Well done Saints!

2018 has been a tough year for Minnesota sports. In January, the Vikings followed the Minneapolis Miracle with a thrashing in Philadelphia. In April, the Wild went down 4-1 in the first round of the Stanley Cup play offs and the Timberwolves were beaten at the same stage of the NBA play offs. The Twins came off the back of a strong 2017 season to miss out on the play offs. United looks certain to miss out on the MLS play offs. Even the Lynx, the state’s only winners in recent years, failed to finish as a top 2 seed for the first time in 8 years and went out of the play offs in the first round.

But the year might yet have something for Minnesota sports fans to celebrate. Yesterday, the Saint Paul Saints beat the Gary Railcats 1-0 in game 4 of a best of 5 league semi final series to advance to the American Association Championship for the first time since 2011 where they will face either Kansas City or Sioux City. Games 1 and 2 take place at the CHS Field in Saint Paul this Tuesday and Wednesday. Head down, and give the state’s most successful team of 2018 a cheer.

John Phelan is an economist at the Center of the American Experiment.