1962

The Cuban missile crisis was the big news. The Russians had snuck some nuclear missiles into Cuba. Somehow, president Kennedy made them take them away and nobody got killed.

Minnesota Twins had struggled to a 70-90 record in their first year, but now they won 91 games behind slugger Harmon Killebrew (48-126-.243), manager Sam Mele and a Jack Kralick no-hitter, which my dad and I saw in person at the old Met.

• The Minnesota Gopher football team lost to Wisconsin again, this time on a couple of highly questionable calls. This time, it also meant that the Badgers themselves would win the Big 10 title and go to the Rose Bowl. There was no bowl for second place in those days. Bobby Bell repeated as an all-American. The Gopher swimmers finished third at the NCAA meet as Steve Jackman won the 50 meter freestyle. 

• Basketball and football star Bob Bruggers of Danube was the best high school athlete, while International Falls won its second state hockey title. 

Year	Athlete of the Year	Team of the Year	Coach of the Year	Event of the Year
1962	1. Killebrew 2. Bell 3. Bob Bruggers, Danube basketball and football	1. Minnesota Twins baseball (91-71) 2. Minnesota Gopher swimming 3. International Falls hockey (23-2-1, state champion)	1. Sam Mele, Minnesota Twins baseball 2. Warmath 3. Bob Mowerson, Minnesota Gopher swimming	1. Wisconsin beat the Gophers 14-9 to win the Rose Bowl bid. 2. Jack Kralick threw a no-hitter for the Twins. 3. Steve Jackman won the NCAA 50m freestyle championship.