Quezi

Jacob's Field, Cleveland Ohio - courtesy heather0714 - CC-BY

Professional baseball in Cleveland originated during the mid-nineteenth century. It began on June 2, 1869, when the Cleveland Forest Citys played the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

In 1871, Cleveland had a team in the National Association, but this team ended operations in 1872.

During the early 1890s, the Cleveland team, known as the Spiders, had pitching great Cy Young as the organization’s most notable player.  In 1899, the National League prohibited the Spiders from playing in the league due to the team’s dismal record.  After this came the Cleveland Indians which are one of the American League’s eight charter franchises and founded in 1901.

The club, originally called the “Bronchos” and later “Naps” changed its name to “Cleveland Indians” in 1914.  Since then they have had 2 World Championships, 5 Pennants, and 10 Playoff Appearances.

The team fared unfavorably during the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and the early 1990s. It had seven different owners during a twenty-five year period beginning in the 1960s. Also, owners routinely traded players thus preventing Cleveland fans from ever truly identifying with the players and the team.

In 1975, Frank Robinson becomes the first black manager in Major League history.

In 1994, A new era of Cleveland Indians baseball begins when the brand new Stadium Jacobs Field opens up downtown.

After the move into Jacobs Field, the team, using young players and signing them to relatively cheap contracts for longer periods of time, began to escape the doldrums of the previous thirty years.

In 1995, the team won its first American League title since 1954. In 1996, the Indians won more games than any other team in the regular season, but the club still didn’t advance through the playoffs. The next season, the team had a poorer record but returned to the World Series, only to lose in extra innings in seven games to the Florida Marlins. In the 2000s the club has been performing well as it rebuilds for another run at a successful post season.

For more information about baseball history