50 years ago — 1961

• Kiester claimed the amateur V-8 League baseball title with a 21-6 victory over Delavan. Kiester was led by Ken Randall with four hits, and Dave Mutschler with three hits.
• The Wells Wildcats opened their football season with a 27-0 win over Blue Earth. Quarterback Ron Meyer threw touchdown passes to Dave Schrieber, and Al Redman and Schrieber ran for two scores.
• Pete Ramos threw a six-hitter in the Minnesota Twins 5-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.
• Pitcher Camilo Pascual of the Minnesota Twins led the American League with 179 strike outs.

25 years ago — 1986

• Gene Peterson, of Houston, Texas, a play-by-play announcer for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association and a former Albert Lea resident, defeated Greg Sorensen, of Anoka, to win the 58th annual Shortstop Golf Tournament.
• In Gopher Conference volleyball, Glenville defeated Blooming Prairie 3-2. Jean Allison had 11 ace hits, and Holly Tews added eight ace hits.
• The Minnesota Vikings waived eight-year veteran running back Ted Brown, kicker Chuck Nelson, safety Mike Lush and guards Brent Boyd and Curtis Rouse.
• The Albert Lea High School boys’ cross country team named Dale Schoonover and Mark Staloch as co-capains. The girls’ team as led by Kerry Osmonson and Jill Cluppert as co-captains. The boys’ team had 25 members and the girls’ team had 15 runners.
• Gary Gaetti, the Minnesota Twins third baseman, hit a two-run and a three-run home run in the Twins 9-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Gaetti had 29 home runs and 92 RBIs.

10 years ago — 2001

• The Albert Lea football team was beaten by Owatonna 41-0 in its season opener. Robert Babastro led the Tigers with 26 rushing yards in six carries.
• Chris Baas won the 73rd annual Albert Lea Shortstop Golf Tournament 2-1 over Mick Hockinson.
• Dennis Hocking homered in the ninth inning for the Twins 5-4 win over the Anaheim Angels. Christian Guzman and David Ortiz also homered for the Twins.