The Mount Rushmore of the Cleveland Indians
By Matt Meffe
As the Cleveland Indians prepare for their first World Series appearance since 1997 and hope to end a 68-year championship drought, it’s a good time to look back on the greatest players in the history of the franchise.
In June, the Cleveland Cavaliers officially broke the Cleveland sports curse by defeating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. This season, the Cleveland Indians look to do the same.
The Cleveland Indians are one of the oldest active major league teams. Their history goes back all the way to 1894, when they were known as the Grand Rapids Rustlers. After several name changes, the team changed their name to the Cleveland Indians in 1915, which controversially remains their current name. The early success of the team led to their only two championships, which came in 1920 and 1948.
Since their last World Series victory, the Indians have had some moderate success. Overall, the franchise has one Wild Card berth, eight AL Central titles and six AL Pennants. However, their championship drought is the second-longest active drought behind the Chicago Cubs. Like the Cubs, the Indians are always reminded of a “curse,” theirs centering around Rocky Colavito. However, this may also be their year. This season has gone incredibly well for the Tribe, and their World Series hopes are stronger than ever.
The Indians are also looking to dedicate their World Series victory to the former players of the organization. The team is fighting for every Indians player that has lived through this drought. Some of these players are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, while others are Hall of Fame worthy. No matter the player or staff member, this season may mark the end of the long wait. This season may finally be the one when years of frustration pay off. As we look toward the near future, we also reflect on the past. This group of players paved the way for this Indians team, holding the franchise up during times of failure.