1995 Cleveland Indians: The Sleeping Giant Awakes

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.ContentsIntroduction, Joseph WanchoThe Fans of the 1995 Cleveland Indians, John McMurrayPlayersSandy Alomar Jr., Joseph WanchoRuben Amaro, Rory CostelloPaul Assenmacher, Nick WaddellCarlos Baerga, Joseph WanchoDavid Bell, Philip A. ColaAlbert Belle, Tom WanchoBud Black, Nick WaddellJeromy Burnitz, Kelly Boyer SagertMark Clark, Bob LeMoineDennis Cook, Alan CohenAlan Embree, Bill NowlinAlvaro Espinoza, Gregg OmothJohn Farrell, Bill NowlinBrian Giles, Mark HodermarskyJason Grimsley, Chip GreeneOrel Hershiser, Joseph WanchoKen Hill, Gregory H. WolfWayne Kirby, Ed GruverJesse Levis, Chip GreeneKenny Lofton, Richard BogovichAlbie Lopez, Harry SchogerDennis Martinez, Rory CostelloJose Mesa, Joseph WanchoEddie Murray, Alan CohenCharles Nagy, Steve WestChad Ogea, David SkeltonGregg Olson, Wynn MontgomeryTony Pena, Blake SherryHerbert Perry, Jay HurdEric Plunk, Ted LeavengoodJim Poole, Chip GreeneManny Ramirez, Bill NowlinBilly Ripken, Jimmy KeenanJoe Roa, Clayton TrutorPaul Shuey, Charles FaberPaul Sorrento, Alan CohenJulian Tavarez, Paul HofmannJim Thome, Joseph WanchoEddie Tucker, Richard CuicchiOmar Vizquel, Augusto CardenasDave Winfield, Doug SkipperThe Coaching StaffMike Hargrove, Gregory H. WolfBuddy Bell, Joseph WanchoLuis Isaac, Richard BogovichCharlie Manuel, Andy SturgillDave Nelson, Rick SchabowskiJeff Newman, Gary LivacariMark Wiley, Joel RippelBroadcastersJack Corrigan, Joseph WanchoTom Hamilton, Kelly Boyer SagertMike Hegan, Joseph WanchoRick Manning, Kelly Boyer SagertHerb Score, Joseph WanchoFront OfficeDick Jacobs, Clayton TrutorJohn Hart, Rick BalazsDan O'Dowd, Christopher WilliamsonBallparkJacobs Field, Stephanie LiscioGamesMay 7, 1995 Richard CuicchiJune 4, 1995 Joseph WanchoJune 5, 1995 Gregory H. WolfJune 30, 1995 Joseph WanchoJuly 21, 1995 Richard CuicchiSeptember 8, 1995 Joseph WanchoSeptember 13, 1995 Gregory H. Wolf