Cleveland Indians History

Cleveland Indians Baseball History

Cleveland Indians, professional baseball team and one of five teams in the Central Division of the American League (AL). Formerly called the Blues, the Bronchos, and the Naps, the club’s current name was suggested by a fan in 1914 to honor Louis Sockalexis. Sockalexis was a member of the National League’s Cleveland Spiders during the late 1890s and the first Native American to play professional baseball. The Indians play at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio, and wear uniforms of white, red, and black.

Many legendary figures have played for the Indians, including Stan Coveleski, Bob Feller, Nap Lajoie, Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Gaylord Perry, Frank Robinson, Tris Speaker, and Cy Young. The club won the World Series in 1920 and 1948. With 111 wins and only 43 losses in 1954, the team put together one of the best single-season records in history.

During the 1990s Cleveland won five consecutive division titles (1995-1999). The Indians captured the AL pennant and advanced to the World Series in 1995 and 1997. The club lost both World Series, the first to the Atlanta Braves and the second to the Florida Marlins.

Named for the color of their uniforms, the Cleveland Blues joined the newly formed American League in 1901. Local fans wanted a tougher-sounding name, however, and the team became the Bronchos in 1902. A year later the club was renamed the Naps after second baseman and future manager Napoleon Lajoie. It kept that name until 1915, when the team became the Indians.

Despite the contributions of batting champions Lajoie, Elmer Flick, and Tris Speaker, and pitchers Addie Joss and Cy Young, Cleveland began its major league history finishing no better than second place from 1901 to 1919. Speaker became player-manager in 1919 and the following year led the Indians to their first AL pennant and a victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers (now Los Angeles Dodgers) in the World Series. Right-handed pitcher Jim Bagby topped the major leagues with 31 wins in 1920, but the year was also marked by tragedy. Long before batting helmets were worn, shortstop Ray Chapman became major league baseball’s first on-field fatality when a wild pitch thrown by New York Yankees pitcher Carl Mays struck him in the head.

Another long championship drought followed from 1921 to 1948, despite rosters that featured future Hall of Fame members Earl Averill and Bob Feller. Averill hit over .300 in eight of his ten full seasons with the Indians, from 1929 to 1938. Feller, who joined the team in 1936, led the league in strikeouts seven times, in victories six times, and in shutouts four times.

Under the ownership of Bill Veeck, who acquired the team in 1946, the Indians began to rebuild. In 1948, led by manager-shortstop Lou Boudreau, the Indians won their first pennant in 28 years and their second World Series title. In 1954 the Indians finished the season with a 111-43 win-loss record and captured the AL pennant. The pitching staff, one of the best in major league history, featured Feller, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, Mike Garcia, and Art Houtteman. Despite their domination of the regular season, the Indians lost to the New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants) in the World Series. The Series featured one of the most famous plays in baseball history: the over-the-head catch by Giants outfielder Willie Mays of a Vic Wertz fly ball in game one.

Cleveland’s next drought lasted 40 seasons. From 1955 through 1994, the Indians’ best showings were three second-place finishes in 1955, 1956, and 1959. Indians standouts during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s included outfielders Brett Butler and Joe Carter, third baseman Graig Nettles, and pitchers Bert Blyleven, Gaylord Perry, and Luis Tiant. In 1974 Frank Robinson, in the twilight of his outstanding playing career, was named player-manager of the Indians, becoming the first African American to manage a major league team.

In 1995 the Indians took the Central Division championship and went on to win the club’s first AL pennant in 41 years. Starring on that team were pitcher Orel Hershiser, veteran slugger Eddie Murray, and Albert Belle, the AL leader in home runs and runs batted in. The Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners before losing to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. Cleveland repeated as division champions in 1996 but lost in the playoffs.

In 1997 Cleveland again topped the division. The team was led by catcher Sandy Alomar, Jr., shortstop Omar Vizquel, and outfielders David Justice and Manny Ramirez. Cleveland bested the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles in the AL playoffs and won the AL pennant. In the World Series, however, the Indians lost in seven games to the Florida Marlins. Cleveland again won the Central Division in 1998 and 1999, but failed both years to reach the World Series.
CHAMPIONSHIPS

1920 - defeated Brooklyn in 7 games
1948 - defeated Boston in 6 games
Won the AL Pennant in 1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997
TOP MANAGER
Lou Boudreau, a player/manager from 1942-50, finished with a 728-649 record. Mike Hargrove, manager from 1991-99, compiled a 721-591 record.

MVPS
Lou Boudreau (1948), Al Rosen (1953)

CY YOUNG
Gaylord Perry (1972)

ROOKIE OF YEAR
Herb Score (1955), Chris Chambliss (1971), Joe Charboneau (1980), Sandy Alomar Jr (1990)

RETIRED NUMBERS

3 - Earl Averill (OF)
5 - Lou Boudreau (SS)
14 - Larry Doby (OF)
18 - Mel Harder (P)
19 - Bob Feller (P)
21 - Bob Lemon (P)