Braves legend Terry Pendleton played in two World Series against the Minnesota Twins, first with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987 and then with the Atlanta Braves in 1991, and both times the home team won every single game in the series.
That is not normal, and Pendleton believes there was a reason for it.
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“They had control of the blowers in that place,” Pendleton said.
The Airflow Accusation
The former NL MVP has claimed that the Metrodome’s ventilation system was used to give the Twins an unfair edge.
According to Pendleton, the airflow inside the dome changed depending on who was at the plate.
When Twins hitters were up, the air pushed outward to help carry the ball, and when opposing batters stepped in, the air shifted to blow inward and hold fly balls in the park.
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A former Metrodome superintendent named Dick Ericson actually admitted to manipulating the ventilation system during close games to try and help Minnesota.
Ericson said he would turn on fans behind home plate and adjust the air conditioning when the Twins needed a boost in the late innings.
He also confirmed that the fans were blowing out when Kirby Puckett launched his famous walk-off home run in the 11th inning of Game 6 during the 1991 World Series, though he insisted the ball was hit hard enough to leave regardless.
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Ericson admits to adjusting ventilation system
Pendleton does not buy that and has pointed to Puckett’s blast as one of the moments that had help from the building itself.
A Pattern That Speaks for Itself
In the 1987 World Series, the Twins won all four home games and lost all three on the road against the Cardinals, and that same exact thing happened again in 1991 against the Braves.
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The home team won all seven games in both of those series, which is something that did not happen again until the 2001 World Series between Arizona and the Yankees.
Pendleton went 11-for-30 with two home runs in the 1991 Fall Classic and was named the NL MVP that season after hitting .319 with 22 home runs.
Bobby Valentine, who managed the Texas Rangers, backed up similar claims when he said his players felt a breeze blowing out while they were in the field and blowing in when they were hitting.
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Where Both Teams Stand Now
The Braves and Twins are both in the middle of 2026 spring training and looking to bounce back from tough 2025 campaigns.
Atlanta finished 76-86 last season, their first losing record since 2017, and they now have Walt Weiss at the helm after Brian Snitker’s departure.
Minnesota had an even rougher year, going 70-92 and finishing fourth in the AL Central, which led to the firing of Rocco Baldelli after seven seasons and the hiring of Derek Shelton.
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Both clubs are in rebuilding phases, but the history between them remains one of the most fascinating storylines in World Series lore.