Better Know a MLB Team, Part 6

Professional baseball in Cleveland began June 2, 1869 when the Cleveland Forest Citys met the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Cleveland was represented in baseball's first p r o f e s s i o n a l league, the National Association of 1871. In 1890, Cleveland had two m a j o r l e a g u e t e a m s , one in the N.L. and one in the new Players' League. Cleveland enjoyed ultimate success and failure in the N.L. from 1891 through 1899. Led by Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young (left), the Cleveland Spiders began play at a new ballpark, League Park. Cleveland had the honor of playing in the first A.L. game in its major league history, April 24, 1901 at Chicago. All the other games scheduled for that date were rained out. Cleveland's biggest baseball star in the early days of its new franchise was Napoleon Lajoie. Cleveland's nickname became Naps, in honor of Lajoie, in 1903. The Naps lost a then franchise record 102 games in 1914 and attendance sank to disastrous lows as the Lajoie era in Cleveland came to a close. On January 17, two Cleveland newspapers (The Leader and The Plain Dealer) reported that Indians had been chosen to replace Naps.

In 1920, Ray Chapman, was fatally beaned by pitcher Carl Mays of the Yankees at the Polo Grounds in New York. Later that year, Cleveland won the best-of-nine games World Series against Brooklyn that was punctuated by Elmer Smith's grand slam (the first in World Series history), Jim Bagby's home run (first by a pitcher in World Series history), and Bill Wambsganss' unassisted triple play (the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. These were all in the fifth game of the 1920 World Series at League Park.

April 8, 1975 marks a great stride for not only baseball, but America. Frank Robinson becomes the first African-American manager in MLB history, and he enters the ranks in grand style, hitting a homer in his first at bat. On May 30, 1977, Dennis Eckersley hurls a 1-0 no-hitter. Lenny Barker retires 27 consecutive batters on May 15, 1981, to become the first Cleveland player to do so since Addie Joss. A new era in Indians History begins on April 4, 1994 when the Tribe plays its first regular season game at Jacobs Field - a 4-3 win in 11 innings vs. Seattle before 41,459 fans. A drought of 41 years ends on September 8, 1995 at Jacobs Field when the Tribe's 3-2 victory vs. Baltimore clinches the AL Central Division. A season of memorable comebacks along with hefty poundings sees the Indians go 100-44, winning the Division by 30 games, the largest margin ever. The sellout streak that began on June 12, 1995 ended on April 4, 2001. The 455 sellouts is a Major League record.