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Cleveland Indians
Baseball History |
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Professional baseball
in Cleveland is one of the city's oldest traditions, dating well back
into the 19th century and approaching its 137th year in 2005. Professional
baseball in Cleveland began June 2, 1869 when the Cleveland Forest
City's met the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Cleveland was represented
in baseball's first professional league, the National Association
of 1871. That club disbanded in 1872. Cleveland's return to pro baseball
came in 1879 in the National League established in 1876. The Cleveland
Indians are a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio.
They are one of five teams that play in the Central Division of the
American League. The Cleveland Indians started out as the Cleveland
Blues in 1901(charter American League member), before changing their
name to the Cleveland Naps in 1903-1914, when star player Napoleon
Lajoie was playing for them before moving to Philadelphia. They were
called the Cleveland Blues because they wore blue uniforms at that
time. The team then cycled through a couple of nicknames including
the Spiders, the Blues and the Bronchos/Broncos (1902), until becoming
the Indians in 1915. The home ballpark for the Cleveland Indians is
Jacobs Field, Cleveland and the uniform colors are, navy blue and
red with silver trim. The logo for the Cleveland Indians is "Chief
Wahoo," a smiling Indian caricature. In the summer of 1947, the
Cleveland Indians became the first American League (AL) team to integrate.
The first black man to play in the Junior Circuit was Larry Doby,
who was somewhat overlooked, with Jackie Robinson debuting in the
Brooklyn Dodgers, a few months before. Doby a power hitting outfielder
was patient at the plate and a danger with a bat in his hands. Larry
Doby was a seven-time All-Star in a 13-year career, almost all of
it spent in the outfield for the Indians. On June 4, 1974 the Indians
hosted "Ten Cent Beer Night", but had to forfeit the game
to the Texas Rangers due to drunken and unruly fans. 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 Cleveland Indians have won
two World Series Championships in, 1920 and 1948, they have also won
five American League Pennants in 1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997 and
six American League Central Division Championships in 1995, 1996,
1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001. The Cleveland Indians have retired the
following numbers, #5 belonging to Lou Boudreau, #14 worn by Larry
Doby, #3 belonging to Earl Averill, #18 worn by Mel Harder, #19 belonging
to Bob Fellor, #21 worn by Bob Lemon, #42 belonging to Jackie Robinson
and of course the fans #455 which represents the record number of
consecutive sellouts at Jacobs Field from 1995 to 2001. The Cleveland
Indians have several players who have been inducted into the Hall
of Fame, they are; Steve Carlton, Lou Boudreau, Earl Averill, Stan
Coveleski, Larry Doby, Dennis Eckersley, Bob Fellor, Addie Joss, Ralph
Kiner, Nap Lajoie, Bob Lemon, Al Lopez, Eddie Murray, Phil Niekro,
Cy Young, Dave Winfield, Early Wynn and Gaylord Perry. The Cleveland
Indians were very reminiscent. The organization held celebrations
of its 1954 AL pennant and its 10th season in Jacobs Field. But the
Indians also gave fans some reason to celebrate the present. The club,
which made a strong August bid for first place, showed it was one
year ahead of schedule in terms of contending for a title, and it
also introduced its fans to a collection of players who will be the
faces of the future. Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook
and Coco Crisp had breakthrough seasons as the Tribe finished third
in the Central Division with an 80-82 record.
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