If you lived in Northeast Ohio during that summer, no introduction is needed.

This was a collection of talent on one team rarely seen in sports.

Nobody knew at the time how special of a team it really was until years later when many of the players from that roster went on to have All-Star and Hall of Fame caliber careers.

But long before the summer of 95 took Cleveland’s baseball franchise on a wild ride, the Indians were a bad team.

VERY bad.

Four straight decades of losing, bad.

In fact, the team was so bad during that era that Hollywood wrote a movie (Major League) about the lowly Indians finally winning something. The movie, which starred Charlie Sheen, became an omen for what was about to transpire a few short years later.

The Tribe starting making a string of moves that would end up blossoming into the most exciting team in Cleveland Indians history.

Building the team

Here are some of the key moves the Indians made:

They drafted a young pitcher named Charles Nagy and a young slugger by the name of Albert Belle. Nagy would end up becoming one of the most consistent starting pitchers in all of baseball while Belle would become the first player in MLB history to record 50 doubles and 50 home runs in one season, a record that still stands.

They traded for a young, skinny center fielder by the name of Kenny Lofton; a talented young second baseman named Carlos Baerga; and a promising young catcher named Sandy Alomar Jr. All three would become All-Stars.

They also traded for a relatively unknown shortstop from Seattle named Omar Vizquel. He ended up being nothing more than the greatest defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith.

A power hitting third baseman by the name of Jim Thome was making waves in the minor leagues. He now has a statue outside of Progressive Field.

They drafted a “can’t miss prospect” with star written all over him, a fellow by the name of Manny Ramirez. He ended up hitting 555 career home runs and becoming one of the greatest right handed hitters in MLB history.

They acquired two veteran starting pitchers: Dennis Martinez and Orel Hershiser. Both would play crucial roles in the starting rotation.

They signed a veteran slugger by the name of Eddie Murray. He is now bronzed in Cooperstown.

And in 1994, they opened up Jacobs Field, a beautiful brand new ball park named after the Indians then owner, Dick Jacobs.

Clevelanders would later nickname it “The Jake.”

After all the moves and building of a new stadium, the table was set.

The most anticipated baseball season in Indians history was now upon the city of Cleveland.

The 95 Regular Season



With GM John Hart and Manager Mike Hargrove at the helm, the Cleveland Indians looked as though they might have a shot at making the playoffs for the first time in 41 years.

There was, however, one huge problem stopping them; Major League Baseball was going through a painful strike. Eighteen regular season games ended up being cancelled because of it, but after a few weeks of deliberation, the strike was finally resolved and the season was officially underway.

The Indians magical run began with much anticipation on April 27th, 1995, at Texas against those pesky Rangers. The Indians actually lost two of their first three games that season. But this was not an indication of what was about to transpire the final 141 games. Not even close.

As the season progressed the Indians began doing something their fans were not accustomed to: WINNING.

They kept on winning as May turned into June.

And then kept winning into July.

And then into August.

And by September, they were the best team in baseball.

Clevelanders began to realize that they were witnessing something special.

You could feel it in the air when you were at a game. The Jake was buzzing with excitement; comeback wins in the 9th inning were almost expected; Jose Mesa was the most dominant closer in baseball; Albert Belle was the most intimidating hitter; and the Indians lineup was, for the most part, unstoppable.

Notice how lethal that lineup was—-Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez batting 6th and 7th —that’s like LeBron James coming off the bench for the Cavs.

That lineup was the closest thing I’ve seen to perfect.

And what about that new stadium they had built a year prior? The Jake was sold out every single game.

Luckily for me at the time, my dad had season tickets down the third base line about 20 rows behind the dugout. I can remember attending a dozen or so games that summer as a young kid and savoring every moment of it. And with Cavaliers on a down slide and the Browns moving to Baltimore, the Indians were now Cleveland’s one and only saving grace. Everywhere you went in Northeast Ohio, people were wearing Tribe gear— hats, caps, pants, coats, shirts and hoodies.

The entire city was abuzz with talk of Cleveland’s baseball team.

It was truly a Tribe Town.

September 8th, 1995

Cleveland Indians vs Baltimore Orioles at Jacobs Field

My dad, his buddy, my brother and I hopped into my dad’s truck and headed down for the game.

This would end up being one of the most historic games in recent MLB history for a few different reasons.

First off, Cal Ripken Jr. had just broken Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played streak just two days prior, and this marked Cal’s first game since breaking the record. There were media and camera’s as far as the eyes could see. Even Tribe fans, who were revved up for another completely different reason, paid their respects to Ripken Jr. with a standing ovation when he came to bat.

But it was also a historic night for a more personal reason if you were a Cleveland fan.

The Indians had a chance to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in 41 years. Four decades plus a year of baseball futility that was about to be wiped away with just one win. And for Cleveland sports fans it would be sweet redemption for all the “mistake by the lake” jokes we had to endure and all of the national media pundits who constantly slammed our baseball team

To say I was excited on that night was an understatement. I was just a little kid, only 12 years old at the time, but I still understood the history I was about to potentially witness.

The pitching match-up was going to be a doozy: Orel Hershiser for the Indians, Kevin Brown for the Orioles.

The Tribe took an early 3-0 lead on a few singles and a sac fly, but that wouldn’t last too long. The Orioles had shaved that lead to a mere 3-2 by the 9th inning.

On came the best closer in baseball that year: Jose Mesa.

The crowd was going nuts. Everyone was standing. You could barely hear the person next to you.

Mesa retired the first two batters, including Ripken Jr., but walked catcher Chris Hoiles.

Man on first, two down, Tribe up 3-2 with one out standing between them and their first playoff birth since Dwight Eisenhower was president.

Up to the bat for the Orioles was Jeff Huson.

I couldn’t see home plate since everyone was standing, so my brother lifted me up.

Mesa rocked back and let one loose.

I heard a pop and saw a ball flying in the air above third baseman Jim Thome’s head.

He glanced up, put his glove in the air and caught the final out.

BALL GAME!!!! INDIANS CLINCH!!!

Enter pandemonium.

People were jumping up and down, high fiving strangers and throwing beers up in the air. It was incredible.

The celebration was now official. The Indians were headed to the playoffs.

What a game, what a night, what a season.

The Indians ended up finishing the regular season with a record of 100-44. Yes, they won ONE HUNDRED of the 144 they played. That’s a winning % of nearly 70. Unheard of for baseball.

After the most successful season in their recent history, the Indians now prepared themselves for October.

The Playoffs

The first round of the playoffs pitted the Indians against the Boston Red Sox.

Mo Vaughn, Boston’s first baseman slugger had won the American League MVP over Albert Belle that season, one which many MLB writers and Clevelanders alike still think was absurd since Belle did the whole 50/50 thing, but hey, I’m not here to spread sour grapes.

Belle and the Indians would get their revenge.

Game 1 was played at Jacobs Field.

The Indians first playoff game in 41 years ended up being one of the most memorable in franchise history.

In the bottom of the 13th inning with the game tied 4-4, Indians backup catcher Tony Pena walked up to the plate and drilled a walk off home run to put the Tribe up 1-0 in the best of 5 series.

What a way to start the playoffs!

The Tribe would end up taking the next two games and sweeping the Red Sox in 3, setting up a dramatic American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners.

The 1995 ALCS

The Indians were now 4 wins away from going to their first World Series since 1954. The only team standing in their way was the Ken Griffey Jr./Randy Johnson led Seattle Mariners.

The series would start off in Seattle at the Kingdome.

The teams would split the first two games in Seattle and head back to Cleveland with the series tied at 1 game apiece.

Game 3 was back at the friendly confines of Jacobs Field.

This game would take 11 long, grueling innings to decide, and unfortunately for the Indians, it would not end well. The Mariners won thanks to a homer by outfielder Jay Buhner, one of his two in that game.

Mariners now led the series 2 games to 1.

A little angst began to creep up on Indians fans.

I attended game 4 alongside my dad which saw Indians righty Ken Hill face off against the Mariners Andy Benes. On the backs of homers from Jim Thome and Eddie Murray, the Indians would go on to shut out the Mariners 7-0 to even the series at 2 games apiece.

Cleveland fans could breathe a sigh of relief…PHEW!

The critical game 5 was hosted at Jacobs Field and would most likely end up deciding the series.

Thankfully for the Indians, they had the bulldog, Orel Hershiser on the mound.

He pitched a heckuva of a game and the Tribe went on to win game 5 by the final of 3-2, now putting them just one win away from the World Series.

Tuesday, October 17th, 1995

Game 6 of the ALCS- The Kingdome, Seattle, WA

Everyone in Northeast Ohio was peeled to their television sets. Just one game stood in between the Indians and a trip to the fall classic. I can remember watching this game in my basement with my older brother Brett.

Like everyone at that time, we were a mixture of excited, nervous and anxious. But we were ready to celebrate.

The Indians started off well, taking a 1-0 lead into the 5th inning. But that lead didn’t seem safe with the Mariners explosive lineup.

By the 7th inning I ended up dozing off on my couch.

Not my proudest moment as a Cleveland Sports fan, but hey, the good news was that when I awoke from my slumber, I saw the Indians celebrating on the field.

At first I thought I was still dreaming, but after a few seconds, I realized it was true.

They had WON 4-0!!!

I couldn’t believe it….We were going to the freaking WORLD SERIES!!!

The city erupted in celebration.

The 1995 World Series

The Cleveland Indians vs The Atlanta Braves

This was a series which saw the Indians daunting lineup go up against the Braves equally impressive starting pitching staff that included Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

The first 2 games were played in Atlanta and they didn’t turn out well for the Indians. Both ended in 1 run losses.

It was a tough pill to swallow coming back home down 0-2, but if any team could claw their way back into a series it was this team.

Game 3 saw John Smoltz facing Charles Nagy.

The Indians had the lead most of the game until Mike Devereaux hit a go-ahead single to put Atlanta up 6-5 heading to the bottom of the 8th.

That’s when Sandy Alomar Jr. brought back the Tribe’s magic. He answered with a game tying double.

After scoreless ninth and tenth innings, the game headed to the bottom of the 11th, tied at 6 apiece with Carlos Bearga leading off for the Indians.

He roped a double to start the inning.

Man on second, nobody out, Tribe needs one run to get their first W.

The Braves intentionally walked Albert Belle to get to Eddie Murray. This seemed like a good move at the time, but it ended up backfiring on Atlanta.

Alvaro Espinoza pinch ran for Baerga at second base.

A few moments later, Murray lined a single into right center field scoring Espinoza and giving the Indians their first World Series win since 1948.

The series was now 2-1 Braves.

The two teams would split the next two games at Jacobs Field setting up a game 6 in Atlanta with the Braves leading the series 3 games to 2.

Game 6- October 28th, 1995



The Indians’ backs were not up against the wall. They had to win in order to force a game 7 and keep their dream season alive.

Deep down everyone in Cleveland believed this team could pull it out and win the final two games in Atlanta. They had come back all season long from all types of deficits. It seemed as though it was their destiny in a sense.

But in the end…it was just not meant to be.

Tom Glavine pitched a gem that game and behind a David Justice solo home run, the Braves went onto beat the Indians 1-0 and capture the 1995 World Series Title.

It was devastating to watch.

The dream season, one which had brought so much joy to the city of Cleveland, was officially over.

Cleveland was heartbroken.

All the magic that had been around the entire season seemed to vanish before our very eyes in just one night.

It took a while for everyone, including the team, to get over.

But us Clevelanders are a resilient bunch.

As the days, months and years began to pass, Cleveland fans and the players on that 95 roster began recognizing that there was something different about that team.

Even though they had fallen short in the World Series, people viewed that season as a success for a franchise who hadn’t made the playoffs or World Series in 41 years.

That team had lifted the spirits of an entire generation of sports fans in Northeast Ohio and made us believers in our city again.

In our eyes, they would always be looked at favorably.

The Legacy

There are many teams that have won the World Series that had considerably less talent than the 1995 Cleveland Indians.

Even though the season ended in disappointment, I look back at that 95 Indians and can’t help but smile. I was too young at the time to fully appreciate it all, but reflecting back almost 20 years later, the 95 Indians will always be my favorite team of all time…in any sport, at any level.

I know that I am not alone in that sentiment, either.

I’ll never forget the excitement I felt watching that team.

To this day whenever I mention the 95 Indians to a Cleveland fan, their eyes immediately light up: “Wow! What a great team that was!”

And in sports as it is in life, the journey is not always about winning and losing but about the memories you create along the way.

Those 95 Indians sure created some amazing ones.