INDIANS HISTORY

Professional baseball in Cleveland is one of the city's oldest traditions, dating well back into the 19th century and approaching its 137th year in 2005. Professional baseball in Cleveland began June 2, 1869 when the Cleveland Forest City's met the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Cleveland was represented in baseball's first professional league, the National Association of 1871. That club disbanded in 1872. Cleveland's return to pro baseball came in 1879 in the National League established in 1876. The Cleveland Indians are a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are one of five teams that play in the Central Division of the American League. The Cleveland Indians started out as the Cleveland Blues in 1901(charter American League member), before changing their name to the Cleveland Naps in 1903-1914, when star player Napoleon Lajoie was playing for them before moving to Philadelphia. They were called the Cleveland Blues because they wore blue uniforms at that time. The team then cycled through a couple of nicknames including the Spiders, the Blues and the Bronchos/Broncos (1902), until becoming the Indians in 1915. The home ballpark for the Cleveland Indians is Jacobs Field, Cleveland and the uniform colors are, navy blue and red with silver trim. The logo for the Cleveland Indians is "Chief Wahoo," a smiling Indian caricature. In the summer of 1947, the Cleveland Indians became the first American League (AL) team to integrate. The first black man to play in the Junior Circuit was Larry Doby, who was somewhat overlooked, with Jackie Robinson debuting in the Brooklyn Dodgers, a few months before. Doby a power hitting outfielder was patient at the plate and a danger with a bat in his hands. Larry Doby was a seven-time All-Star in a 13-year career, almost all of it spent in the outfield for the Indians. On June 4, 1974 the Indians hosted "Ten Cent Beer Night", but had to forfeit the game to the Texas Rangers due to drunken and unruly fans. Many legendary figures have played for the Indians, including Stan Coveleski, Bob Feller, Nap Lajoie, Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige, Gaylord Perry, Frank Robinson, Tris Speaker, and CY Young. The Cleveland Indians have won two World Series Championships in, 1920 and 1948, they have also won five American League Pennants in 1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997 and six American League Central Division Championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001. The Cleveland Indians have retired the following numbers, #5 belonging to Lou Boudreau, #14 worn by Larry Doby, #3 belonging to Earl Averill, #18 worn by Mel Harder, #19 belonging to Bob Fellor, #21 worn by Bob Lemon, #42 belonging to Jackie Robinson and of course the fans #455 which represents the record number of consecutive sellouts at Jacobs Field from 1995 to 2001. The Cleveland Indians have several players who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, they are; Steve Carlton, Lou Boudreau, Earl Averill, Stan Coveleski, Larry Doby, Dennis Eckersley, Bob Fellor, Addie Joss, Ralph Kiner, Nap Lajoie, Bob Lemon, Al Lopez, Eddie Murray, Phil Niekro, Cy Young, Dave Winfield, Early Wynn and Gaylord Perry. The Cleveland Indians were very reminiscent. The organization held celebrations of its 1954 AL pennant and its 10th season in Jacobs Field. But the Indians also gave fans some reason to celebrate the present. The club, which made a strong August bid for first place, showed it was one year ahead of schedule in terms of contending for a title, and it also introduced its fans to a collection of players who will be the faces of the future. Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook and Coco Crisp had breakthrough seasons as the Tribe finished third in the Central Division with an 80-82 record.