September 17, 2004: Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio was the second leg of our Midwestern Ballpark tour. Mike and I drove from Cincinnati on a rainy Friday afternoon. We were worried that the 7:10 game would be rained out, but were happy to see the weather improve as we neared our destination. The Cleveland Indians are one of the American League’s most historic organizations. They were the first integrated American League team; Larry Doby took the field for the Tribe in 1949. Since that historic day, the Cleveland Indians and their fans have shared some of the worst seasons in baseball history. After losing the 1954 World Series to the underdog New York Giants, the Indians spent the next 41 years on the bottom of the American League standings. Never mind returning to the World Series; the Indians could only muster a top three finish in four of those 41 years. The Indians and their loyal fans were given something to cheer about in 1994 when Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field) opened. The opening of Progressive Field coincided with the arrival of future All-Stars Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar. A winning decade was to follow; the Indians won the American League pennant in 1995 and 1997 and made the playoffs in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001. The Indians enjoyed the greatest stretch in the franchise’s 115-year history. The impact Progressive Field had on the franchise was immeasurable; it put Cleveland back on the baseball map and encouraged fans to flood the ballpark. [Read more…]