Cleveland Indians History

The Cleveland Indians franchise began play on April 24, 1901 in the American League. Baseball in the Mistake by the Lake enters its 136th year and is one of the city’s oldest traditions. The Indians are one of four charter clubs to remain in one city for their entire existence (Chicago, Boston, and Detroit being the others).

Professional baseball in Cleveland began June 2, 1869 with the contest between the Cleveland Forest Citys versus the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The National Association begins play in 1871 as the first professional league in baseball. Cleveland sported a team in the league through to 1872. Four years later the establishment of the National League occurred. Cleveland saw an entry into the N.L. in 1879. Baseball came and went in the years between 1879 and 1890. The National League emerged as the baseball monopoly in 1891 and the Cleveland Spiders represented northeast Ohio in the N.L. Between 1891 and 1899. Among the Spiders players is all-time Wins leader and Hall of Famer pitcher Cy Young. The end of National League baseball in Cleveland occurred after the worst season in pro baseball history that saw the Spiders stumble to a 20-134 record. Depleted of their star players by the St. Louis N.L. franchise which was also owned by Spiders club owner Frank DeHaas Robison, Cleveland was dropped by the National League.

The Indians began play in the American League as the Cleveland Blues. By 1902 the nickname became the Broncos and in 1903, the Naps. The handle Naps stems from the role of star player Napolean Lajoie who led the young Cleveland franchise at second base. Lajoie was a player-manage through to the 1909 season. Next season Nap battled Ty Cobb in a memorable batting race. Futility would haunt the Cleveland franchise as the upstart Federal League would claim several of the team’s key players. The 1914 season saw 102 losses and the departure of Napolean Lajoie. The name Indians was selected by Cleveland baseball writers for the franchise in 1915. The nickname stems from a previous N.L. franchise that included native American Louis Sockalexis.

The Indians netted their first World Series title in 1920 by besting the Brooklyn Dodgers in five games. 1932 saw the club move from its longtime home League Park to Municipal Stadium. The first game at the new park held 80,184 fans. A second world title comes to Cleveland behind the bat of Larry Doby versus the Milwaukee Braves. In 1954 the Indians set an American League Record with 111 wins. In 1975 Frank Robinson debuts as the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball history filling the role of player-manager for the Indians.

The end of an era occurs in 1993 with the closing of vacuous Municipal Stadium and the opening of Jacobs Field. The stadium ushered a wave of excitement to Cleveland and saw the end to a prolonged playoff drought in 1995 with the Indians first AL Central Title. The 41 year playoff absence was capped with an American League Pennant. A second AL Pennant in 1997 follows the 100-win campaign of 1995 as the Indians win the A.L. Central Title six out of seven years between 1995 and 2001.

World Series Appearances:

• 1997 vs. Florida Marlins L. 3-4
• 1995 vs. Atlanta Braves L. 2-4
• 1954 vs. New York Giants L. 0-4
• 1948 vs. Boston Braves W. 4-2
• 1920 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers W. 5-2

Cleveland Indians All-Time Team Leaders

Cleveland Indians Retired Numbers