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20th Century Top 50: Minnesota
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Rank |
Profile |
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1
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Bronko Nagurski ,
International Falls
All-America tackle for Gophers in 1929; All-Pro fullback
led Bears to three NFL titles.
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| 2
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Dave Winfield ,
St. Paul
Forward on Gophers' 1971-72 Big Ten basketball champions; 1,833 RBIs in 22-year career in majors; drafted by Hawks and Vikings.
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| 3
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Kevin McHale ,
Hibbing
Averaged 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds at Minnesota; won three NBA titles in 13 seasons with Celtics (1980-93); named one of NBA's 50 Greatest.
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| 4
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Neal Broten ,
Roseau
At Minnesota, won NCAA hockey title in 1979 and Hobey Baker Award in '81; Olympic gold in '80; led North Stars to Stanley Cup finals in '91.
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| 5
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Patty Berg ,
Minneapolis
One of LPGA's founders and greatest players; in 1946 won inaugural U.S. Women's Open.
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| 6
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Bud Wilkinson ,
Minneapolis
Played guard and halfback
for Minnesota's national
title teams in 1934, '35 and '36; coached Oklahoma
to record 47 straight wins.
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| 7
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Paul Molitor ,
St. Paul
Infielder is eighth alltime in hits (3,319); 1993 World Series MVP with Blue Jays.
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| 8
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Herb Brooks ,
St. Paul
Miracle on Ice coach also guided Minnesota to
three NCAA titles in the 1970s; now coach of the Penguins.
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| 9
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Kent Hrbek ,
Bloomington
First baseman ranks among Twins' career leaders in games played, hits, home runs
and RBIs; won World Series rings in 1987 and '91.
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| 10
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Tom Lehman ,
Alexandria
Won British Open and was PGA's player of the year in 1996; helped U.S. win '99 Ryder Cup.
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| 11
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Vern Mikkelsen ,
Askov
Basketball star at Askov High and Hamline teamed with George Mikan to lead Lakers to four titles in the 1950s.
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| 12
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Jack Morris ,
St. Paul
Five-time All-Star had 254-186 record; two wins for Twins in 1991 World Series, with 10-inning shutout in Game 7; most victories (162) in '80s.
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| 13
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Bill and Roger Christian ,
Warroad
Brothers led U.S. to hockey gold at 1960 Olympics; Bill's son, Dave, did same in
'80 before playing in NHL.
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| 14
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Bruce Smith ,
Faribault
Led Gophers to back-to-back national titles in '40 and '41; only Minnesotan to win Heisman Trophy, in 1941.
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| 15
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Phil Housley ,
St. Paul
Flames defenseman is six-time All-Star; NHL's points leader among U.S.-born players.
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| 16
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Sid Gillman ,
Minneapolis
Receiver for North High in 1930; longtime pro coach and passing-game innovator took Chargers to AFL title in '63.
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| 17
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John Mayasich ,
Eveleth
Played on four state championship hockey teams at Eveleth High; three-time
All-America at Minnesota; won gold with 1960 Olympic team.
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| 18
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John Gagliardi ,
Collegeville
Coached college football for
51 years -- 47 at St. John's -- and had 364 career wins, second alltime.
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| 19
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Cindy Nelson ,
Lutsen
First U.S. skier to win World Cup downhill, in 1974; U.S. Alpine skier of the year '75, '76, '78, '79; won bronze at '76 Games.
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| 20
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Karl Mecklenburg ,
Edina
Broncos linebacker was Pro Bowl pick six times; 79 sacks, second in franchise history.
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| 21
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John Kundla ,
Minneapolis
Scholarly coach for Lakers won six titles in seven years (1948-54); later coached at Minnesota from '59 to '68.
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| 22
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Reed Larson ,
Minneapolis
Played for Minnesota's 1976 NCAA hockey championship team; high-scoring Red Wings defenseman from 1977 to '86.
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| 23
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John Roethlisberger ,
Afton
Won four national individual all-around gymnastics titles, in 1990, '92, '93 and '95.
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| 24
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Vern Gagne ,
Robbinsdale
NCAA wrestling titles at Minnesota in 1948 and '49; had colorful pro wrestling career -- won tag-team title with Nagurski.
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| 25
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Gino Cappelletti ,
Keewatin
Gophers kicker from 1952 to '54; placekicker-receiver for Patriots set AFL records for career points (1,100), field goals (170) and PATs (330).
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| 26
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Chief Bender ,
White Earth Reservation
Righthander went 23-5
and threw a no-hitter in 1910; 208-112 record in majors;
in baseball's Hall of Fame.
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| 27
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Jerry Koosman ,
Chaska
NL Rookie of the Year
runner-up in 1968; 222-209 with 3.36 ERA in 19 seasons; won World Series with
'69 Mets.
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| 28
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Amy Peterson ,
Maplewood
Speed skater has won more Olympic medals (one silver in 1992, two bronze in '94)
than any other Minnesotan.
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| 29
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Ed Widseth ,
Crookston
Won three straight NCAA football championships with Gophers from 1934 to '36;
All-Pro tackle for Giants
from '37 to '40.
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| 30
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Mike Ramsey ,
Minneapolis
Led Gophers to 1979
NCAA hockey title; won '80 Olympic gold; 18-year NHL defenseman.
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| 31
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Paul Giel ,
Winona
Two-time All-America halfback for Gophers was Heisman runner-up in 1953; pitched in majors for six years.
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| 32
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Whitey Skoog ,
Brainerd
Guard for three Lakers' title teams in 1950s.
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| 33
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Burdette Haldorson ,
Austin
All-America center at Colorado twice led league in scoring; won basketball gold medals at 1956 and '60 Olympics.
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| 34
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John Mariucci ,
Eveleth
Known as the Godfather of Hockey in state; had 215-148-18 record as Gophers
coach for 15 years; played five seasons with Black Hawks.
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| 35
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Jim Langer ,
Royalton
Five-time All-Pro center played every offensive down during the Dolphins' perfect season in 1972.
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| 36
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Jean Havlish ,
St. Paul
Shortstop for Fort Wayne (Ind.) Daisies of women's pro baseball league in the
1950s; Hall of Fame bowler.
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| 37
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Paul Holmgren ,
St. Paul
Rugged winger for Flyers
in 1980s; first U.S.-born
player to get hat trick in Stanley Cup finals.
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| 38
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Biggie Munn ,
Anoka
Track and football star at Minnesota from 1929 to '31;
coached Michigan State to '52 national football title.
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| 39
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Bernie Bierman ,
Litchfield
Coached Minnesota to five national football titles between 1932 and '41; 93-35-6 record in 16 seasons.
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| 40
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Mark Olberding ,
Melrose
Led Melrose High to two
Class A basketball titles; jumped to ABA after freshman year at Minnesota; played 12 years as a pro (1975-87).
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| 41
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John McCartan ,
St. Paul
Hit .438 in senior season at Minnesota; won gold as goalie for 1960 Olympic hockey team.
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| 42
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Walt Kiesling ,
St. Paul
One of football's first
great pulling guards; won
NFL titles with 1934
Bears and '36 Packers.
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| 43
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Briana Scurry ,
Dayton
All-state in basketball and national goalie of the year as senior at Anoka High; goalie on 1996 Olympics and '99 World Cup championship teams.
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| 44
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Terry Steinbach ,
New Ulm
Set American League record for most home runs by catcher (34) in 1996; won '89
World Series ring with A's.
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| 45
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Tommy Gibbons ,
St. Paul
One of boxing's greatest nonchampions; lost 15-round decision to Jack Dempsey in
1923; career record of 57-4-1.
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| 46
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Khalid El-Amin ,
Minneapolis
Led North High to three straight state basketball titles; point guard for UConn's
1999 NCAA champions.
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| 47
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Jeanne Arth ,
St. Paul
Teamed with Darlene Hard to win 1959 Wimbledon
doubles championship.
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| 48
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Fortune Gordien ,
Minneapolis
Three-time NCAA discus champion won bronze at 1948 Olympics, silver in '56; held world record from '49 to '53, '53 to '59.
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| 49
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Frankie Brimsek ,
Eveleth
Won Calder and Vezina trophies in 1939; first
U.S.-born player named first-team NHL All-Star.
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| 50
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George Keogan ,
Detroit Lakes
Longtime Notre Dame
coach was the Rockne of
Irish basketball; 327-97 record from 1923 to '43.
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