Cleveland Indians history

A history of the Cleveland Indians baseball team from the authoritative SportsEncyclopedia site:

1889-1899: Professional baseball in Cleveland pre-dates the founding of the American League. Cleveland had teams in the National Association, early National League, and American Association before the Cleveland Spiders joined the NL in 1889. The Spiders struggled at the start but became a true contender in the NL when they signed Cy Young out of the minors. Young would go on to become the winningest pitcher in baseball history. Despite Cy Young the Indians never manage to win the Pennant and after the 1898 season their owner Frank Robinson buys the Cardinals and ships all the stars, including Cy Young, with him to St. Louis. The remaining Spiders team is so bad no one shows up to watch them play and the team is forced to play every game on the road for a few months. The Spiders finish with an embarrassing 20-134 record, which still remains the worst in baseball history. After the season the Spiders are one of 4 teams the NL disbands leaving Cleveland without a Big League Ballclub.

1901: During the winter of 1900 Ban Johnson, president of the Western Baseball League decided the country was large enough for two major leagues. Johnson decided to make his league a major league, changing the name from the Western League to the American League. Feeling strongly that a team in Cleveland would help boost the league's reputation as a major league, he moved the Grand Rapids franchise to the shores of Lake Erie. However, their first season would not be a success as the Blues finished in 7th Place with a 55-82 record.1902: Now using the name Bronchos, Cleveland's AL team experiences its first winning season with a 69-67 record good enough for 5th Place.1903: The Bronchos continue to improve finishing in 3rd place with a solid 77-63. However they would still finish 15 games out of 1st place. 1904: The Bronchos continue to raise their win total despite finishing in 4th place posting a solid 86-65 record while coming with in 7 and half games of first.1905: The team undergoes another name change this time becoming the Naps, in honor of their best player Napoleon Lajoie, who was called Nap for short. The Naps would not find much success finishing in 5th Place with a 76-78 record.1906: The Naps get their first taste of pennant fever finishing 5 games back in 3rd Place in a 3-team race with a solid 89-64 record.1907: The Naps continue to put together solid seasons finishing in 4th place with an 85-67 while finishing 8 games out of first.1908: The Naps, who posted a record of 90-64, lose what was the closest pennant race in baseball history, being defeated by the Detroit Tigers by only a half a game for the American League pennant. The Naps had played one more game then the Tigers, who failed to make up a rained out game and it, was a loss. Following that season, a new rule was instituted requiring teams to make up any rained out games that might affect the pennant race. The highlight of the failed charge for the pennant comes on October 2nd when Addie Joss tosses a Perfect Game, while throwing just 74 pitches.1909: After barely missing a trip to the World Series the Naps struggle all season finishing with a disappointing record of 71-82.

1910: Cleveland Spiders great Cy Young who returned to Cleveland in 1909 to pitch for the Naps, wins his 500th Career game cementing his record for career wins, which he would end up at 511. However, the Naps would not fare as well finishing in 5th Place with a 71-81 record. However, the story of the season was the strangest race for the batting crown in Baseball history. The race saw Cleveland's hero Nap Lajoie battle Ty Cobb until the final day of the season. What added spice to the race was that the Chalmers Automobile Co. had pledged to give one of its cars to the winner. In early October, thinking he had the car already won, Cobb skipped the Tigers final two contests to protect his average, claiming an eye ailment. However, driving away his new Chalmers would not be as simple as Cobb expected. On October 9th the Naps played a double header in St. Louis against the Browns. Jack O'Connor Manager of the Browns had his infielder play back and told his pitchers to give Lajoie hittable pitches so he could beat Ty Cobb who was universally hated through out the AL. In the 2 games Lajoie gets 8 hits in 9 ABS the only blemish is when he reaches base on an error. When the official averages were announced, The Sporting News cleared the controversy by naming Cobb the winner with a .3850687 average to Lajoie's .3840947. In a great public relations move, Chalmers made both Cobb and Lajoie fans happy by awarding each player a car.

1911: Tragedy strikes the Naps when Addie Joss contracts tubercular meningitis and passes away prior to the start of the season. In a forerunner of today's All-Star Game, stars gathered at League Park for an exhibition against the Naps to benefit the Joss' family on July 24th. The All-Stars cruise to a 5-3 victory, but the goal of the event is accomplished, as $12,932 is raised for the Joss family. The Naps would go on to have a solid season finishing in 3rd place with a respectable 80-73 record.1912: The Naps struggle all season as first year Manager Harry Davis is fired late in the season with a 54-71 record. Under his replacement J.L. Birmingham the Naps would close out the season in strong fission winning 21 of 28 games to finish in 5th place with a 75-78 record.1913: The Naps play solid baseball all season finishing in 3rd place with a respectable record of 86-66.1914: On September 27th Nap Lajoie becomes the first player to reach the exclusive 3,000 hit mark in a Cleveland uniform. However, it would be Lajoie's last season with Naps, after the team finishes in last place with a 51-102 record, and decides to rebuild with youth.

1915: With the departure of Nap Lajoie, the team needed a new name, so it decided to revive a name the old 1890's NL team had once use, Indians in honor of Louis Sockalexis, a Penobscot Indian, who played for the team in 1897. In their first season known as the Indians the club finishes in 7th Place with a 57-97 record.1916: The Indians rebound off 2 terrible seasons by climbing back to the .500 mark at 77-77 while finishing in 6th place.1917: The Indians continue to improve finishing in 3rd place with a solid record of 88-66, climbing to with in 12 games of the AL Pennant.1918: The Indians drive of the pennant is short-circuited by a reduced schedule, as the team finishes in 2nd Place with a solid 73-54 record. However, at 2 and half game out the Indians were left to ponder if they could have caught the Champion Boston Red Sox under a full schedule.1919: The Indians fight their way into the pennant race again, but fall just short with a solid 84-55 record.

1920: The Indians experienced possibly the worst tragedy in baseball history on August 16th. In the 5th inning of the game against the New York Yankees, pitcher Carl Mays hit Indians shortstop Ray Chapman in the head with a pitch. Chapman got up, walked to first, and then collapsed. He was taken to the hospital but never regained consciousness and died the next day. This is the only time in Major League Baseball that a player has died from an incident on the playing field. To replace Chapman the Indians called up Joe Sewell from their New Orleans farm club. Sewell who said he played that season with Chapman's spirit would go to have a Hall of Fame career. The rest of the Indians must have played with Chapman's spirit too, as the Indians beat out the Chicago White Sox, and Yankees to capture their first ever AL Pennant with a 98-56 record. That year the World Series was a best 5 out of 9 affair and the Indians faced the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Tribe won the first games of the series 3-1 as pitcher Stan Coveleski threw a 5-hitter. However, Brooklyn would bounce back by winning the next 2. The series went back to Cleveland with the Indians trailing 2 games to 1, as Coveleski had Brooklyn's number again as he won Game 4 to tie the series up, setting up a crucial Game 5 that was a memorable contest. Elmer Smith hit the 1st World Series grand slam, and Jim Bagby hit the 1st homer by a pitcher in the World Series. However, Bill Wambsganss outdid those performances by making the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. With 2 runners on, "Wamby" caught a line drive, stepped on 2nd base for the 2nd out, and then tagged the runner from 1st base to end the inning. Cleveland went on to win the game 8-1., and would go on to win Games 6 and 7 with Shutouts to win their first ever World Championship.1921: The Indians follow up their Championship, by challenging for the AL Pennant again. However, they would fall 4 and half games short of a return trip to the Fall Classic with a 94-60 record.1922: The Indians struggle with mediocrity all season finishing in 4th place with a 78-76 record. 1923: The Indians finish in 3rd place with a respectable 82-71 record.

1924: The Indians struggle all season as suffering their first losing season in 9 years while finishing in 6th place with a poor record of 67-86.1925: On May 17th Indians player-manager Tris Speaker collects his 3000th career hit at League Park. Speaker would end his career with 3,516 hits, and would be part of the second group selected for the Hall of Fame in 1937. However, the season was not as successful for the Tribe as the team finished in 6th Place with a 70-84 record.1926: The Indians would battle the New York Yankees down to the wire, for the AL Pennant before finishing 3 games back with a solid 88-66 record.1927: After coming with in 3 games of first place the Indians suffer a horrible season and finish more then 43 games out, posting a record of 66-87 while placing 6th.1928: The Indians struggle all year and narrowly avoid finishing in last place with a disappointing 62-92 record.1929: The Indians rebound nicely, and finish with a solid 81-71 record, but finish in a distant 3rd Place.1930: The Indians drop a spot to 4th place while posting a similar 81-73 record. 1931: The Indians hover around .500 all season finishing in 4th place with a record of 78-76.1932: The 1st game at the new Cleveland Municipal Stadium was one of Cleveland's great sporting events with a reported total attendance of 80,184. Initially, Municipal Stadium split time with League Park as home to the Indians, but it took over full time duties in the 1947 season. It would remain the home of the Tribe until 1993. However in its final years bad Indian teams, and small crowds would earn the park the nickname of the "Mistake by the Lake." However, a good Indian team took the field in the stadiums first year, finishing with a solid 87-65 record, while finishing 4th in a competitive AL.

1933: The Indians unveil a new logo created by a local newspaper columnist. The logo is named Chief Wahoo, although the Chief has changed his appearance since, but it is still the name of the smiling Indian on the Tribe's hats and logo. The Tribe would go on to finish in 4th place with a disappointing 75-76 record in their first year with Chief Wahoo at their side.1934: The Indians climb to 3rd place posting a solid record of 85-69 along the way.1935: The Indians finish in 3rd place for the 2nd straight season over coming a slow start as Manager Walter Johnson is replace by Steve O'Neal to post a record of 82-71.1936: Bob Feller makes his Major League debut as the Indians finish in 5th Place with an 80-74 record.1937: The Indians continue to reside in the middle of the pack as they post a record of 83-71 while finishing in 4th place.1938: The Indians put together a solid but unrewarding 86-66 season finishing in 3rd place, but a distant 20 games back of the New York Yankees.1939: Despite posting a solid record of 87-67 the Indians finish more the 20 games out of first while landing in 3rd place.1940: Bob Feller who was all ready established as one of the era's most dominate pitchers kicks off the season in style by no hitting the White Sox in Chicago on Opening Day. It is the first and still remains the only No Hitter tossed on Opening Day. The Indians would battle the Detroit Tigers all season for the pennant but would fall 1 game short with an 89-65 record.1941: Indians pitching combines to end Joe DiMaggio streak on July 17th. However, the Indians would struggle down the stretch posting a disappointing record of 75-79 while finishing in 4th place.1942: With many key players departing for service in World War II, including Bob Feller the Indians struggle and finish in 4th Place with a disappointing 75-79 record.

1943: The Indians post an 82-71 record while finishing in 3rd place. 1944: The Indians struggle all season finishing in 5th place with a disappointing record of 72-82.1945: With the war wrapping up Bob Feller returns, but the Indians can only muster a 5th Place 73-72 record.1946: The Indians struggle all season finishing 36 games out of first place while landing in 6th place with a record of 68-86.1947: In July, only a few months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, and became the first black player in the Majors in 60 years, Larry Doby becomes the first black player to play in the American League. Doby who had previously made a name for himself with the legendary Newark Eagles of the Negro Leagues would go on to have a Hall of Fame Career with the Indians. In Doby's first season the Tribe would finish in 4th Place with an 80-74 record.1948: The Indians battle the Boston Red Sox all season for the AL Pennant and at the end of the 154 game season found themselves in a flat-footed tie at 96 wins and 58 losses. To decide the Pennant a one-game playoff was played at Boston's Fenway Park. The game ended up being no contest as Indians rookie knuckleballer Gene Bearden handcuffs the Sox all day while Lou Boudreau ended hopes of an all Beantown World Series with 2 Home Runs. In the World Series, the Indians found themselves staying in Boston as they faced the Braves. After the losing Game 1, Bob Lemon shutdown the Braves 4-1 in Game 2 to send the series to Cleveland knotted at a game apiece. The Indians would take the next 2 for a 3-1 series lead as AL Playoff hero Gene Bearden hurl a shut out in Game 3, and Game 4 on Larry Doby's HR. However, the Braves would hammer Bob Feller to take Game 5. Heading back to Boston Game 6 rested in the capable hands of Bob Lemon who combined with relief efforts from Bearden to give the Indians a 4-3 win, and landed the Tribe their 2nd World Championship.

1949: The Indians follow up their World Championship by finishing in 3rd Place with a solid but unrewarding 89-65 record.1950: The Indians finish 4th in a 4-team race with a impressive 92-62 record, while finishing a tantalizing 6 games out of first.1951: The Indians fall 5 games short of a return trip to the World Series posting a record of 93-61.1952: The Indians battle to the bitter end of the season falling just 2 games short of the AL Pennant with a record of 93-61.1953: For the 4th year in a row the Indians eclipse the 90 win mark with one of baseball best pitching staffs, but can't catch the New York Yankees for the AL Pennant.1954: The Indians pitching staff puts together one of the strongest performances in baseball history as they win a, then AL, record 111 games to snap the New York Yankees streak of 5 straight pennants. Early Wynn, and Bob Lemon each win an AL high 23 games while Mike Garcia wins the ERA crown at 2.64, and leads an entire 5 rotation who's highest ERA belongs to Art Houtterman at 3.35. In the World Series the heavily favored Indians face the New York Giants. The Series would turn in the First Game when Vic Wertz hit a 440 Ft fly ball towards the deepest part of the Polo Grounds. Willie Mays would run down the ball in perhaps the most famous catch in baseball history, as the game remained tied into extra innings. In the 10th the same fates that cursed the Indians on Wertz 440 bomb smiled on the Giants as Pinch Hitter Dusty Rhodes won the game on a line drive HR to the shortest part of the ballpark. The Tribe would not recover from their stunning Game 1 defeat and would go on to be swept, forever diminishing their great regular season.

1955: Rookie Pitcher Herb Score bursts upon the American League scene, leading the league in strikeouts with 245, establishing a rookie record that would stand nearly 30 years, While winning the Rookie of the Year award. However, the Tribe found themselves 2nd Place again, with a 93-61 record.1956: Herb Score was even better in his second season Winning 20 games. However, the fates would not be kind as late in the season, as Gil McDougal of the New York Yankees lined a pitch that hit Score right in the eye. Score would never be the same and over the remaining 5 years of his career would not manage to even win 20 games total. The Tribe would go on to finish the season in 2nd again with an 88-66 record.1957: With the Score feeling the effects of the injury, and their great pitching staff showing its age, the Indians see their 10-year run of winning seasons come to an end with a 6th Place 76-77 record.1958: The Indians play mediocre baseball all season finishing in 4th place with a 77-76 record.1959: Highlighted by a 4 Home Run game in Baltimore on June 10th, Indians OF Rocky Colavito Wins the AL Home Run crown with 42 HR. However, in a tight race for the AL Pennant the Indians come up short again losing out to the Chicago White Sox, despite a solid record of 89-65.

1960: Just prior to the start of the regular season Indians GM Frank Lane shocks baseball and Tribe fans by dealing away defending HR champion Rocky Colavito for Batting Champion Harvey Kuenn. Colavito would go on to have a few more stellar seasons with Tigers while Kuenn would spend just one season in Cleveland before witnessing his career fade quickly. The controversial trade would mark the beginning of the worst period in Cleveland Indians history, as the Indians finished in 4th Place with a 76-78 record. The Indians would not contend for the next 35 years, and the trade would eventually be known as" the Curse of Rocky Colavito."1961: The Indians remain in the middle of the pack as they finish in 5th place with a record of 79-83.1962: The Indians continue to play mediocre baseball finishing in 6th place with a record of 80-82. 1963: Early Wynn who the Indians dealt after the 1957 season returns to pick up his 300th and final victory on July 13th. The win, would come on Wynn's 9th attempt at the Hall of Fame milestone. The Tribe would not be as successful finishing in 6th Place with a 79-83 record.

1964: The Indians continue to sit just below the .500 mark as they finish in 6th place with a record of 79-83.1965: The Indians post their first winning season since the Rocky Colavito trade, finishing in 5th Place with an 87-75 record.1966: The Indians play mediocre baseball all season finishing in 5th place with an 81-81 record. 1967: The Indians struggle all season falling to 8th place with a record of 75-87.1968: The Indians coming off 2 mediocre seasons, post a solid 86-75 record, but finish in a distant 3rd Place.1969: The Indians don't take to Divisional Play well, losing 99 games while finishing in Last Place, with a worst record the American League's 2 expansion teams.1970: The Indians rebound off their last place season by finishing in 5th place with a record of 76-86.1971: The Indians fall from grace continues as they lose 102 games while finishing in last place for the 2nd time in 3 years.1972: Despite Gaylord Perry winning the Cy Young with a 24-16 record and a 1.92 ERA the Indians finish in 5th place with a 72-84 record.1973: The Indians finish in last place for the 3rd time in 5 years while posting a record of 71-91.1974: Desperate to draw fans to watch the struggling Indians, promoters decide to have a Nickel Beer Night. During the promotion beer would be offered for a nickel apiece. This would lead to one of the largest crowds at Municipal Stadium in years, and would be the recipe for disaster the fans ended up getting drunk on the cheep beer, and began to riot. This would lead to the Indians forfeiting the game against the Texas Rangers as players had to be rushed off the field to escape the flying beer bottles. The whole fiasco would end up in the cancellation of all future such cheap beer promotions throughout baseball. The Indians on the field were not much better as they finished in 4th lace with a 77-85 record.1975: April 8th marks a great stride for not only the Cleveland Indians, and baseball, but for all of America as well when Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in Major League history. At the same time Robinson continues his Hall of Fame playing career, and he enters the ranks in grand style, hitting a homer in his 1st at bat. However, the joy we be short lived, as the Indians suffer another losing season at 79-80.

1976: In Frank Robinson' s 2nd season as Manager the Indians post their first winning season in 7 seasons with an 81-78 record good enough for 4th Place.1977: In the middle of a disappointing 71-90 season Frank Robinson' historic reign as Manager comes to an end as he is fired, and replaced by Jeff Torborg.1978: The Indians continue to struggle as they finish in 6th place with a record of 69-90.1979: The Indians post just their 2nd winning record of the decade finishing in 5th place with a record of 81-80.1980: Joe Charbonneau becomes an instant sensation winning the Rookie of the Year, despite playing on an Indians team that finished in 6th place with a 79-81 record.1981: In Perhaps the brightest moment in the dark days of the Indians Len Barker pitches a Perfect Game in front of a small but ruckus crowd in a light drizzle on May 15th against the Toronto Blue Jays at Municipal Stadium. However, in a strike interrupted split season the Indians fail to be a factor for the Divisional Race finishing around .500 in both halves, with a 52-51 overall record.

1982: The Indians finish in a tie for 6th place with a disappointing record of 78-84.1983: The Indians come crashing down into last place posting a horrible record of 70-92 as Pat Corrales takes over as Manager in the middle of the season.1984: The Indians continue to struggle as they finish in 6th place with a record of 75-87. 1985: The Indians losing ways continue as the Tribe loses 102 games on the way to finishing in the cellar of the AL East, nearly 40 games behind the first place Toronto Blue Jays.1986: Led by young players like RBI Champion Joe Carter, and Corey Snyder the Indians give fans reason to hope. The Indians were in 1st Place as late as May; the latest they achieved the top spot in 25 years. However, the Tribe would eventually fade finishing in 5th place with 84 wins, 11 games out of the top spot. However, there was finally reason for hope that the Tribe were about to turn things around.1987: After the Indians encouraging season there was no reason for fans no to be optimistic about the Tribe's future. Sports Illustrated even went as far to put Joe Carter, and Corey Snyder on the cover of their baseball preview issue. Saying there would be "An Indian Uprising" as the magazine would pick the Indians to reach the World Series. This would end up being one of the most historic examples of the SI Jinx. Not only do the Indians fail to contend, but they also lose 101 games and finish in the AL East cellar.1988: The Indians continue to struggle as they finish in 6th place with a record of 74-88.

1989: Indians fans finally get to see their team victorious again. However, it is not on the field. Instead it is on the Big Screen. In the movie "Major League" a band of rag tag Cleveland Indians put together an amazing run and defeats the New York Yankees in a one game playoff for the Division Title. The producers selected the Indians because over the past 30 years no team has been consistently worse. It also serves as a painful reminder that a whole generation of Indian fans has grown up without ever seeing the Indians play an important game for the pennant, as the team suffers another poor 73-89 season.1990: Sandy Alomar Jr. acquired in a trade with San Diego Padres for Joe Carter makes an instant impact winning the Rookie of the Year as the Indians finish in 4th place with a 77-85 record.1991: The Indians finally hit rock bottom with a franchise worst 57-105 season. However, despite the struggles the seed were being planted for better days in the future as Mike Hargrove took over as Manager, and young players like Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, and Carlos Baergra started to become regular parts of the Tribe's lineup.1992: The Indians begin to show signs of life with a 19-win improvement as they finish in 4th place with a record of 76-86.1993: Prior to the final season in Municipal Stadium, Tragedy strikes the Cleveland Indians again. After a spring game on March 23rd Steve Olin the Indians up and coming closer, Tim Crews a middle, and Bob Ojeda a Left Handed Starting pitcher both of whom were recently acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers went out on an early evening fishing trip. The speedboat they were driving in crashed into a low-lying pier. Olin was killed instantly, and Crews died during surgery a few hours later. Ojeda the lone survivor also suffered serious head injuries, but would recover fully and would even comeback to pitch for the Indians in July. The tragic accident over shadowed a promising season where the Indians young talent began to show signs the Indians were about to rise again before finishing in 6th Place with a 76-86 record.

1994: A new era of Cleveland Indians baseball begins on April 4th when the brand new Stadium Jacobs Field opens up in a revitalized part of downtown. The Indians playing before a sell out crowd of 41,459 fans win the game against the Seattle Mariners in 11 innings 4-3. The move not only revitalizes downtown Cleveland, but the long-suffering Indians as well. The Indians find themselves right in the thick of a race for the top spot in the newly formed AL Central from the start. However, the season would end abruptly on August 12th because of a player's strike with the Indians just 1 game out of first with a 66-47 record, and in Wild Card position.1995: After a strike stopped their first run at a title, the Indians went out and put an emphatic end to 40 years of frustration. The strike which end the previous season limited the season to 144 games, which was not enough to stop the Indians from reaching the century mark in wins, as the team finishes in 1st with an impressive 100-44 record. The Indians are so dominant that they finish 30 games better then the rest of their division the largest margin in baseball history. Albert Belle who hits 50 HR and 50 Doubles and Eddie Murray's 3000th Career hit also highlight the season. In the Indians 1st Playoff series in 41 years the Tribe find themselves matched up against the Boston Red Sox in the first ever ALDS. The Indians get things kicked started in grand fashion as Tony Peña delivers a Game Winning HR to win Game 1 in 13 innings the Tribe would go on to sweep the deflated Sox. Next up for the Indians was the Seattle Mariners, who after 3 games of the ALCS held a 2-1 series lead. However the Tribe would not be denied as they won the next 2 games at Jacobs to head back to Seattle leading 3 games to 2. In Game 6 they faced an opposing challenge as Randy Johnson who dominated them in Game 3 tries to even the series and force a Game 7. The game would turn suddenly when Kenny Lofton scores from 2nd on a passed ball and Randy Johnson gives up a Homer to the batter during the PB, Carlos Baerga this would earn the Tribe their first trip to the World Series in 41 years. The Indians World Series opponents would be the Atlanta Braves, who were looking to end years of postseason frustration themselves. The Braves stellar pitching would handcuff the Tribe in the first 2 games as they jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. The Indians would win Game 3 in Cleveland thanks to timely hitting from Jim Thome, and Eddie Murray. However after being handcuffed again in Game 4 the Indians were backed against the wall down 3 games to 1, and would be facing Greg Maddux who shut down them in Game 1. This time the Indians would gain a measure of revenge and would beat the dominant Cy Young winner to send the series back to Atlanta. In Game 6 pitching was again the story as Indians Orel Hershiser matched the Braves Tom Glavine zero for zero. However, Orel was removed for a pinch hitter, and reliever Jim Poole was victimized by a solo homer from David Justice, and the Indians great season would come to a bitter end 1-0. 1996: The Indians would follow up their first AL Pennant by winning 99 games and cruising to their 2nd consecutive Central Division Title. However, in the Division Series the Indians would get caught napping, and would lose to the Wild Card Baltimore Orioles 3 games to1. 1997: The Indians would struggle most of the season and would wind up with an average record of 86-75. However, it was good enough to win a weak Central Division for the 3rd consecutive year. In the Division series the Tribe faced their historic archrival New York Yankees, who were expected to sweep the Indians. However the Indians managed to steal Game 2 in Yankee Stadium and sent the series to Jacobs Field knotted at a game apiece. After the Indians lost Game 3 they found themselves down 3-2 in the 8th Inning of Game 4. However, Sandy Alomar Jr. would then revive the Tribe by homering off Mariano Rivera to tie the game. The Indians would go on to win the Game in the bottom of the 9th, and the deceive 5th game behind the dominant pitching of Jaret Wright to advances to the ALCS. In the ALCS the Indians faced the same Baltimore Orioles who stymied them in the year before in the ALDS. After being dominated in Game 1 the Tribe were in danger of falling behind 0-2, trailing in the 9th inning of Game 2. However, Marquis Grissom gave the Indians a stunning victory by homering of the Orioles hard throwing closer Armando Benitez. The Indians would go on to win the series by winning 2 extra inning marathons in Games 3 and 6. In the Game 6 victory that won the series 4-2 the Tribe won on Tony Fernadez's 12th Inning Line Drive Homer to break a scoreless tie. The Indians who had struggled for 40 years were on their way to their 2nd World Series in 3 years. In the World Series the Indians would face the NL Wild Card Florida Marlins who were only in their 5th year of existence. The Series went back and forth with Marlins going back to Florida leading 3 games to 2. The Indians would then force a 7th and deciding game thanks to the dominating shutout pitching of Chad Ogea. In Game 7 the Indians took a quick 2-0 lead and Jaret Wright kept the Marlins off the board for 6 innings. After a Bobby Bonillia HR shaved the game 2-1 the Indians went to the 9th leading 2-1. However it was not meant to be as the Marlins would scrap to tie the game and send the game into extra innings. The Indians would wind up heartbroken again in the 11th when ALCS hero Tony Fernandez booted ball and helped the Marlins win their first ever World Championship.

1998: The Indians continue their Central Division dominance by cruising to their 4th straight division title with an 89-73 record. In the Division Series the Indians defeat the Boston Red Sox in 4 games to advance to the ALCS against the New York Yankees. That year the Yankees dominated the entire AL and broke the Indians 1954 AL record for wins in a season with 114. The Indians would steal Game 2 at Yankee Stadium in extra Innings to send the series to Cleveland knotted at a game apiece. In Game 3 the Indians hammered Yankees pitcher Andy Pettite, and looked primed for the upset. However, once again it was not meant to be as Orlando Hernandez, and David Wells dominated the Tribe to send the series back to New York with Yanks leading 3-2 in the series. The Yankees would go on to close out the Indians in 6 games. However, Indians fans could pride themselves with the knowledge that the 2 games the Indians won against the Yanks would be the only 2 the Yankees would lose that entire postseason. 1999: The Indians win the AL Central again with a 97-65 record, and appear to be heading for a rematch for the New York Yankees in the ALCS after taking the first 2 games of the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox. However, the Tribe's pitching would fall apart and the Indians would lose the final 3 games. The Indians would go on to fire Manager Mike Hargrove who was triggered as the scapegoat for the Indians postseason collapse.2000: The Indians get off to a slow start and fall out of 1st Place early in the season. Despite a strong finish the early struggles prove too much to overcome and the Indians 5-year reign as Division Champs come to an end despite a solid 90-72 record. Despite failing to make the playoffs the Indians Infield defense continues to sparkle as 2B Roberto Alomar, SS Omar Vizquel, and 3B Travis Fryman each win Gold Gloves, and set an AL records for fewest errors, and best fielding percentage.2001: Despite losing Manny Ramirez to free agency the Indians, reclaim the top spot in the AL Central with a 91-71 record, as Manny's replacement Juan Gonzalez drives in 140 RBI. During the season the Indians would see an end to their incredible run of 455 sellouts at Jacobs Field, which began in 1995. It was quite an amazing turn around when you consider that at one time the Indians would play in front of 50,000 empty seats at the cavernous Municipal Stadium. In the ALDS the Indians would face the Seattle Mariners who tied a Major League Record with 116 wins during the regular season. However, through out the season the Tribe proved to be a pesky challenger for the Mariners, including comeback from a 14-2 deficit during a Nationally Televised Sunday Night Game on August 5th. In the ALDS the Indians would prove pesky again splitting the first games in Seattle. The Indians would then push the M's to the brink with a 17-2 rout in Game 3. However, the Mariners would bounce back to take the next 2 games to advance to the ALCS. 2002: Despite selling out almost every game over an 8-year period, Owner Jim Dolan claims the Indians are losing money, and begins to sell off players. The sell off began before the season as Roberto Alomar is traded to the New York Mets, while Juan Gonzalez and Kenny Lofton are allowed to sign deals as Free Agent. After playing mediocre baseball the first 3 months the sell off would continue as Bartolo Colon is traded to the Montreal Expos. The Indians struggles would continue as the Indians changed managers, on the way to finishing in 3rd place with a 74-88 record that end a string of 8 consecutive winning seasons. Following the season the purge would continue as Jim Thome who hit 53 HR is allowed to sign a Free Agent Deal with Philadelphia Phillies.

2003: With the departure of Jim Thome the Indians had one of the youngest teams in the Majors, as they took their lumps early winning just 13 of their first 40 games, on their way to a terrible 68-94 record which landed them in 4th place reminding fans of the days when the Indians went 40 years without being in a true pennant race. However, there was plenty of reason to hope as OF Jody Gerut had a solid rookie season with 22 homers and 75 RB, as the young Tribe stars played more competitively as the season wore on playing .500 ball between May and August before fatigue set in and the Indians in September with a 7-18 record.2004: The young Indians would get off to a slow start as they sat with a record of 18-26 on May 26th. However, as the season wore on the Indians began to improve as several players had breakout seasons including Catcher Victor Martinez who blasted 23 homers and drove in 108 RBI, and Travis Hafner who hit 28 homers with a team leading 109 RBI. While on the mound Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook each won 14 games. The Indians would steadily climb their way over .500 and even made a run at the Central Division Title, before a 9-game losing streak in August ended their playoff hopes. The Indians would end up finishing the season in 3rd place with a record of 80-82.2005: After their strong finish the Indians were a trendy pick to win the AL Central at the start of the season, but another slow start would but them in an early hole as they sat at 9-14 at the end of April. After spending all of May just to reach .500 the Indians found themselves 15 and half games behind the Chicago White Sox in June. The Indians would begin to make their move in June as they won 12 of 13 during a stretch of Interleague games, as they headed into the All-Star Break with a 47-41 record. Coming out of the break the Indians were hit with a cold dose of reality as they were swept in a 4-game series by the White Sox who would win 15 of 19 games during the season against the Tribe. Still 15 games behind the Sox and hovering around .500 as August started the Indians would suddenly become the hottest team in baseball, and make a run at the playoffs as they ran off a stretch of 44 wins over their next 60 which included an 18-2 stretch in September that saw them cut the White Sox lead to a game and half heading into the final week as they were 1 of 4 teams battling for 3 playoff spots. However, the young Indians would fall under the sudden spotlight as they lost 3 straight games to the lowly Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays to cost themselves the division title. Still with a chance at the wild card the Indians with 1 win could have forced a playoff with themselves the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees for the last 2 spots. However, their struggles against the White Sox continued as they are swept in 3 straight at home, ending the season with 93-69 record.2006: After the Indians strong finish there we high hopes on the banks of the Ohio when the new season began, and the Indians lived up to that as they won six of their first seven games. However, it would be the only time all season the Indians lived up the hope as they soon found themselves in a season long rut of mediocre baseball. While players like Grady Sizemore who became just the second player ever to hit 20 homers, with 50 doubles, 10 triples, and 20 stolen bases, and Travis Hafner who tied a Major League record with six grand slams in one season had super seasons, the rest of the Indians fell well short of expectations. One area where the Indians suffered was in the bullpen that blew 18 save opportunities led by Fausto Carmona who blew three 9th inning saves in one week following the trade of Bob Wickman to the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline. The Indians would go on to finish the season in 4th Place with a disappointing record of 78-84.2007: Hoping to rebound off a disappointing season the Indians concentrated on building a veteran bullpen Aaron Fultz and Joe Borowski to replace Bob Wickman, as Fausto Carmona who struggled in the bullpen was made a starter. The later move would be an unexpected boom as Carmona excelled as starter with a 19-8 record and a solid ERA of 3.06. The only Indian pitcher who had a better year was C.C. Sabathia who finally achieved to potential the Indians had expected for years as he posted a 19-6 record with a 3.21 ERA and 209 strike outs, as he would go on to win the AL Cy Young. However, when the season started it looked like neither would happen as the Indians spent much of the first week of the season waiting out the weather as unusual April snow storms wiped out the first home series against the Seattle Mariners and forced the Indians to play three home games in Milwaukee's domed stadium. Despite the weather the Indians had a strong April ending the month at 14-8, with the only blip coming at the hands of a three game sweep by the New York Yankees on the road, as Joe Borowski and the Indians bullpen imploded in the finale allowing a 6-run 9th Inning rally capped by a walk off home run by Alex Rodriguez. The Indians continued to play well in May as they battled the Detroit Tigers for first place in the Central Division. Coming out of the All-Star Break the Indians stumbled a bit as they posted a losing record in July. The struggles continued into August, despite the return of Kenny Lofton who was acquired in a deadline deal from the Texas Rangers, as the Indians were swept by the Yankees again this time at home. After dropping the next game against the Tigers at home 6-2, the suddenly reeling Tribe turned to the young Carmona to get themselves back on track, and the 23-year old fireballer did not let them down striking out a career high ten batters and the Indians won 5-2 to tie the Tigers for first place in the Central. That win would be the boost the Indians needed to get back on track as they closed August on a roll winning 12 of their last 15 games. In September the Tribe continued to cruise winning 8 of their first 11 games in the season's final month, as they prepared to face the Tigers one more time with a chance to close in on their first division title since 2001. The Indians would grab the Tigers by the tail and not let go sweeping the defending AL Champs, as they went on to win the division with a record 95-66. In the playoffs the Indians would face another hurdle as they were matched up against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, during the regular season the Indians lost all six meetings with the Yankees. However the Indians would come out swinging as they roughed up Yankees ace Chien-Meing Wang, led by Kenny Lofton who had four RBI in a 12-3 win in Game 1. The next game would be a pitcher's duel as Fausto Carmona kept Yankees bats off balance allowing just a 3rd Inning homer by Melky Cabrera. However, the Indians failed several times to capitalize leaving men on base almost every inning, as they trailed 1-0 entering the 8th Inning facing the Yankees new bullpen phenom Joba Chamberlain, when a funny thing happened at Jacobs Field as a swarm of insects known as Mayflies invaded on the unusually warm Cleveland night, while Carmona was unfazed by the infestation the Yankees were unnerved, as Chamberlain, hurled two wild pitches for the Indians to tie the game. Form there the Indians bullpen continued to handcuff the Yankees, as the Tribe won the game 2-1 on Travis Hafner's RBI single in the 11th Inning. After dropping Game 3 in the Bronx 8-4, the Indians again jumped on Wang again as Grady Sizemore led the game off with a homer as the Indians held a 6-1 lead in the fourth inning, as they advanced to the ALCS with a solid 6-4 win. Game 1 of the ALCS featured a match up of Cy Young hopefuls as C.C. Sabathia faced Josh Beckett, however, it was not Sabathia's night as the Red Sox won the opener 10-3. Game 2 would be a battle of the bullpens as the game was tied 6-6 after nine innings; finally it was the Indians who exploded in the 11th Inning as they scored seven times led by former Red Sox Trot Nixon, whose RBI single ignited the Tribe's offense. As the series shifted to Cleveland the Indians remained in control as Jake Westbrook kept the Sox off balance in a solid 4-2 win. The Indians would use a big inning again in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead with a 7-3, as they scored seven times in the 5th Inning, highlighted by a three run homer from Jhonny Peralta, as Casey Blake started the rally with a homer, and ended the rally with a RBI single. However, with a chance to close out the series in Cleveland, Sabathia struggled again as Josh Beckett kept the Indians off balance in a 7-1 win for the Red Sox. It would be the last gasp the Indians would take as they blown out in the final two games as the Sox advanced to the World Series by out scoring the Tribe 30-5 over the final three games to overcome a 3-1 deficit.