 8 games over the Chicago White Sox, so all Kelly had to do was stay out of the way to win. We’re not impressed. Instead, we look at Blue Jays Manager Cito Gaston (plus-3): Toronto won the AL East by 7 games over both the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. He did better in a mildly tougher sitch.

This is Gaston’s second trophy from us here: he was a very underrated manager, and we sadly know why. And remember, we did give this nod to Kelly in 1987, when he did not win the vote. It all evens out in the end.

1991 NL MOTY: Bobby Cox, Atlanta (original, confirmed)

Back in 1985, Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox (plus-2 PPP) won the AL MOTY vote, although we didn’t agree. This time around, his effort helped the Braves win the NL West by 1 game over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He earned this vote win, for sure, as no other NL manager had anywhere near the same impact on the outcome of the pennant races that he did. Confirmed!