Adventures in History!

The Cleveland Indians continued to compete in the AL East of MLB throughout the 1980's.  Cleveland Municipal Stadium remained the team's beloved ballpark on Lake Erie downtown.  The Tribe never finished in first but the players were first in the hearts of Tribe fans.  Hope endured and the beautiful game of baseball was enjoyed from April till the end of September.  Tribe players who stand out in memory include:  John Denny, Ross Grimsley, Bob Owchinko, Gary Alexander, Alan Bannister, Joe Charboneau, Miguel Dilone, Jerry Dybzinski, Jorge Orta, Bert Blyleven, Ed Glynn, Chris Bando, Mike Fischlin, Von Hayes, Pat Kelly, Karl Pagel, Neal Heaton, Jerry Reed, Lary Sorensen, Carmen Castillo, Bake McBride, Jack Perconte, Ernie Camacho, Juan Eichelberger, Julio Franco, Broderick Perkins, Pat Tabler, Gorman Thomas, Manny Trillo, Otto Velez, George Vukovich, Steve Comer, Don Schultze, Tom Waddell, Tony Bernazard, Brett Butler, Joe Carter, Mel Hall, Brook Jacoby, Otis Nixon, Vern Ruhle, Curt Wardle, Benny Ayala, Scott Bailes, Doug Jones, Phil Niekro, Ken Schrom, Rich Yett, Steve Carlton, John Farrell, Andy Allanson, Jay Bell, Rick Dempsey, Tommy Hinzo, Bud Black, Terry Francona, Ron Kittle, Willie Upshaw, Ron Washington, Steve Olin, Jesse Orosco, Albert Belle, Jerry Browne, Felix Fermin, Pat Keedy, Brad Komminsk, Oddibe McDowell, Pete O'Brien and many more!  

In the 1970's the Cleveland Indians failed in their annual quest to reach the postseason, the ALCS and World Series.  However, they played their hearts out and Cleveland Municipal Stadium was the place to be to enjoy the Tribe in person.  The team made history in 1975 by hiring the first African American manager, Frank Robinson.  At various times the Tribe contended and the fans dreamed of October baseball.  However, win or lose, the players went out there and gave it their best shot.  Notable Indians from the decade include:  Rick Austin, Vince Colbert, Stunning Steve Dunning, Rich Hand. Dennis Higgins, Steve Mingori, Jim Rittwage, Ted Ford, Roy Foster, John Lowenstein, Graig Nettles, Vada Pinson, Ted Uhlaender, Ed Farmer, Alan Foster, Ray Lamb, Kurt Bevacqua, Chris Chambliss, Gomer Hodge, Tom Hilgendorf, Dick Tidrow, Milt Wilcox, Buddy Bell, Jack Brohamer, Alex Johnson, Ron Lolich, Del Unser, Dick Bosman, Gaylord Perry, Brent Strom, Tom Timmerman, Alan Ashby, Leo Cardenas, Frank Duffy, Dave Duncan, John Ellis, Oscar Gamble, George Hendrick, Tom Ragland, Charlie Spikes, Rusty Torres, Fred Beene, Tom Buskey, Jim Kern, Jim Perry, Fritz Peterson, Rico Carty, Angel Hermoso, Duane Kuiper, Frank Robinson, Jim Bibby, Jackie Brown, Dennis Eckersley, Dave LaRoche, Blue Moon Odom, Rick Waits, Pat Dobson, Don Hood, Alfredo Griffin, Joe Lis, Rick Manning, Boog Powell, Wayne Garland, Sid Monge, Larvell Blanks, Bruce Bochte, Paul Dade, Johnny Grubb, Bill Melton, Jim Norris, Andre Thornton, David Clyde, Mike Paxton, Dan Spillner, Bernie Carbo, Ted Cox, Bo Diaz, Ron Hassey, Willie Horton, Tom Veryzer, Len Barker, Bobby Bonds, Mike Hargrove, Toby Harrah, Cliff Johnson and many more!  

The Cleveland Indians never won the American League pennant in the 1960's nor the AL East title.  However, they played exciting baseball at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.  Hope sprang eternal every spring.  They were contenders in a number of years.  Win or lose, they were our guys.  They played for us!  Memorable Tribe players from the 1960's include:  Barry Latman, Ken Aspromonte, Harvey Kuenn, Bubba Phillips, John Romano, Frank Funk, Sam McDowell, Walt Bond, Willie Kirkland, Vic Power, Dick Donovan, Ruben Gomez, Pedro Ramos, Tommie Agee, Max Alvis, Jerry Kindall, Tommy John, Joe Adcock, Joe Azcue, Larry Brown, Vic Davalillo, Dick Howser, Fred Whitfield, Jack Kralick, Don McMahon, Sonnie Siebert, Luis Tiant, Vern Fuller, Chico Salmon, Duke Sims, Leon Wagner, Steve Hargan, Ralph Terry, Rocky Colavito, Phil Roof, Richie Scheinblum, Del Crandall, Jim Gentile, Jose Vidal, Stan Williams, Ray Fosse, Pedro Gonzales, Chuck Hinton, Tony Horton, Lee Maye, Mike Paul, Vicente Romo, Jose Cardenal, Jimmie Hall, Lou Piniella, Ken Suarez, Phil Hennigan, Juan Pizarro, Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, Jack Heidemann, Lou Klimchock, Eddie Leon, Zoilo Versalles and many more!  

The 1950 Cleveland Buckeyes were the last Negro League baseball team in Cleveland.  MLB had integrated and the Negro Leagues were going out of business.  The Indians were strong contenders throughout the decade.  In 1954 they were American League champions.  Star players for the Tribe during the Fifties included Sam Zoldak, Bob Kennedy, Mickey Vernon, Sam Jones, Hal Naragon, Harry "Suitcase" Simpson, Snuffy Stirnweiss, Birdie Tebbetts, Hank Majeski, Dave Pope, Pete Reiser, Quincy Trouppe (member of the 1945 Negro League champions Cleveland Buckeyes), Wally Westlake, Don Mossi, Ran Narleski, Sam Dente, Rudy Regalado, Vic Wertz, Herb Score, Rocky Colavito, Ralph Kiner, Cal McLish, Chico Carrasquel, Hank Aguirre, Hoyt Wilhelm, Roger Maris, Dick Williams, Gary Bell, Woodie Held, Randy Jackson, Vic Power, Al Cicotte, Jim "Mudcat" Grant, Jim Perry, Tito Francona, Billy Martin, Jimmy Piersall and many more!  

The 1940's was a glorious era for Cleveland baseball.  The Indians won the MLB World Series in 1948 and the Buckeyes were Negro League Champions in 1945!  This decade included the Bill Veeck era, the greatest Tribe owner.  Star players for the Indians included Ben Chapman, Steve Gromek, Al Smith, Hank Edwards, Bob Lemon, Allie Reynolds, Jim Hegan, Pat Seerey, Gene Woodling, Don Black, Dale Mitchell, Gene Bearden, Larry Doby, Joe Gordon, Mike Garcia, Satchel Paige, Johnny Berardino, Eddie Robinson, Al Rosen, Early Wynn, Bobby Avila, Ray Boone, Luke Easter,  Ken Keltner, Minnie Minoso and many more.  Larry Doby was the first black player in the MLB American League with Cleveland.  Integration came to MLB and this spelled doom for the Negro Leagues!

During the 1930's the Indians continued to play home games at League Park.  However, Cleveland Municipal Stadium was built during this time and the team played in both places after 1932.  Short lived Negro League teams also competed in Cleveland during the decade.  These included the Cubs (with Satchel Paige), Stars, Giants, Red Sox and Bears.  Star players for the Indians in the 1930's included Willis Hudlin, Ed Morgan, Twitchy Dick Porter, Joe Vosmik, Oral Hildebrand, Moe Berg, Willie Kamm, Frankie Pytlak, Hal Trosky, Denny Galehouse, Boze Berger, Odell Hale, Johnny Allen, Bob Feller, Ralph Winegarner, Jeff Heath, Roy Weatherly, Ken Keltner, Rollie Hemsley, Ray Mack and Lou Boudreau.  Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson was an important manager for the Tribe in the 1930's!

The 1920's started out with a bang for Cleveland baseball with the 1920 World Series Champions Cleveland Indians!  The decade also saw the start of Negro League baseball teams in Cleveland.  Those teams were often short lived and included the Tate Stars, Browns, Elites, Hornets and Tigers.  Star players for the Indians in the 1920's included Jim Bagby Sr.,  Stan Coveleski, George Uhle, Smoky Joe Wood, Ray Chapman (before his tragic, untimely death in 1920), Charlie Jamieson, Steve O'Neill, Bill Wambsganss, Joe Sewell, Luke Sewell, Riggs Stephenson, Dutch Levsen, homer Summa, George Burns, Johnny Hodapp, Jumbo Brown, Wes Ferrell, Baby Doll Jacobson, Clint Brown, Mel Harder, Earl Averill and many more.  Roger Peckinpaugh was a notable manager!  

The 1910's saw the end of the Napoleon Lajoie era and the name change of the Cleveland MLB team from Naps to Indians.  This also was the beginning of the dramatic Tris Speaker era.  Speaker was player-manager and was leading the team towards glory.  Shoeless Joe Jackson, Steve O'Neill and Ray Chapman were other memorable players during this time!  

This interlude depicts the first decade of the franchise now known as the Cleveland Indians.  These also were the first years of the American League and Cleveland was a charter member.  The team was dominated by player manager Napoleon Lajoie, one of the best players in baseball.  They also took the team name "Naps" after Lajoie.  1908 was their highwater year as the team finished a half game out of first.  Throughout these years, Napoleon Lajoie and the Detroit Tigers' Ty Cobb were rivals.  

This installment pertains to a glorious era in Cleveland baseball history.  The highlight is the 1895 Cleveland Spiders season in which they were MLB champions.  Their ace pitcher was Cy Young for which the annual award is given to the top pitcher in each league today.  The Cleveland Spiders in the 1890's were not only a powerful team, but had some very interesting personalities, including Jimmy McAleer, American Indian Louis Sockalexis, Cupid Childs, Ed McKean, Patsy Tebeau, Jesse "Crab" Burkett and many others!