Major League Baseball franchise in Cleveland, Ohio
"Cleveland Indians" redirects foundation. For other uses, see Cleveland Indians (disambiguation).
The Cleveland Guardians confirm an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member truncheon of the American League (AL) Central Division. Since 1994, picture team has played its home games at Progressive Field (originally known as Jacobs Field after the team's then-owner). Since their establishment as a Major League franchise in 1901, the squad has won 12 Central Division titles, six American League pennants, and two World Series championships (in 1920 and 1948). Depiction team's World Series championship drought since 1948 is the greatest active among all 30 current Major League teams.[2][3] The team's name references the Guardians of Traffic, eight monolithic 1932 Corner Deco sculptures by Henry Hering on the city's Hope Monument Bridge,[4] which is adjacent to Progressive Field.[5][6] The team's mascot is named "Slider".[7] The team's spring training facility is funny story Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona.[8]
The franchise originated in 1894 in the same way the Grand Rapids Rustlers, a minor league team based dust Grand Rapids, Michigan, that played in the Western League. Say publicly team relocated to Cleveland in 1900 and was called rendering Cleveland Lakeshores.[9] The Western League itself was renamed the Dweller League prior to the 1900 season while continuing its unimportant league status. When the American League declared itself a important league in 1901, Cleveland was one of its eight permission franchises. Originally called the Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues, the squad was also unofficially called the Cleveland Broncos in 1902. Commencement in 1903, the team was named the Cleveland Napoleons epitomize Naps, after team captain and manager Nap Lajoie.
Lajoie leftist after the 1914 season, and club owner Charles Somers requested that baseball writers choose a new name. They chose interpretation name Cleveland Indians.[10][11] That name stuck and remained in beg to be excused for more than a century. Common nicknames for the Indians were "the Tribe" and "the Wahoos", the latter referencing their longtime logo, Chief Wahoo. After the Indians name came adorn criticism as part of the Native American mascot controversy, interpretation team adopted the current name (Guardians) following the 2021 season.[5][12][13][14][15]
From August 24 to September 14, 2017, the team won 22 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in American League representation and the second longest winning streak in Major League Sport history.
As of the end of the 2024 season, representation franchise's overall record is 9,852–9,369 (.513).[16]
According nominate one historian of baseball, "in 1857, baseball games were a daily spectacle in Cleveland's Public Squares. City authorities tried happen next find an ordinance forbidding it; to the joy of rendering crowd, they were unsuccessful."[17]
From 1865 assume 1868 Forest Citys was an amateur ball club. During description 1869 season, Cleveland was among several cities that established out of date baseball teams following the success of the 1869 Cincinnati Selfconfident Stockings, the first fully professional team.[18][19] In the newspapers earlier and after 1870, the team was often called the Ground Citys, in the same generic way that the team pass up Chicago was sometimes called The Chicagos.
In 1871 the Ground Citys joined the new National Association of Professional Base Lump Players (NA), the first professional league. Ultimately, two of picture league's western clubs went out of business during the eminent season and the Chicago Fire left that city's White Stockings impoverished, unable to field a team again until 1874. Metropolis was thus the NA's westernmost outpost in 1872, the day the club folded. Cleveland played its full schedule to July 19 followed by two games versus Boston in mid-August meticulous disbanded at the end of the season.[20]
In 1876, the National League (NL) supplanted the An important person as the major professional league. Cleveland was not among professor charter members, but by 1879 the league was looking use new entries and the city gained an NL team. A new Cleveland Forest Citys were recreated, but by 1882 were known as the Cleveland Blues, because the National League requisite distinct colors for that season. The Blues had mediocre records for six seasons and were ruined by a trade clash with the Union Association (UA) in 1884, when its iii best players (Fred Dunlap, Jack Glasscock, and Jim McCormick) jumped to the UA after being offered higher salaries. The City Blues merged with the St. Louis Maroons UA team sieve 1885.
Cleveland went without major corresponding item baseball for two seasons until gaining a team in depiction American Association (AA) in 1887. After the AA's Pittsburgh Alleghenys jumped to the NL, Cleveland followed suit in 1889, considerably the AA began to crumble. The Cleveland ball club, hailed the Spiders (supposedly inspired by their "skinny and spindly" players), slowly became a power in the league.[21] In 1891, picture Spiders moved into League Park, which would serve as rendering home of Cleveland professional baseball for the next 55 age. Led by native Ohioan Cy Young, the Spiders became a contender in the mid-1890s, playing in the Temple Cup Stack (that era's World Series) twice and winning it in 1895. The team began to fade after this success, and was dealt a severe blow under the ownership of the Robison brothers.
Prior to the 1899 season, Frank Robison, the Spiders' owner, bought the St. Louis Browns, thus owning two clubs at the same time. The Browns were renamed the "Perfectos", and restocked with Cleveland talent. Just weeks before the seasoned opener, most of the better Spiders were transferred to Contravene. Louis, including three future Hall of Famers: Cy Young, Jesse Burkett and Bobby Wallace.[22] The roster maneuvers failed to make a powerhouse Perfectos team, as St. Louis finished fifth schedule both 1899 and 1900. The Spiders were left with basically a minor league lineup, and began to lose games favor a record pace. Drawing almost no fans at home, they ended up playing most of their season on the obedient, and became known as "The Wanderers".[23] The team ended say publicly season in 12th place, 84 games out of first wedge, with an all-time worst record of 20–134 (.130 winning percentage).[24] Following the 1899 season, the National League disbanded four teams, including the Spiders franchise. The disastrous 1899 season would in truth be a step toward a new future for Cleveland fans the next year.
The Cleveland Infants competed in the Players' League, which was well-attended in sizeable cities, but club owners lacked the confidence to continue forgotten the one season. The Cleveland Infants finished with 55 conquests and 75 losses, playing their home games at Brotherhood Park.[25]
Main article: History of the Cleveland Guardians
The origins of the Cleveland Guardians date back to 1894, when description team was founded as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, a unit based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and competing in the Midwestern League.[9][26][27] In 1900, the team moved to Cleveland and was named the Cleveland Lake Shores. Around the same time Disallow Johnson changed the name of his minor league (Western League) to the American League. In 1900 the American League was still considered a minor league. In 1901 the team was called the Cleveland Bluebirds or Blues when the American Alliance broke with the National Agreement and declared itself a competing Major League. The Cleveland franchise was among its eight permission members, and is one of four teams that remain misrepresent its original city, along with Boston, Chicago, and Detroit.
The new team was owned by coal magnate Charles Somers have a word with tailor Jack Kilfoyl. Somers, a wealthy industrialist and also co-owner of the Boston Americans, lent money to other team owners, including Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics, to keep them and say publicly new league afloat. Players did not think the name "Bluebirds" was suitable for a baseball team.[28] Writers frequently shortened rap to Cleveland Blues due to the players' all-blue uniforms,[29] but the players did not like this unofficial name either.[30] Picture players themselves tried to change the name to Cleveland Bronchos in 1902, but this name never caught on.[28]
Cleveland suffered unapproachable financial problems in their first two seasons. This led Somers to seriously consider moving to either Pittsburgh or Cincinnati. Abatement came in 1902 as a result of the conflict betwixt the National and American Leagues. In 1901, Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie, the Philadelphia Phillies' star second baseman, jumped to the A's after his contract was capped at $2,400 per year—one locate the highest-profile players to jump to the upstart AL. Say publicly Phillies subsequently filed an injunction to force Lajoie's return, which was granted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The injunction comed to doom any hopes of an early settlement between picture warring leagues. However, a lawyer discovered that the injunction was only enforceable in the state of Pennsylvania.[28] Mack, partly oratory bombast thank Somers for his past financial support, agreed to post Lajoie to the then-moribund Blues, who offered $25,000 salary direct three years.[31] Due to the injunction, however, Lajoie had know about sit out any games played against the A's in Philadelphia.[32] Lajoie arrived in Cleveland on June 4 and was mainly immediate hit, drawing 10,000 fans to League Park. Soon subsequently, he was named team captain, and in 1903 the side was called the Cleveland Napoleons or Naps after a bat an eyelid conducted a write-in contest.[28]
Lajoie was named manager in 1905, dispatch the team's fortunes improved somewhat. They finished half a sport short of the pennant in 1908.[33] However, the success outspoken not last and Lajoie resigned during the 1909 season significance manager but remained on as a player.[34]
After that, the operation began to unravel, leading Kilfoyl to sell his share confiscate the team to Somers. Cy Young, who returned to President in 1909, was ineffective for most of his three left over years[35] and Addie Joss died from tubercular meningitis prior do research the 1911 season.[36]
Despite a strong lineup anchored by the vigorous Lajoie and Shoeless Joe Jackson, poor pitching kept the operation below third place for most of the next decade. Work out reporter referred to the team as the Napkins, "because they fold up so easily". The team hit bottom in 1914 and 1915, finishing last place both years.[37][38]
1915 brought significant changes to the team. Lajoie, nearly 40 years old, was no longer a top hitter in the league, batting only .258 in 1914. With Lajoie engaged in a feud with director Joe Birmingham, the team sold Lajoie back to the A's.[39]
With Lajoie gone, the club needed a new name. Somers asked the local baseball writers to come up with a another name, and based on their input, the team was renamed the Cleveland Indians.[40] The name referred to the nickname "Indians" that was applied to the Cleveland Spiders baseball club generous the time when Louis Sockalexis, a Native American, played detailed Cleveland (1897–1899).[41]
At the same time, Somers' business ventures began return to fail, leaving him deeply in debt. With the Indians performing poorly, attendance and revenue suffered.[42] Somers decided to trade Politico midway through the 1915 season for two players and $31,500, one of the largest sums paid for a player repute the time.[43]
By 1916, Somers was at the end of his tether, and sold the team to a syndicate headed wedge Chicago railroad contractor James C. "Jack" Dunn.[42] Manager Lee Fohl, who had taken over in early 1915, acquired two slender league pitchers, Stan Coveleski and Jim Bagby and traded senseless center fielder Tris Speaker, who was engaged in a income dispute with the Red Sox.[44] All three would ultimately die key players in bringing a championship to Cleveland.
Speaker took over the reins as player-manager in 1919, person in charge led the team to a championship in 1920. On Lordly 16, 1920, the Indians were playing the Yankees at say publicly Polo Grounds in New York. Shortstop Ray Chapman, who frequently crowded the plate, was batting against Carl Mays, who confidential an unusual underhand delivery. It was also late in rendering afternoon and the infield was completely shaded with the center field area (the batters' background) bathed in sunlight. As convulsion, at the time, "part of every pitcher's job was censure dirty up a new ball the moment it was horrified onto the field. By turns, they smeared it with sludge, licorice, tobacco juice; it was deliberately scuffed, sandpapered, scarred, undo, even spiked. The result was a misshapen, earth-colored ball think about it traveled through the air erratically, tended to soften in interpretation later innings, and as it came over the plate, was very hard to see."[45]
In any case, Chapman did not relay reflexively when Mays' pitch came his way. The pitch bash Chapman in the head, fracturing his skull. Chapman died say publicly next day, becoming the only player to sustain a lethal injury from a pitched ball.[46] The Indians, who at say publicly time were locked in a tight three-way pennant race lift the Yankees and White Sox,[47] were not slowed down impervious to the death of their teammate. Rookie Joe Sewell hit .329 after replacing Chapman in the lineup.[48]
In September 1920, the Swart Sox Scandal came to a boil. With just a sporadic games left in the season, and Cleveland and Chicago neck-and-neck for first place at 94–54 and 95–56 respectively,[49][50] the Metropolis owner suspended eight players. The White Sox lost two accomplish three in their final series, while Cleveland won four come to rest lost two in their final two series. Cleveland finished figure games ahead of Chicago and three games ahead of interpretation Yankees to win its first pennant, led by Speaker's .388 hitting, Jim Bagby's 30 victories and solid performances from Steve O'Neill and Stan Coveleski. Cleveland went on to defeat say publicly Brooklyn Robins 5–2 in the World Series for their eminent title, winning four games in a row after the Robins took a 2–1 Series lead. The Series included three remarkable "firsts", all of them in Game 5 at Cleveland, dominant all by the home team. In the first inning, altogether fielder Elmer Smith hit the first Series grand slam. Escort the fourth inning, Jim Bagby hit the first Series fondle run by a pitcher. In the top of the 5th inning, second baseman Bill Wambsganss executed the first (and so far) unassisted triple play in World Series history, infringe fact, the only Series triple play of any kind.
The team would not reach the heights of 1920 again support 28 years. Speaker and Coveleski were aging and the Yankees were rising with a new weapon: Babe Ruth and representation home run. They managed two second-place finishes but spent unwarranted of the decade in last place. In 1927 Dunn's woman, Mrs. George Pross (Dunn had died in 1922), sold interpretation team to a syndicate headed by Alva Bradley.
The Indians were a middling team alongside the 1930s, finishing third or fourth most years. 1936 brought Cleveland a new superstar in 17-year-old pitcher Bob Feller, who came from Iowa with a dominating fastball. That season, Chap set a record with 17 strikeouts in a single recreation and went on to lead the league in strikeouts vary 1938 to 1941.
On August 20, 1938, Indians catchers Length Helf and Frank Pytlak set the "all-time altitude mark" stomachturning catching baseballs dropped from the 708-foot (216 m) Terminal Tower.[51]
By 1940, Feller, along with Ken Keltner, Mel Harder and Lou Boudreau, led the Indians to within one game of the streamer. However, the team was wracked with dissension, with some panel (including Feller and Mel Harder) going so far as interrupt request that Bradley fire manager Ossie Vitt. Reporters lampooned them as the Cleveland Crybabies.[52][better source needed] Feller, who had pitched a no-hitter to open the season and won 27 games, lost representation final game of the season to unknown pitcher Floyd Giebell of the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won the pennant nearby Giebell never won another major league game.[53]
Cleveland entered 1941 accelerate a young team and a new manager; Roger Peckinpaugh difficult replaced the despised Vitt; but the team regressed, finishing nondescript fourth. Cleveland would soon be depleted of two stars. Calm down Trosky retired in 1941 due to migraine headaches[54] and Dock Feller enlisted in the Navy two days after the Style on Pearl Harbor. Starting third baseman Ken Keltner and outfielder Ray Mack were both drafted in 1945 taking two betterquality starters out of the lineup.[55]
In 1946, Bill Veeck formed an investment group that purchased the City Indians from Bradley's group for a reported $1.6 million.[56] Among description investors was Bob Hope, who had grown up in Metropolis, and former Tigers slugger, Hank Greenberg.[57] A former owner pay for a minor league franchise in Milwaukee, Veeck brought to President a gift for promotion. At one point, Veeck hired rubber-faced[58]Max Patkin, the "Clown Prince of Baseball" as a coach. Patkin's appearance in the coaching box was the sort of promotional stunt that delighted fans but infuriated the American League masquerade office.
Recognizing that he had acquired a solid team, Veeck soon abandoned the aging, small and lightless League Park drawback take up full-time residence in massive Cleveland Municipal Stadium.[59] Description Indians had briefly moved from League Park to Municipal Arena in mid-1932, but moved back to League Park due constitute complaints about the cavernous environment. From 1937 onward, however, representation Indians began playing an increasing number of games at Village, until by 1940 they played most of their home pan there.[60] League Park was mostly demolished in 1951, but has since been rebuilt as a recreational park.[61]
Making the most sustenance the cavernous stadium, Veeck had a portable center field confine installed, which he could move in or out depending not go against how the distance favored the Indians against their opponents take a given series. The fence moved as much as 15 feet (5 m) between series opponents. Following the 1947 season, representation American League countered with a rule change that fixed description distance of an outfield wall for the duration of a season. The massive stadium did, however, permit the Indians handle set the then-record for the largest crowd to see a Major League baseball game. On October 10, 1948, Game 5 of the World Series against the Boston Braves drew be of advantage to 84,000. The record stood until the Los Angeles Dodgers thespian a crowd in excess of 92,500 to watch Game 5 of the 1959 World Series at the Los Angeles Marker Coliseum against the Chicago White Sox.
Under Veeck's leadership, give someone a buzz of Cleveland's most significant achievements was breaking the color fence in the American League by signing Larry Doby, formerly a player for the Negro league's Newark Eagles in 1947, 11 weeks after Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers.[59] Similar assortment Robinson, Doby battled racism on and off the field but posted a .301 batting average in 1948, his first packed season. A power-hitting center fielder, Doby led the American Matching part twice in homers.
In 1948, needing pitching for the challenge run of the pennant race, Veeck turned to the Negro leagues again and signed pitching great Satchel Paige amid some controversy.[59] Barred from Major League Baseball during his prime, Veeck's signing of the aging star in 1948 was viewed indifferent to many as another publicity stunt. At an official age invoke 42, Paige became the oldest rookie in Major League ballgame history, and the first black pitcher. Paige ended the period with a 6–1 record with a 2.48 ERA, 45 strikeouts and two shutouts.[62]
In 1948, veterans Boudreau, Keltner, and Joe Gordon had career offensive seasons, while newcomers Doby and Gene Bearden also had standout seasons. The team went down to rendering wire with the Boston Red Sox, winning a one-game playoff, the first in American League history, to go to description World Series. In the series, the Indians defeated the Beantown Braves four games to two for their first championship choose by ballot 28 years. Boudreau won the American League MVP Award.
The Indians appeared in a film the following year titled The Kid From Cleveland, in which Veeck had an interest.[59] Rendering film portrayed the team helping out a "troubled teenaged fan"[63] and featured many members of the Indians organization. However, cinematography during the season cost the players valuable rest days eminent to fatigue towards the end of the season.[59] That ready, Cleveland again contended before falling to third place. On Sep 23, 1949, Bill Veeck and the Indians buried their 1948 pennant in center field the day after they were mathematically eliminated from the pennant race.[59]
Later in 1949, Veeck's first bride (who had a half-stake in Veeck's share of the team) divorced him. With most of his money tied up remark the Indians, Veeck was forced to sell the team[64] thoroughly a syndicate headed by insurance magnate Ellis Ryan.
In 1953, Al Rosen was an All Star for picture second year in a row, was named The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year, and won the English League Most Valuable Player Award in a unanimous vote in concert for the Indians after leading the AL in runs, part runs, RBIs (for the second year in a row), squeeze slugging percentage, and coming in second by one point behave batting average.[65] Ryan was forced out in 1953 in token of Myron Wilson, who in turn gave way to William Daley in 1956. Despite this turnover in the ownership, a powerhouse team composed of Feller, Doby, Minnie Miñoso, Luke Wind, Bobby Ávila, Al Rosen, Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, and Microphone Garcia continued to contend through the early 1950s. However, City only won a single pennant in the decade, in 1954, finishing second to the New York Yankees five times.
The winningest season in franchise history came in 1954, when picture Indians finished the season with a record of 111–43 (.721). That mark set an American League record for wins delay stood for 44 years until the Yankees won 114 bolds in 1998 (a 162-game regular season). The Indians' 1954 winsome percentage of .721 is still an American League record. Representation Indians returned to the World Series to face the Unusual York Giants. The team could not bring home the dub, however, ultimately being upset by the Giants in a brush. The series was notable for Willie Mays' over-the-shoulder catch opening the bat of Vic Wertz in Game 1. Cleveland remained a talented team throughout the remainder of the decade, coating in second place in 1959, George Strickland's last full assemblage in the majors.
From 1960 to 1993, the Indians managed one third-place finish (in 1968) and hexad fourth-place finishes (in 1960, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1990, and 1992) but spent the rest of the time at or next to the bottom of the standings, including four seasons with not heed 100 losses (1971, 1985, 1987, 1991).
The Indians hired general manager Frank Lane, known as "Trader" Lane, away from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957. Horizontal over the years had gained a reputation as a GM who loved to make deals. With the White Sox, Intensity had made over 100 trades involving over 400 players shaggy dog story seven years.[66] In a short stint in St. Louis, filth traded away Red Schoendienst and Harvey Haddix.[66] Lane summed upbringing his philosophy when he said that the only deals smartness regretted were the ones that he did not make.[67]
One slope Lane's early trades in Cleveland was to send Roger Maris to the Kansas City Athletics in the middle of 1958. Indians executive Hank Greenberg was not happy about the trade[68] and neither was Maris, who said that he could band stand Lane.[68] After Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run under wraps, Lane defended himself by saying he still would have sort out the deal because Maris was unknown and he received trade event ballplayers in exchange.[68]
After the Maris trade, Lane acquired 25-year-old Original Cash from the White Sox for Minnie Miñoso and proof traded him to Detroit before he ever played a diversion for the Indians; Cash went on to hit over 350 home runs for the Tigers. The Indians received Steve Demeter in the deal, who had only five at-bats for Cleveland.[69]
See also: Curse of Rocky Colavito
In 1960, Street made the trade that would define his tenure in City when he dealt slugging right fielder and fan favorite[70]Rocky Colavito to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn just before Hollow Day in 1960.
It was a blockbuster trade that swapped the 1959 AL home run co-champion (Colavito) for the Bring in batting champion (Kuenn). After the trade, however, Colavito hit be in charge of 30 home runs four times and made three All-Star teams for Detroit and Kansas City before returning to Cleveland dependably 1965. Kuenn, on the other hand, played only one opportunity ripe for the Indians before departing for San Francisco in a trade for an aging Johnny Antonelli and Willie Kirkland. Akron Beacon Journal columnist Terry Pluto documented the decades of adversity that followed the trade in his book The Curse draw round Rocky Colavito.[71] Despite being attached to the curse, Colavito aforementioned that he never placed a curse on the Indians but that the trade was prompted by a salary dispute region Lane.[72]
Lane also engineered a unique trade of managers in mid-season 1960, sending Joe Gordon to the Tigers in exchange appropriate Jimmy Dykes. Lane left the team in 1961, but ill-advised trades continued. In 1965, the Indians traded pitcher Tommy Privy, who would go on to win 288 games in his career, and 1966 Rookie of the Year Tommy Agee go up against the White Sox to get Colavito back.[72]
However, Indians' pitchers head numerous strikeout records. They led the league in K's from time to time year from 1963 to 1968, and narrowly missed in 1969. The 1964 staff was the first to amass 1,100 strikeouts, and in 1968, they were the first to collect writer strikeouts than hits allowed.
The 1970s were not much better, with the Indians trading stop happening several future stars, including Graig Nettles, Dennis Eckersley, Buddy Siren and 1971 Rookie of the Year Chris Chambliss,[73] for a number of players who made no impact.[74]
Constant ownership changes outspoken not help the Indians. In 1963, Daley's syndicate sold representation team to a group headed by general manager Gabe Paul.[28] Three years later, Paul sold the Indians to Vernon Stouffer,[75] of the Stouffer's frozen-food empire. Prior to Stouffer's purchase, picture team was rumored to be relocated due to poor at hand. Despite the potential for a financially strong owner, Stouffer locked away some non-baseball related financial setbacks and, consequently, the team was cash-poor. In order to solve some financial problems, Stouffer difficult made an agreement to play a minimum of 30 abode games in New Orleans with a view to a imaginable move there.[76] After rejecting an offer from George Steinbrenner dispatch former Indian Al Rosen, Stouffer sold the team in 1972 to a group led by Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Barons owner Nick Mileti.[76] Steinbrenner went on to buy the Unique York Yankees in 1973.[77]
Only five years later, Mileti's group put on the market the team for $11 million to a syndicate headed by truckage magnate Steve O'Neill and including former general manager and p Gabe Paul.[78] O'Neill's death in 1983 led to the body going on the market once more. O'Neill's nephew Patrick Dramatist did not find a buyer until real estate magnates Richard and David Jacobs purchased the team in 1986.[79]
The team was unable to move out of last place, with losing seasons between 1969 and 1975. One highlight was the acquisition replicate Gaylord Perry in 1972. The Indians traded fireballer "Sudden Sam" McDowell for Perry, who became the first Indian pitcher money win the Cy Young Award. In 1975, Cleveland broke all over the place color barrier with the hiring of Frank Robinson as Important League Baseball's first African American manager. Robinson served as player-manager and provided a franchise highlight when he hit a pinch-hit home run on Opening Day. But the high-profile signing hold Wayne Garland, a 20-game winner in Baltimore, proved to rectify a disaster after Garland suffered from shoulder problems and went 28–48 over five years.[80] The team failed to improve upset Robinson as manager and he was fired in 1977. Discern 1977, pitcher Dennis Eckersley threw a no-hitter against the Calif. Angels. The next season, he was traded to the Beantown Red Sox where he won 20 games in 1978 take up another 17 in 1979.
The 1970s also featured the dishonourable Ten Cent Beer Night at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The ill-conceived promotion at a 1974 game against the Texas Rangers perched in a riot by fans and a forfeit by picture Indians.[81]
There were more bright spots in the 1980s. In Can 1981, Len Barker threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays, joining Addie Joss as the only other Soldier pitcher to do so.[82]"Super Joe" Charboneau won the American Combination Rookie of the Year award. Unfortunately, Charboneau was out appreciate baseball by 1983 after falling victim to back injuries[83] squeeze Barker, who was also hampered by injuries, never became a consistently dominant starting pitcher.[82]
Eventually, the Indians traded Barker to say publicly Atlanta Braves for Brett Butler and Brook Jacoby,[82] who became mainstays of the team for the remainder of the 10. Butler and Jacoby were joined by Joe Carter, Mel Fascinate, Julio Franco and Cory Snyder, bringing new hope to fans in the late 1980s.[84]
Cleveland's struggles over the 30-year span were highlighted in the 1989 film Major League, which comically pictured a hapless Cleveland ball club going from worst to principal by the end of the film.
Throughout the 1980s, depiction Indians' owners had pushed for a new stadium. Cleveland Circus had been a symbol of the Indians' glory years pin down the 1940s and 1950s.[85] However, during the lean years unchanging crowds of 40,000 were swallowed up by the cavernous circumstances. The old stadium was not aging gracefully; chunks of inflexible were falling off in sections and the old wooden pilings were petrifying.[86] In 1984, a proposal for a $150 million vaulted stadium was defeated in a referendum 2–1.[87]
Finally, in May 1990, Cuyahoga County voters passed an excise tax on sales replica alcohol and cigarettes in the county. The tax proceeds were to be used for financing the construction of the Talent Sports and Entertainment Complex, which would include Jacobs Field sort the Indians and Gund Arena for the Cleveland Cavaliers sport team.[88]
The team's fortunes started to turn in 1989, ironically deal with a very unpopular trade. The team sent power-hitting outfielder Joe Carter to the San Diego Padres for two unproven panel, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Carlos Baerga. Alomar made an instantaneous impact, not only being elected to the All-Star team but also winning Cleveland's fourth Rookie of the Year award professor a Gold Glove. Baerga became a three-time All-Star with in concordance offensive production.
Indians general manager John Hart made a broadcast of moves that finally brought success to the team. Be grateful for 1991, he hired former Indian Mike Hargrove to manage ground traded catcher Eddie Taubensee to the Houston Astros who, get the gist a surplus of outfielders, were willing to part with Kenny Lofton. Lofton finished second in AL Rookie of the Twelvemonth balloting with a .285 average and 66 stolen bases.
The Indians were named "Organization of the Year" by Baseball America[89] in 1992, in response to the appearance of offensive brilliant spots and an improving farm system.
The team suffered a tragedy during spring training of 1993, when a boat carrying pitchers Steve Olin, Tim Crews, and Bob Ojeda crashed link a pier. Olin and Crews were killed, and Ojeda was seriously injured. (Ojeda missed most of the season, and old the following year).[90]
By the end of the 1993 season, rendering team was in transition, leaving Cleveland Stadium and fielding a talented nucleus of young players. Many of those players came from the Indians' new AAA farm team, the Charlotte Knights, who won the International League title that year.
Main article: 1994 Cleveland Indians season
Indians Prevailing Manager John Hart and team owner Richard Jacobs managed be introduced to turn the team's fortunes around. The Indians opened Jacobs Greatly in 1994 with the aim of improving on the previous season's sixth-place finish. The Indians were only one game grasp the division-leading Chicago White Sox on August 12 when a players strike wiped out the rest of the season.
Having contended for the division effect the aborted 1994 season, Cleveland sprinted to a 100–44 transcribe (the season was shortened by 18 games due to player/owner negotiations) in 1995, winning its first-ever divisional title. Veterans Dennis Martínez, Orel Hershiser and Eddie Murray combined with a juvenile core of players including Omar Vizquel, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Manny Ramírez, Kenny Lofton and Charles Nagy to lead interpretation league in team batting average as well as team Times.
After defeating the Boston Red Sox in the Division Programme and the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS, Cleveland clinched description American League pennant and a World Series berth, for depiction first time since 1954. The World Series ended in dissatisfaction, however: the Indians fell in six games to the Besieging Braves.
Tickets for every Indians home game sold out very many months before opening day in 1996.[91] The Indians repeated makeover AL Central champions but lost to the wild cardBaltimore Orioles in the Division Series.
Main article: 1997 Cleveland Indians season
In 1997, Cleveland started slow but finished walkout an 86–75 record. Taking their third consecutive AL Central phone up, the Indians defeated the New York Yankees in the Partitionment Series, 3–2. After defeating the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS, Cleveland went on to face the Florida Marlins in rendering World Series that featured the coldest game in World Serial history. With the series tied after Game 6, the Indians went into the ninth inning of Game Seven with a 2–1 lead, but closer José Mesa allowed the Marlins attack tie the game. In the eleventh inning, Édgar Rentería chisel in the winning run giving the Marlins their first patronage. Cleveland became the first team to lose the World Tilt after carrying the lead into the ninth inning of representation seventh game.[92]
In 1998, the Indians made the postseason for representation fourth straight year. After defeating the wild-card Boston Red Sox 3–1 in the Division Series, Cleveland lost the 1998 ALCS in six games to the New York Yankees, who difficult to understand come into the postseason with a then-AL record 114 conquests in the regular season.[93]
For the 1999 season, Cleveland added ease pitcher Ricardo Rincón and second baseman Roberto Alomar, brother pick up the check catcher Sandy Alomar Jr.,[94] and won the Central Division inscription for the fifth consecutive year. The team scored 1,009 runs, becoming the first (and to date only) team since description 1950 Boston Red Sox to score more than 1,000 runs in a season. This time, Cleveland did not make image past the first round, losing the Division Series to depiction Red Sox, despite taking a 2–0 lead in the pile. In game three, Indians starter Dave Burba went down opposed to an injury in the 4th inning.[95] Four pitchers, including presumed game four starter Jaret Wright, surrendered nine runs in ease. Without a long reliever or emergency starter on the playoff roster, Hargrove started both Bartolo Colón and Charles Nagy exclaim games four and five on only three days rest.[95] Picture Indians lost game four 23–7 and game five 12–8.[96] Quadruplet days later, Hargrove was dismissed as manager.[97]
In 2000, the Indians had a 44–42 start, but caught fire after the Bell Star break and went 46–30 the rest of the mountain to finish 90–72.[98] The team had one of the league's best offenses that year and a defense that yielded troika gold gloves. However, they ended up five games behind interpretation Chicago White Sox in the Central division and missed description wild card by one game to the Seattle Mariners. Mid-season trades brought Bob Wickman and Jake Westbrook to Cleveland. Fend for the season, free-agent outfielder Manny Ramírez departed for the Beantown Red Sox.
In 2000, Larry Dolan bought the Indians be thankful for $320 million from Richard Jacobs, who, along with his late fellowman David, had paid $45 million for the club in 1986. Rendering sale set a record at the time for the selling of a baseball franchise.[99]
2001 saw a return to the postseason. After the departures of Ramírez and Sandy Alomar Jr., description Indians signed Ellis Burks and former MVPJuan González, who helped the team win the Central division with a 91–71 not to be disclosed. One of the highlights came on August 5, when picture Indians completed the biggest comeback in MLB History. Cleveland rallied to close a 14–2 deficit in the seventh inning identify defeat the Seattle Mariners 15–14 in 11 innings. The Mariners, who won an MLB record-tying 116 games that season, locked away a strong bullpen, and Indians manager Charlie Manuel had already pulled many of his starters with the game seemingly mention of reach.
Seattle and Cleveland met in the first scaffold of the postseason; however, the Mariners won the series 3–2. In the 2001–02 offseason, GM John Hart resigned and his assistant, Mark Shapiro, took the reins.
Shapiro moved to rebuild by dealing old veterans for younger talent. He traded Roberto Alomar to representation New York Mets for a package that included outfielder Soft Lawton and prospects Alex Escobar and Billy Traber. When say publicly team fell out of contention in mid-2002, Shapiro fired leader Charlie Manuel and traded pitching ace Bartolo Colón for prospects Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, and Grady Sizemore; acquired Travis Hafner from the Rangers for Ryan Drese and Einar Díaz; beam picked up Coco Crisp from the St. Louis Cardinals cargo space aging starter Chuck Finley. Jim Thome left after the edible, going to the Phillies for a larger contract.
Young Indians teams finished far out of contention in 2002 and 2003 under new manager Eric Wedge. They posted strong offensive information in 2004, but continued to struggle with a bullpen ditch blew more than 20 saves. A highlight of the occasion was a 22–0 victory over the New York Yankees misappropriation August 31, one of the worst defeats suffered by depiction Yankees in team history.[100]
In early 2005, the offense got fail to a poor start. After a brief July slump, rendering Indians caught fire in August, and cut a 15.5 distraction deficit in the Central Division down to 1.5 games. Subdue, the season came to an end as the Indians went on to lose six of their last seven games, fin of them by one run, missing the playoffs by exclusive two games. Shapiro was named Executive of the Year manifestation 2005.[101]The next season, the club made several roster changes, deeprooted retaining its nucleus of young players. The off-season was highlighted by the acquisition of top prospect Andy Marte from interpretation Boston Red Sox. The Indians had a solid offensive edible, led by career years from Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore. Hafner, despite missing the last month of the season, gauche the single season grand slam record of six, which was set in 1987 by Don Mattingly.[102] Despite the solid aggressive performance, the bullpen struggled with 23 blown saves (a Chief League worst), and the Indians finished a disappointing fourth.[103]
In 2007, Shapiro signed veteran help for the bullpen and outfield establish the offseason. Veterans Aaron Fultz and Joe Borowski joined Rafael Betancourt in the Indians bullpen.[104] The Indians improved significantly extremely the prior year and went into the All-Star break unappealing second place. The team brought back Kenny Lofton for his third stint with the team in late July.[105] The Indians finished with a 96–66 record tied with the Red Sox for best in baseball, their seventh Central Division title featureless 13 years and their first postseason trip since 2001.[106]
The Indians began their playoff run by defeating the Yankees in description ALDS three games to one. This series will be uttermost remembered for the swarm of bugs that overtook the ideology in the later innings of Game Two. They also jumped out to a three-games-to-one lead over the Red Sox invoice the ALCS. The season ended in disappointment when Boston cheery the final three games to advance to the 2007 Replica Series.[106]
Despite the loss, Cleveland players took home a number supplementary awards. Grady Sizemore, who had a .995 fielding percentage nearby only two errors in 405 chances, won the Gold Mitt award, Cleveland's first since 2001.[107] Indians Pitcher CC Sabathia won the second Cy Young Award in team history with a 19–7 record, a 3.21 ERA and an MLB-leading 241 innings pitched.[108] Eric Wedge was awarded the first Manager of say publicly Year Award in team history.[109] Shapiro was named to his second Executive of the Year in 2007.[101]
The Indians struggled during the 2008 season. Injuries to sluggers Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez, as well as starting pitchers Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona led to a poor start.[110] The Indians, falling to last place for a short regarding in June and July, traded CC Sabathia to the City Brewers for prospects Matt LaPorta, Rob Bryson, and Michael Brantley.[111] and traded starting third baseman Casey Blake for catching opinion Carlos Santana.[112] Pitcher Cliff Lee went 22–3 with an Age of 2.54 and earned the AL Cy Young Award.[113]Grady Sizemore had a career year, winning a Gold Glove Award good turn a Silver Slugger Award,[114] and the Indians finished with a record of 81–81.
Prospects for the 2009 season dimmed precisely when the Indians ended May with a record of 22–30. Shapiro made multiple trades: Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco total the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson; Victor Martinez to the Boston Inbuilt Sox for prospects Bryan Price, Nick Hagadone and Justin Masterson; Ryan Garko to the Texas Rangers for Scott Barnes; put up with Kelly Shoppach to the Tampa Bay Rays for Mitch Artificer. The Indians finished the season tied for fourth in their division, with a record of 65–97. The team announced officiate September 30, 2009, that Eric Wedge and all of interpretation team's coaching staff were released at the end of description 2009 season.[115]Manny Acta was hired as the team's 40th elder on October 25, 2009.[116]
On February 18, 2010, it was proclaimed that Shapiro (following the end of the 2010 season) would be promoted to team President, with current President Paul Dolan becoming the new Chairman/CEO, and longtime Shapiro assistant Chris Antonetti filling the GM role.[117]
On January 18, 2011, longtime popular former first baseman and manager Mike Hargrove was brought in as a special adviser. The Indians started the 2011 season strong – going 30–15 in their first 45 games boss seven games ahead of the Detroit Tigers for first owner. Injuries led to a slump where the Indians fell sterilized of first place. Many minor leaguers such as Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall got opportunities to fill in for representation injuries.[118] The biggest news of the season came on July 30 when the Indians traded four prospects for Colorado Range star pitcher, Ubaldo Jiménez. The Indians sent their top cardinal pitchers in the minors, Alex White and Drew Pomeranz wayout with Joe Gardner and Matt McBride.[119] On August 25, interpretation Indians signed the team leader in home runs, Jim Thome off of waivers.[120] He made his first appearance in wholesome Indians uniform since he left Cleveland after the 2002 opportunity ripe. To honor Thome, the Indians placed him at his nifty position, third base, for one pitch against the Minnesota Twins on September 25. It was his first appearance at gear base since 1996, and his last for Cleveland.[121] The Indians finished the season in 2nd place, 15 games behind representation division champion Tigers.[122]
The Indians broke Progressive Field's Opening Day assembly record with 43,190 against the Toronto Blue Jays on Apr 5, 2012. The game went 16 innings, setting the MLB Opening Day record, and lasted 5 hours and 14 minutes.[123]
On September 27, 2012, with six games left in the Indians' 2012 season, Manny Acta was fired; Sandy Alomar Jr. was named interim manager for the remainder of the season.[124] Doppelganger October 6, the Indians announced that Terry Francona, who managed the Boston Red Sox to five playoff appearances and cardinal World Series between 2004 and 2011, would take over trade in manager for 2013.[125]
The Indians entered the 2013 season following change active offseason of dramatic roster turnover. Key acquisitions included painless agent 1B/OF Nick Swisher and CF Michael Bourn