1995 Cleveland Indians

After almost 40 years of sub-500 baseball, the Sleeping Giant woke in 1995, the first season in the Indians spent in their new home of Jacob's Field.

The Indians ruled Cleveland from 1994 through 2001, winning two pennants and making five playoff appearances. In 1995, the Cleveland Browns had left town and were putting down roots in Baltimore. The Cleveland Cavaliers, while competitive, were usually ousted in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Indians were the best ticket in town, and 455 consecutive sellouts--from June 12, 1995 through April 2, 2001--are a testament to ther popularity.

While the Indians made it to the brink of baseball nirvana in both 1997 and 2016, losing in Game Seven of both those World Series, it is the 1995 team that fans remember the most fondly. Perhaps this is because they were the first to break through since 1954 and make the postseason. Maybe it's because of the different characters and personalities who made up that team, which included Jim Thome, Bill Ripken, Manny Ramirez, Dave Winfield, Orel Hershiser, and Sandy Alomar Jr.. They had an All-Star seemingly at every position.

As you leaf through the pages of this book, presented here by 40 SABR authors and editors, you will be transported back in time to 1995. The biographies of all the players, coaches, and broadcasters will evoke that glorious era once again for Tribe fans. The volume is also sprinkled with personal perspectives, as well as game stores from key matchups during the 1995 season, information about Jacob's Field, and other writing of interest on the historic season.

Contents

Introduction, Joseph Wancho

The Fans of the 1995 Cleveland Indians, John McMurray

Players

Sandy Alomar Jr., Joseph Wancho

Ruben Amaro, Rory Costello

Paul Assenmacher, Nick Waddell

Carlos Baerga, Joseph Wancho

David Bell, Philip A. Cola

Albert Belle, Tom Wancho

Bud Black, Nick Waddell

Jeromy Burnitz, Kelly Boyer Sagert

Mark Clark, Bob LeMoine

Dennis Cook, Alan Cohen

Alan Embree, Bill Nowlin

Alvaro Espinoza, Gregg Omoth

John Farrell, Bill Nowlin

Brian Giles, Mark Hodermarsky

Jason Grimsley, Chip Greene

Orel Hershiser, Joseph Wancho

Ken Hill, Gregory H. Wolf

Wayne Kirby, Ed Gruver

Jesse Levis, Chip Greene

Kenny Lofton, Richard Bogovich

Albie Lopez, Harry Schoger

Dennis Martinez, Rory Costello

Jose Mesa, Joseph Wancho

Eddie Murray, Alan Cohen

Charles Nagy, Steve West

Chad Ogea, David Skelton

Gregg Olson, Wynn Montgomery

Tony Pena, Blake Sherry

Herbert Perry, Jay Hurd

Eric Plunk, Ted Leavengood

Jim Poole, Chip Greene

Manny Ramirez, Bill Nowlin

Billy Ripken, Jimmy Keenan

Joe Roa, Clayton Trutor

Paul Shuey, Charles Faber

Paul Sorrento, Alan Cohen

Julian Tavarez, Paul Hofmann

Jim Thome, Joseph Wancho

Eddie Tucker, Richard Cuicchi

Omar Vizquel, Augusto Cardenas

Dave Winfield, Doug Skipper

The Coaching Staff

Mike Hargrove, Gregory H. Wolf

Buddy Bell, Joseph Wancho

Luis Isaac, Richard Bogovich

Charlie Manuel, Andy Sturgill

Dave Nelson, Rick Schabowski

Jeff Newman, Gary Livacari

Mark Wiley, Joel Rippel

Broadcasters

Jack Corrigan, Joseph Wancho

Tom Hamilton, Kelly Boyer Sagert

Mike Hegan, Joseph Wancho

Rick Manning, Kelly Boyer Sagert

Herb Score, Joseph Wancho

Front Office

Dick Jacobs, Clayton Trutor

John Hart, Rick Balazs

Dan O'Dowd, Christopher Williamson

Ballpark

Jacobs Field, Stephanie Liscio

Games

May 7, 1995 Richard Cuicchi

June 4, 1995 Joseph Wancho

June 5, 1995 Gregory H. Wolf

June 30, 1995 Joseph Wancho

July 21, 1995 Richard Cuicchi

September 8, 1995 Joseph Wancho

September 13, 1995 Gregory H. Wolf