Cleveland Indians History: Kenny Lofton Runs into Record Books
By David Hill
During his prime, Kenny Lofton could change the game with his speed. On this day in 2000, the Cleveland Indians speedster ran his way into the record books.
Stolen from the Houston Astros for Eddie Taubensee, Kenny Lofton was a dynamic leadoff hitter for the Cleveland Indians. He was a six time All Star, and led the American League in steals from 1992 through 1996. His speed helped him to ignite the fearsome Indians offense from th emid to late 1990s, helping make Cleveland a perennial postseason contender.
By the time that the 2000 season came around, Lofton was not quite the same player. He still had some speed, but he was not that formidable presence atop the lineup. However, his game evolved to a degree, as he hit for a bit more power and was able to rely upon his veteran knowledge in order to continue to perform at a high level.
On this day in 2000, Lofton turned back the clock. Facing the Baltimore Orioles, he had what may have been his finest performance in his impressive 17 year career. Lofton began the game by running his way into the record books, scoring a run in the first inning. By doing so, he scored a run for the 18th consecutive game, tying the major league record set by Red Rolfe in 1939.
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However, Lofton was not done setting records with his legs. Victimizing Orioles catcher Brook Fordyce, he stole five bases, tying Alex Cole for the Indians franchise record for a single game. Given the players that had come and gone through Cleveland during their history, it was quite the impressive accomplishment.
As the game headed into extra innings, Lofton came to bat again in the bottom of the 13th. With the score tied at 11-11, he used his power to end the contest, taking Mike Trombley deep for a walkoff home run. It capped a brilliant evening where Lofton was 4-7 with a walk, stealing five bases and scoring four runs.
Even with that performance, Lofton had a down year in the speed department in 2000. He only managed 30 steals over the season, although he did hit a career high 15 homers. In fact, he would only top that 30 steal mark once over the rest of his career, swiping 32 bases for the Dodgers in 2006.
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Kenny Lofton may not have been the same player he once was, but on this day in 2000, the Cleveland Indians star was able to run back the clock. Using that speed, he ran his way into the record books.