0408 - Bob DiBiasio
Bob DiBiasio is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, and has been a public relations executive with Cleveland for all but one season since 1979. During our conversation, he referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Bob DiBiasio and me after recording our interview at his home in Solon, Ohio.
The Diamond King
This episode is brought to you by The Diamond King, a documentary by filmmaker Marq Evans about legendary baseball artist Dick Perez.
To see the full list of places where you can rent or buy the movie, CLICK HERE.
A Local Kid
Bob is a Lakewood, Ohio native who graduated from Lakewood High School in 1973. He earned degrees in journalism and education from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1977.
The Transcript
While at Ohio Wesleyan, Bob was sports editor of the school paper The Transcript, the student Sports Information Director, and did color on OWU football and basketball broadcasts. He also played one year of basketball and two years of baseball at OWU.
Journalism
In 1978 he earned his Masters Degree in journalism from The Ohio State University and started a stint as Assistant Sports Editor of the Fremont (OH) News-Messenger before joining the Indians.
Year 47
Bob has been a public relations executive with Cleveland since 1979, making 2025 his 47th season in Major League Baseball. He started with the Indians in 1979 as Assistant PR Director, and was named Director of PR in 1980.
1987 Atlanta Braves
In 1986, Bob was named the Public Relations Director to Sports Illustrated’s Dream Team. His lone season away from Cleveland was 1987 when he served as PR Director for the Atlanta Braves, but he came back to Cleveland following that season and was named Vice President of Public Relations for the Indians in 1988. Bob was promoted to his current position in 2011.
Awards and Recognition
Bob received the Mel Harder Distinguished Service Award for Community Involvement in 1997, and was inducted into the Lakewood High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bob was the 1999 recipient of the prestigious Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence in Major League Baseball, and he received the ALS Cleveland Chapter Lou Gehrig “Iron Horse” Award for Community Service in 2009.
Jeremy Feador
Jeremy Feador is the official historian of the Cleveland Guardians, and was the guest on Episode 8 of Season 3 of My Baseball History.
During our interview, we spent more than two hours tracing the history of professional baseball in Cleveland all the way back to the 1860s and ‘70s with the Forest Citys. Then we moved chronologically through all of the different teams and team names Cleveland has had over the years, stopping along the way to talk about the great individual players who made up those teams.
Listen to Jeremy’s full episode HERE.
With this being the 30th anniversary of the iconic 1995 Indians, I thought Bob DiBiasio would be a fun person to chat with to get some perspective about that specific group, and everything they achieved.
Sparky DiBiasio
The field at Euclid had previously been known as "Euclid Stadium" or "Panther Stadium" before being renamed to honor Bob’s uncle, Dr. Spartoco "Sparky" DiBiasio, who was the first Head football coach of the newly consolidated Euclid High School in 1949.
Anthony DiBiasio
Bob’s dad, Anthony DiBiasio, is a Lakewood Schools legend. A World War II veteran, he worked with the school system from 1948-85. During that span, he was a teacher and advisor. In addition to acting as an assistant baseball and basketball coach, Bob’s dad was also a football coach at Lakewood High School before leaving to direct the reading center at Lakewood High School.
“Tony DiBiasio Square,” which is located at the corner of Franklin and Bunts roads, was named in his honor.
Brothers
Dan (right), who is six years older than Bob, went on to become a college president for almost 30 years in the state of Ohio at Wilmington and Ohio Northern.
The middle brother, Tony (left), is three years older than Bob. Tony was a child psychologist who had a private practice and was also in the Fairview School systems in their guidance counseling programs. He was also an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University.
Bob (center), the youngest, went into sports. Despite their differences in age, the older DiBiasio brothers allowed young Bobby to tag along and play with them growing up.
Bob Gain
Bob Gain was a defensive tackle for the Browns (1952, 1954-1964), starting in five Pro Bowl games in the span of seven years.
Gain played tackle, middle guard, and end and was a standout defender at tackle, end, and middle guard. Cleveland led the NFL in many defensive categories in his 12 years. The Browns won two-thirds of their games and three NFL championships during his career.
While he was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, Bob played one year of basketball and two years of baseball.
April 8, 1971
Ohio Gov. John J. Gilligan, wearing an Indians jacket, warms up for first pitch at the Cleveland Indians home opening day ceremonies on April 8, 1971 against the Boston Red Sox.
Fans were treated to a classic Northeast Ohio spring day, with a low of 23 and a high of 62. Nevertheless, more than 40,000 fans turned out at Cleveland Municipal Stadium as the Tribe faced the Red Sox.
Bob was one of them, as he skipped classes that day to attend the game, meaning he was in the house to see Gomer Hodge’s heroics.
Gomer Hodge
Gomer Hodge couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to his major-league career. Down 2-0 going into the 8th, Hodge - a rookie who days earlier had turned 27 - faced Sonny Siebert. Hodge hit a double and would later score on John Lowenstein’s single.
In the 9th, with Ray Fosse on third and Lou Camilli on second, Boston’s Ken Tatum fired a 1-2 fastball, and Hodge smacked a two-run single. Fosse and Camilli scored, and the Indians won, 3-2.
Russell Schneider
Russell Scheider was the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Indians beat reporter from 1964-78. He was tough, dogged, and competitive to the point of combativeness.
Schneider also covered the Cleveland Browns for a time in the 1980s and became great friends with former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano.
After Schneider assumed the beat, Browns owner Art Modell said effusively, "Welcome to the family."
"I'm here to cover the team," Russ said gruffly. "Not to be part of your family."
The Transcript
Bob earned degrees in journalism and education at Ohio Wesleyan University, and while he was there, he was the sports editor of The Transcript, but he also played one year of basketball and three years of baseball. Then he got his Masters Degree in Journalism from the Ohio State University.
Believe it or not, Bob always knew he wanted to be the PR guy for the Indians.
1974 OWU yearbook
1975 OWU yearbook
1976 OWU yearbook
1977 OWU yearbook
Both of Bob’s older brothers were Phi Gamma Delta, so Bob followed in their footsteps. Here he is in the 1975 photo.
Harry Jones
Harry Jones was a nationally known baseball writer covering the Indians for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in the 1950s, and in the 1960s he became the Indians TV play-by-play man. When Gabe Paul came from the Yankees to become president of the Indians in the 1970s, he wanted a veteran PR guy and hired Harry.
Bob was in contact with Harry all through college, all through his time working on his master's degree at Ohio State, all the time he was in Fremont, telling Harry he wanted his job some day.
Frank Shannon
Frank Shannon served as a player-coach for the Youngstown Bears in the National Basketball League during the 1946–47 season.
Shannon was also a long-time high school and college coach in Ohio, serving at several different high schools as well as Ohio Wesleyan University.
He coached men's basketball at Ohio Wesleyan for 21 years and men's tennis for 7 years. His basketball teams won 214 games, ranking him sixth all-time among Ohio Athletic Conference coaches.
In 1962, he was named Ohio College Coach of the Year after guiding the Bishops to a 21-3 record and the OAC championship. His tennis teams won 6 consecutive OAC championships.
Self-Awareness
In preparation for his sophomore season at Ohio Wesleyan, Bob noticed that the incoming freshmen recruits were more athletic than Bob could have ever dreamed to be. It was then that he realized a professional basketball career was most likely not in his future, confirmed by a pep talk from Coach Shannon.
If you’re new to the show, or if you just haven’t had a chance to listen to my episode with Guardians team historian Jeremy Feador, you can listen to it HERE.
Clinching the Division
The Cleveland Indians hosted the Baltimore Orioles at Jacobs FIeld on September 8, 1995. The game was broadcast on NBC as part of "The Baseball Network." The Tribe's record was a ridiculous 86-37 coming into the game, leading the Royals in the AL Central by a whopping 22.5 game margin. Cleveland won 3-2, clinching their first playoff berth since 1954.
Álvaro Espinoza
Although a free swinger, Álvaro Espinoza was a good bat handler and contact hitter. A sure-handed fielder, he had a strong throwing arm and found many ways to turn a double play, as well as his concentration and knowledge of the game were his main assets during his 12-year career.
Espinoza was also noted for his bubble gum hat antics, as well as other practical jokes he and teammate Wayne Kirby used to play on the 1995 Cleveland Indians.
Game Time
It may have been all fun and games in the locker room to a certain point, but about 30 minutes before the first pitch, the music would get turned off, and everybody would get in the zone. That intense focus struck fear into Indians opponents, and by mid-May of 1995, visiting teams didn’t want to come to Jacobs Field.
John Hart
In 1989, John Hart joined the Cleveland Indians as a Special Assignment Scout. Hart spent the two seasons as Director of Baseball Operations, but on September 18, 1991, he replaced the retiring Hank Peters as general manager. In 1993, Hart became Executive Vice President of the Indians, as well.
In 1994, he was named “Executive of the Year” by The Sporting News, becoming only the second Cleveland executive to have won the award (Bill Veeck, 1948). He followed it up by being named “Executive of the Year” in 1995, as well, becoming only the third person to win the award in back-to-back years. Hart was the team's GM through 2001.
Hank Peters
Hank Peters (right) did two tours with the Indians. He was the director of player development from 1966-71. He then returned as general manager in November 1987, acting in that role until September 1991.
Peters convinced owner Dick Jacobs to invest heavily in the farm system. Peters then made a trade that set the foundation of Cleveland’s baseball revival by trading Joe Carter to San Diego for Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga at the winter meetings in 1989.
John Hart, Manager
John Hart didn’t want to be a front office guy. He wanted to be in uniform, and managing the team on the field.
He did so for 19 games during the 1989 season, leading the team to an 8-11 record, but Hank Peters had other plans for Hart.
Dick Jacobs
Richard E. “Dick” Jacobs was the majority owner of the Cleveland Indians from December 1986 until February 2000. He purchased the team with his older brother, David H. Jacobs, from the estate of the late F.J. “Steve” O’Neill in December 1986 for $35.5 million. Jacobs oversaw the restoration of the Indians to on-the-field and at-the-box-office success following three decades of mediocrity.
Larry Dolan
Lawrence J. “Larry” Dolan was the principal owner of the Cleveland Guardians from 2000 until his death in 2025. During his time as owner, the team had periods of competitiveness, including playoff runs in 2007 and 2013, and making it to the World Series in 2016, as well as periods without success, including several seasons with over 90 losses.
While the team's payrolls were among the highest in MLB during Jacobs' final years as owner, at times they had been among the lowest under Dolan.
Paul Dolan
After graduating from law school, Paul Dolan was hired as an attorney for his father's law firm (Thrasher, Dinsmore, and Dolan), eventually becoming a partner in 1992.
Upon his father taking control of the team, Paul was hired as a vice president and general counsel. In 2004, he was promoted to team president. Though officially listed as Owner/Chairman/CEO by the team, the Guardians are considered to be a family asset, purchased through various Dolan Family trusts.
Chris Antonetti
Chris Antonetti worked in the front office of the Montreal Expos in 1998, but has worked for the Guardians franchise since 1999.
Before the 2010 season, Executive VP/GM Mark Shapiro announced his promotion to team general manager at season's end, with chairman/CEO Paul Dolan naming Antonetti as Shapiro's successor.
On October 6, 2015, the Cleveland franchise announced the promotion of Antonetti to president of baseball operations along with the promotion of assistant general manager Mike Chernoff to general manager.
Mike Chernoff
Mike Chernoff attended Princeton University, where he played shortstop for the Tigers baseball team. He took an internship to work in the Indians' front office and remained with the team.
He served as the director of baseball relations, and was promoted to assistant general manager in Cleveland in October 2010. In 2014, he declined an opportunity to interview for the general manager position with the San Diego Padres.
He has filled that role for the Guardians since October of 2015.
Dan O’Dowd
Dan O'Dowd was the Director of Baseball Operations and Assistant General Manager of the Indians, working for the team from 1987 to 1998.
Dan oversaw the Indians scouting and player development needs, and under his tutelage, the Indians were named “Organization of the Year” in 1992 by Baseball America.
Along with John Hart, Dan O’Dowd played a pivotal role in Cleveland’s defining decision to lock its young, emerging talent into long term contracts.
Arbitration
Left-handed starter Greg Swindell was the last player to beat the Indians in salary arbitration, winning a salary of $2.025 million in 1991.
Swindell won his hearing, but came away mad because of critical remarks made by the Indians’ attorney. The Tribe had offered just $1.4 million.
The meetings were so contentious, however, that John Hart and Dan O'Dowd felt they had to do something to avoid the process in the future. Their solution was to offer players multiyear deals before they reached the required service time to be eligible for arbitration, producing the longest sustained run of success in franchise history.
Multiple Multi-Year Deals
The Tribe’s new strategy was so groundbreaking, there was an article in the March 30, 1992 Sports Illustrated by Peter King about it titled “Tribe Of The Future: By Offering Multiyear Deals, The Cleveland Indians Bank On Their Best Young Players.”
“In negotiations with some agents with tough reputations, the Indians got a dozen deals done in a five-week frenzy that ended on March 12. Talks are continuing with the 13th player, slugging outfielder Albert Belle.”
Trevor Bauer
When Trevor Bauer took the Indians to arbitration in 2018, it was just the third time the team had gone to arbitration with a player since 1991 when they went with Swindell (who won) and second baseman Jerry Browne (who lost).
The Indians also went with right-handers Vinnie Pestano and Josh Tomlin in 2014, with the team winning both cases. In each of those cases, they took a file-and-trial approach.
Joey Belle
When John Hart came into the organization, he took a hard look at their minor league teams, top to bottom. He felt like the only guy in the entire farm system with real potential was some kid named Joey Belle. While he had an attitude, the directive was for everyone to just put up with it, because he was so good.
Belle’s 1990 season was interrupted by a rehab stay. Re-emerging clean and healthy, Joey Belle began going by his given first name, Albert, upon leaving the facility. He made Cleveland’s roster for good at the start of the 1991 season, and in 123 games that year, he batted .282 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI.
“Archie”
Rick Manning played for the Cleveland Indians (1975–1983) and Milwaukee Brewers (1983–1987), and has been a color commentator for Cleveland Guardians telecasts since 1990.
When you listen to broadcasts, you may hear Manning referred to as “Arch” or “Archie.” This became his nickname because of another professional athlete who also has the name of Manning: former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning.
Nobody Worked Harder
Albert would spend hours in the batting cage, arriving at the complex earlier than anyone else, and already having a full sweat going before his teammates would show up for practice or games.
Albert, Jim Thome, and Manny Ramirez wouldn’t let “little hitters” like Kenny Lofton or Carlos Baerga get in the cage when they were in the zone.
Bob says that “opportunity + preparation = luck” and that there are no better examples of that being true than Albert and himself.
Charlie Manuel
After his own successful playing career, Charlie Manuel coached and managed the Cleveland Indians and managed the Philadelphia Phillies, winning the 2008 World Series over the Tampa Bay Rays and the 2009 National League Championship Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bob says Charlie Manuel was the perfect fit to be the hitting coach for the group of players on those mid- to late-90s Indians teams. He would talk hitting 24/7.
Jim Thome’s Bat Point
Jim Thome explains how (and why) Charlie Manuel helped him develop his iconic bat point during a rain delay in the 1993 season in THIS CLIP from the MLB Network.
Albert Belle
Albert Belle had the only 50 home run/50 double season in MLB history in 1995. At his peak, he was one of the most dominant (and one of the most feared) hitters in baseball.
The Corked Bat
In the first inning of the game on July 15, 1994 at Comiskey Park, White Sox manager Gene Lamont was tipped off that Indians batter Albert Belle was using a corked bat.
The Indians, knowing the bat was indeed corked, dispatched relief pitcher Jason Grimsley to retrieve the confiscated bat from the umpires' dressing room. Grimsley accessed the area above the false ceiling in the clubhouse and crawled across with a flashlight in his mouth until he reached the umpires' room. He switched Belle's bat with teammate Paul Sorrento's and returned to the clubhouse.
The Indians were ordered by the American League to produce Belle's original, unaltered bat. Initially, the AL had threatened to involve the FBI in regards to the burglary, but they dropped the issue in exchange for the bat. On July 18, the bat was sent to MLB in New York where it was x-rayed and then sawed in half in the presence of Belle and Indians GM John Hart. The bat was found to be corked and Belle was suspended by the AL for 10 games.
Craig Sager
Craig Sager was a sports reporter who covered an array of sports for CNN and its sister stations TBS and TNT, from 1981 until his death in late 2016.
Sager began his career as a reporter for WXLT in Sarasota, Florida. He worked as a radio news director in 1974, making $95 a week for his efforts, a paltry sum which was supplemented by his access to sports events. Sager was in Atlanta and dodged security to be on the field on April 8, 1974, when Henry Aaron hit his record-breaking 715th home run, becoming the first to interview him at home plate amidst mass fan pandemonium.
During a TV spot for TBS in 1987, Bob got in trouble because he told Craig Sager, on the air, how to cork a bat. That kind of thing was frowned upon, to say the least.
Corking A Bat
After Sammy Sosa’s bat was shattered by Devil Rays pitcher and former Cubs teammate Jeremi Gonzalez during the first inning of the Cubs’ 3-2 win on June 3, 2003, catcher Toby Hall retrieved a broken piece and showed plate umpire Tim McClelland it was filled with pieces of cork. Sosa was promptly ejected, and the “crime” became national news. Sammy said it was an accident - that he had used the bat during batting practice and accidentally grabbed it by mistake when he went to the plate.
Bob tells us that there are good ways to cork a bat, and bad ways, but that the point of corking a bat isn’t to hit more or longer home runs. The point of corking a bat is to make it lighter, giving players some extra swing speed in the dog days of summer when their bodies are tired and may be dragging a bit.
Phil Seghi
Phil Seghi was a front-office executive in Major League Baseball. A longtime associate of Gabe Paul, Seghi was credited with signing Pete Rose, the all-time leader in hits, when Seghi was farm system and scouting director of the Cincinnati Reds in 1960.
In 1963, Seghi was promoted by Bill DeWitt to assistant general manager, but a change in ownership and the arrival of Bob Howsam in 1967 as GM caused Seghi to leave Cincinnati for the Oakland Athletics at the close of that season. Seghi would serve 13 full seasons as Cleveland's general manager, starting in 1973.
Joe Niekro
On August 3, 1987, Twins knuckleballer Joe Niekro was ejected after umpires determined he was trying to scuff balls, presumably to give his signature pitch a bit more movement. That's the short version. The long version is much more entertaining. Watch this.
Niekro denied that he was scuffing the ball. He said he always kept an emery board in his pocket to keep his nails in proper shape for a better grip on the knuckleball (though, he also had sandpaper). The league suspended him for 10 games.
Joe Carter
In the winter following the 1989 season, John Hart traded the big league club's only real star, Joe Carter, to the Padres for a package which included Sandy Alomar, Jr. and Carlos Baerga.
Carter enjoyed a breakout season with the Indians in 1986, when he led the major leagues with 121 runs batted in and recorded career highs of 200 base hits, 341 total bases, and 108 runs scored.
In Cleveland, Carter established himself as a prolific power hitter, hitting as many as 35 home runs in a season and regularly driving in 100 or more runs.
He was also a very good base runner, stealing 20-30 bases a year with a high rate of success. In 1987, Carter became a member of the single-season 30–30 club for home runs/stolen bases.
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Sandy Alomar, Jr. won Rookie of the Year in 1990 and a Gold Glove, and was a 6-time All-Star during his 11 years with Cleveland, winning the All-Star Game MVP Award when the game was held at Jacobs Field in 1997.
That season, Sandy also put together a 30-game hitting streak (one short of Nap Lajoie's franchise record, and four short of his former Padres teammate Benito Santiago's record for catchers), and helped lead Cleveland to their third straight postseason appearance.
Leader
“When he spoke, everybody listened.”
Sandy suffered a number of injuries over the first half of his career, but in 1997, everything finally came together. He batted .324 and was the MVP of the All-Star game in his home ballpark, hitting a game-deciding two-run home run off Shawn Estes to the left field bleachers in the bottom of the 7th inning of a 3–1 American League win. Alomar was the first player to hit an All-Star game home run in his home stadium since Hank Aaron in 1972.
Mel Harder
The only player to have spent more seasons in a Cleveland uniform than Sandy Alomar, Jr. (as both a player and coach combined) is Mel Harder, who spent 36 consecutive seasons with the team.
Harder spent 42 seasons in baseball, the first 36 with the Indians as a pitcher from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly regarded pitching coaches from 1948 to 1963.
He set franchise records for wins (223), games started (433) and innings pitched (3,426.1) which were later broken by Bob Feller, and he still holds the club record of 582 career games pitched.
He was among the AL's career leaders in wins (9th), games (8th) and starts (10th) when he retired. He was also an excellent fielder, leading AL pitchers in putouts four times, then a record.
Always Available
Charles Nagy, Mel Harder, and Sandy Alomar, Jr. play catch at a publicity photo shoot during the construction of Jacobs Field.
Bob says he is forever indebted to Sandy, Charlie, and Carlos Baerga for their constant willingness to show up for events like this one during such an important time for the franchise to get good PR.
The commemorative tickets for the final series at Cleveland Stadium.
Carlos Baerga
Carlos Baerga ended up spending a little more than 6 and a half seasons with Cleveland. He was known for his superb hitting abilities during his first stint with the Indians in the early-to-mid-1990s, accumulating impressive batting statistics, earning three All-Star appearances (1992, 1993, 1995), two Silver Slugger Awards (1993, 1994), and making key contributions to the Indians' 1995 postseason run.
He was considered one of Major League Baseball's hardest-hitting middle infielders by 1995 with his superb bat speed and switch-hitting power.
Historic Talent
On April 8, 1993, Carlos Baerga became the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning. He hit a two-run shot against Yankees southpaw Steve Howe in the 7th inning and finished the frame with a home run from the left side of the plate against Steve Farr.
Bob called Carlos the spiritual leader of the team.
Spanish Broadcasting
Carlos Baerga is the analyst for the Cleveland Guardians Spanish-language radio broadcasts on WARF 1350 AM in Cleveland.
He rotates play-by-play duties with Rafa Hernández-Brito and Octavio Sequera. Baerga's Spanish-language broadcasts cover all 81 home games during the regular season.
Jim Thome
Cleveland drafted Jim Thome in the 13th round of the 1989 MLB June Amateur Draft from Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. He came up as a third baseman, but struggled there defensively, and would eventually make the move over to First Base, where he had a Hall of Fame career.
In his initial stint with Cleveland, a 12-season run which lasted from 1991 through 2002, Thome batted .287, averaging 39 home runs and 109 RBI per 162 games. He won a Silver Slugger Award, was a 3-time All-Star, and finished top-7 in MVP voting 3 times, but that’s a career no one expected from a community college kid.
An Athletic Family
Many of the Thome family played sports. Jim's grandmother was hired at a local Caterpillar plant solely to play for the company's softball team. His father built bulldozers for Caterpillar and played slow-pitch softball. His aunt, Caroline Thome Hart, is in the Women's Softball Hall of Fame. His two older brothers, Chuck III and Randy, each played baseball at Limestone High School.
Manny Ramirez
Cleveland drafted Manny Ramirez with the 13th overall pick in the 1st round of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft out of George Washington High School in New York. Manny was called up for 22 games in 1993, but his real tenure in Cleveland was from 1994 through 2000.
In less than 1,000 games with the Indians, Manny hit 236 home runs, he had 804 RBI, and 1,086 hits. He batted .313, but he also walked 541 times, putting his on-base percentage at .407.
He was a 4-time All-Star with Cleveland, a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and finished top-6 in MVP voting 3 times. And that was all BEFORE he left for Boston, where his career really took off.
Manny’s 1999 Season
In 1999, Manny Ramirez had a remarkable season, posting a .333 batting average with 44 home runs and a league-leading 165 RBI.
While he led the league in RBI, he finished third in American League MVP voting, behind Ivan Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez.
The 1999 Indians team scored 1,009 runs, becoming only the 7th team since 1900 to cross the plate more than a thousand times in a single season. No team has done it since.
Top Prospect
Scouts wrote that the Washington Heights senior had "big-time power" with the ability to hit 400-500 home runs. (He'd end up hitting 555.) He batted .650 with 14 dingers in just 22 games his final year in high school. His swing was art in motion.
“Manny goes to call a timeout and he puts his back hand up. The umpire never gave him time so Trovin Valdez threw the pitch. Manny was trying to get his hand on the bat, never got it on the bat, and just swung," third base coach Steve Mandl says. "He hit the ball down the left-field line into some handball courts ... almost 400 feet. He definitely didn't get his other hand on the bat, I was standing right there."
Bob Fisher
Dr. Robert "Bob” Fisher retired in 2010 after 42 seasons as head coach of the Baldwin Wallace University baseball program. Coach Fisher was the winningest head coach in the history of the college with 700 career wins (700-641-14 overall).
Fisher was selected by his fellow OAC coaches as the 1996 Coach of the Year, the fourth time in his career he had been honored with the award. The last 35 Fisher-coached squads won 10 or more games, while 14 teams won 20 or more. Under Fisher, BW advanced to the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament 4 times and the OAC Playoffs 16 times.
Allen Davis aka Abraham Allende
Allende will be remembered by many in Greater Cleveland for his years as a sportscaster when he used the professional name of Allen Davis.
Davis worked for six years at WKYC Channel 3 and eight years at WEWS Channel 5. He then was director of community relations for the Cleveland Indians. He left the Indians in 2000 to study for the ministry and dropped Davis in favor of Abraham Allende, his given name.
Batting Order
This was the batting order the Indians used during Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS.
Pretty insane to have such an embarrassment of riches that you can slot Jim Thome 6th and Manny Ramirez 7th in the order.
Cecil Fielder
Cecil Fielder played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays (1985–1988), in Japan's Central League for the Hanshin Tigers (1989), and then in MLB for the Detroit Tigers (1990–1996), New York Yankees (1996–97), Anaheim Angels in 1998, and Cleveland Indians in 1998.
With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves. In 1990, he became the first player to reach the 50–home run mark since George Foster hit 52 for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977. He was the first AL player to do so since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris famously hit 54 and 61 in 1961.
He is the father of Prince Fielder, who similarly established himself as a premier power hitter during his career. The Fielders are the only father and son to both have 50-home run seasons in MLB history.
Kenny Lofton
In the winter following the 1991 season, Cleveland traded for Kenny Lofton.
In his first stint with the team from 1992 through 1996, Lofton averaged 6.2 WAR per season, batting .316, stealing 325 bases, and playing elite defense in the outfield.
Multi Sport Star
“I don’t know if there’s another player more dynamic in our franchise’s history than Kenny Lofton.” A pretty big statement from Bob, considering 2025 is the franchise’s 125th season.
But Kenny started out as a basketball player, attending the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship and leading the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1988. The team was coached by Lute Olson and included Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, Jud Buechler, Sean Rooks, and Tom Tolbert, all of whom went on to play in the NBA.
Lofton did not join the school's baseball team until his junior year, but was so athletic he was drafted by the Houston Astros.
Omar Vizquel
In the winter following the 1993 season, Cleveland traded for Omar Vizquel, who was on the Mariners. John Hart kind of pulled a quick one because he was friends with Edgar Martinez who was teammates with Vizquel at the time. Hart coyly asked Edgar about Omar. Edgar said “he’s special, he’s going to be a star,” and Hart traded for him later that day. Bob said that of all the players from the ‘90s Indians, he had the most fun watching Omar Vizquel play ball.
Duane Kuiper
As a player, Duane Kuiper was a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants. As a middle infielder, he was Bob’s favorite player growing up.
Save for one year, Kuiper has been a television and radio broadcaster for the Giants since 1986, and is one half of the popular "Kruk and Kuip" duo alongside his friend and former teammate Mike Krukow. He briefly left the Giants in 1993 to work for the expansion Colorado Rockies, but returned in 1994.
Eddie Murray
The first really big acquisitions where Cleveland spent legitimate money was when they signed First Baseman Eddie Murray and Pitcher Dennis Martinez before the 1994 season.
Murray signed a one-year, $3 million contract with an option for a second year, to play First Base.
3,000 Hit Club
Eddie Murray would get his 3,000th hit on June 30, 1995 in a game against the Minnesota Twins, becoming the 20th player in Major League history to join the club, and the third to do so in a Cleveland uniform, joining Napoleon Lajoie, who did it in 1914, and Tris Speaker, who did it in 1925.
Here, Bob holds the bats of Napoleon Lajoie and Tris Speaker on a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Dennis Martínez
José Dennis Martínez Ortiz was nicknamed "El Presidente" ('The President'). He was the first Nicaraguan to play in the major leagues.
During his career, Martínez pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves from 1976 to 1998. He threw a perfect game in 1991, and was a four-time MLB All-Star.
Key Tower
Key Tower (formerly known as Society Center) is a skyscraper on Public Square in downtown Cleveland.
Designed by architect César Pelli, the building reaches 57 stories (947 feet) to the top of its spire, and is visible from up to 20 miles away. It is the tallest building in the state of Ohio, the 39th-tallest in the United States, and the 165th-tallest in the world.
Bob remembered hearing that there was an amphitheater somewhere near the 28th floor on the south side of the building, which overlooked the construction site where Jacobs Field was being completed. He decided that would make a great location to hold the press conference announcing the signings of Dennis Martínez and Eddie Murray.
The 6:30 AM Group
Eddie Murray
Manny Ramirez
Jim Thome
Carlos Baerga
Charlie Manuel was the hitting coach
The Strike
The 1994 Indians started the season 14-17, but then went on a 52-30 run before The Strike hit. They had been as many as 5 games back, but they had closed the gap to just 1 game back of the first place White Sox by the time the season ended prematurely after their win against Toronto on August 10.
Buddy Bell
When the suggestion was made that replacement players would suit up for major league teams during The Strike, Buddy Bell refused to get in uniform to coach them, almost costing him his job.
The Sellout Streak
1995 was an interesting year in baseball. Lots of other teams had trouble winning their fans back after The Strike. There was serious talk that the sport may never recover, that fans might never come back and support their teams like they had Pre-Strike.
The Indians didn't seem to have that problem. Every home game from June 12th on was sold out, a streak which wouldn’t end until April 4, 2001. By then, the team had sold out a then-Major League record 455 consecutive regular-season home games.
Paul Assenmacher
Paul Assenmacher was a left-handed relief pitcher who played for fourteen seasons. He pitched for the Atlanta Braves (1986–1989), Chicago Cubs (1989–1993), New York Yankees (1993), Chicago White Sox (1994) and the Cleveland Indians (1995–1999).
Assenmacher is tied with Mike Jackson for most games pitched in the 1990s (644). He was a very good fielding pitcher, recording a .986 fielding percentage with only two errors in 146 total chances in 855.2 innings pitched.
Eric Plunk
Eric Plunk played from 1986 through 1999. He pitched for the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers.
Plunk was the winning pitcher in the first ever game played at Jacobs Field on April 4, 1994. He became one of the most reliable set-up men in baseball, posting a sub-3.00 earned run average in four consecutive seasons from 1993 to 1996.
On September 17, 1996, Plunk pitched the final three innings and got the save in the Indians' 9-4 win over the White Sox that clinched Cleveland's second consecutive Central Division title.
José Mesa
José Mesa played from 1987 through 2007. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Detroit Tigers. He retired with 321 career saves.
Mesa was a two-time MLB All-Star and won the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1995, when he led the AL in saves. His nickname was "Joe Table", the literal translation of his name in the English language.
Jacobs Field
Opening Day at Jacobs Field may have been “Just Perfect,” but it almost never happened.
The referendum for the new stadium passed 52-48, barely allowing it to be built. In fact, the state of baseball in Cleveland was in such limbo during this time that Bob actually wrote two different press releases in preparation for the announcement: one for if it passed and the team stayed in Cleveland, and another for if it didn't pass and the team would leave town.
Commissioner Fay Vincent came to Cleveland at Dick Jacobs’ request and told the media that if the referendum didn’t pass, there was no guarantee there would be a team in Cleveland moving forward.
Thankfully, the referendum did pass, and Jacobs Field would be the new stadium for the 1994 season. It was the first time since the 1946 season that the Indians were playing in a stadium that was built specifically for baseball.
Opening Day was April 4, 1994, with President Bill Clinton on hand to throw out the first pitch.
Bob Feller waves to the crowd during opening day ceremonies on April 4, 1994 at Jacobs Field.
Hal Lebovitz
Hal Lebovitz began his baseball-writing career in 1946 with the now defunct Cleveland News, covering the Indians as the paper's beat writer from 1950 until the News folded in 1960. Lebovitz then moved to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, covering baseball until 1964 when he became the paper's sports editor, a position he held for over 20 years. He was also a regular contributor to the Sporting News from 1947 to 1993.
On several occasions, he was instrumental in keeping the Indians from moving, most notably in the 1970s, when he found out the plan to split an Indians season between homes being played in Cleveland and New Orleans, with the team eventually moving.
A Crushing Blow
Had Cleveland lost their baseball team, it would have been a crushing blow for Bob, both personally and professionally. He would have lost his dream job, but he also would have lost the team he grew up loving. The team which made him fall in love with the sport.
It’s one thing to lose a job, but you can always find another job. Losing a team is a pain that can never be fully healed.
Orel Hershiser
Orel Hershiser won 134 games for the Dodgers through the 1994 season, finishing Top-4 in Cy Young voting 4 different times, and winning the award during the Dodgers’ magical 1988 season. In April of 1995, he signed with Cleveland for less than half of what he had made the previous season in Los Angeles.
Hershiser said the reason he signed with Cleveland is because he looked at their lineup, realized they were scoring 7.5 runs a game, and thought to himself, “my abilities may be dwindling, but I can stick around a game long enough for a win if my offense is scoring 7.5 runs for me.”
Pitching Staff
Everyone remembers that 1995 Indians team for being an offensive juggernaut, but the pitching staff had the best team ERA in the American League.
Orel Hersheiser, Dennis Martinez, and Charles Nagy (seen here) anchored the rotation.
38 of closer Jose Mesa's 46 saves in 1995 were recorded in consecutive appearances in save situations, a major-league record at the time.
1954 Pitching Staff
The 1954 Indians pitching staff won the Pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in Wins, Innings Pitched, and Strikeouts.
Here, Cleveland manager Al Lopez kneels alongside his pitchers, from left: Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Mike Garcia and Herb Score. Lopez guided the 1954 Indians to a dazzling, record-setting 111-43 record.
Travis Fryman
Travis Fryman played for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 2002.
Fryman batted .287 with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs in 1998, his first season in Cleveland, to help lead his team to the American League Central division crown. Injuries hampered Fryman in 1999.
He rebounded to have his best season in 2000. He established career highs in batting average (.321), slugging percentage (.516), on-base percentage (.392), hits (184), doubles, and RBIs (106).
Additionally, he made only eight errors in the field and had a 60-game errorless streak on his way to winning a Gold Glove Award. He was also the starting third baseman for the American League at the All-Star Game.
While having suites and tons more ticket sales allowed the Indians to have a payroll that competed with the big market teams, it wasn’t the brand new stadium that put fans in those seats… it was the dominant team on the field. Other teams around the country didn’t necessarily understand that major point when they tried to build new stadiums of their own, thinking that would automatically cure any money issues.
Hall of Famers
The 1995 team had three Hall of Famers on it in Jim Thome, Eddie Murray, and Dave Winfield.
Here, Bob hangs out on the back porch at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York with Eddie (left) and Dave (right).
Dave Winfield
Over his 22-year career, Dave Winfield played for six teams: the Padres, Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, Twins, and Indians. He had the winning hit in the 1992 World Series with the Blue Jays over the Braves.
Winfield was a 12-time MLB All-Star, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
In 2004, ESPN named him the third-best all-around athlete of all time in any sport. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 in his first year of eligibility, and was an inaugural inductee into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
The 1995 Indians team was so stacked that people forget Winfield was even on it. He didn’t even make the playoff roster, that’s how great the team was.
Wahoo! What A Finish
Valerie Arcuri Bonacci is a former Vice President of Marketing and Broadcasting for the Cleveland Indians where she spent 17 years. Like most players, she paid her dues with a three-year tour of duty in the Minor Leagues (Kinston, North Carolina).
Valerie, along with the people at Major League Baseball, conceived of and produced the “Wahoo! What a Finish” documentary, which chronicled the come-from-behind wins of the Indians.
Bob decided to hold a press conference announcing the release of the VHS tape. The people at MLB were shocked at the reception.
Team Museum
Bob says that the plan is for Progressive Field to eventually have a team museum, which is something the Indians actually pioneered more than 70 years ago. On August 15, 1952, Cleveland Municipal Stadium officially opened the first team museum inside a baseball stadium, pictured here during its opening day.
Filling In The Gaps
While the museum was groundbreaking, and had some really cool artifacts, it didn’t last forever, and most of the pieces were lost or stolen after it closed and things were put into storage.
It has been a difficult task for current team historian Jeremy Feador to retroactively build a museum to go into the current stadium, but it is a task he is working hard to accomplish.
Mike Hargrove
After his own successful major league career was over, Mike Hargrove started at the lowest rung in professional baseball, as the hitting instructor at Batavia of the short season Class A New York-Penn League, but worked his was all the way up to become the manager of the big league club.
He took over the Indians in July of 1991 when John McNamara was dismissed. The Indians were a team in disarray and destined to lose a franchise record 105 games. He went on to win 721 games in 9 years at the helm of the Tribe, leading them to two World Series trips.
Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella won the AL Manager of the Year Award in 1995 when he led the Mariners to a 79-66 record, and again in 2001 when he led the Mariners to a record-tying 116 wins.
Piniella earned 86 points (9 first place votes) to win the 1995 award, while Mike Hargrove (71 points, 8 first place votes) finished third behind Boston’s Kevin Kennedy (74 points, 11 first place votes).
While it is definitely a shame that Mike Hargrove never won a Manager of the Year award during his career, I’m sure Bob feels like Addie Joss’ death, Ray Chapman’s death, or the 1993 boating accident which took the lives of Steve Olin and Tim Crews are all higher on the franchise’s official Travesty List.
1995 Cleveland Indians coaching staff
Tony Peña’s Walkoff
In three seasons with Cleveland, Tony Peña hit 8 home runs total in the regular season. But he hit a walk off home run in the 10th inning of Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS against Boston. Here he is with WKYC Channel 3 Sports Anchor Jim Donovan after hitting his dramatic home run.
Bob Uecker
Bob Uecker was the color commentator for that World Series on NBC with Bob Costas performing play-by-play duties. As storied of a career as Uecker had as a broadcaster, the only two World Series he called were the 1995 Series, and the 1997 Series.
How fitting, though, for him to be on the mic both times for the Indians, after his portrayal of Harry Doyle in the Major League movie franchise.
Bob Goes Hollywood
Bob hanging out with Jake Taylor and Rick Vaughn, probably talking about a potential prospect from the California Penal League.
Herb Score
Herb Score pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1955 through 1959 and the Chicago White Sox from 1960 through 1962. He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1955, and an AL All-Star in 1955 and 1956. Due to an on-field injury that occurred in 1957, he retired early as a player in 1962.
Score joined the Tribe’s broadcast team in 1964, spending the first four years on television and the next 29 on the radio, through 1997. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in 2006.
What If…?
From 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful teams in baseball, winning 14 consecutive division titles, making an MLB record 8 consecutive NLCS appearances, and producing one of the greatest pitching rotations in the history of baseball including Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine.
But they only won that one World Series, and if the Indians had won in 1995 instead, I think we look back at those Braves teams the same way we look at the Buffalo Bills who went to four straight Super Bowls but couldn't win one. Who knows the butterfly effect that 1995 World Series started?
Joe Brinkman
Joe Brinkman worked in the American League from 1972 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his 2006 retirement.
Brinkman was the left field umpire for Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS between the Mariners and the Yankees, meaning he was the umpire who officially ruled Edgar Martinez's famous double a fair ball. Brinkman was also the home plate umpire with the controversial strike zone during Game 6 of the 1995 World Series between the Indians and Braves.
A Close Series
The 1995 World Series was extremely close, with the Braves only outscoring the Indians 23-19 over the span of the six game series.
Game 1 - Braves win 3-2
Game 2 - Braves win 4-3
Game 3 - Indians win 7-6 in 11 innings
Game 4 - Braves win 5-2
Game 5 - Indians win 5-4
Game 6 - Braves win 1-0
World Series Rally
The city of Cleveland held a rally for the Indians at Public Square after the season, which is something that doesn't happen often.
On October 30, 50,000 people dropped whatever they would have normally been doing on a Monday to make a pilgrimage to Public Square to celebrate a team that didn’t win the world series.
Bob wants to be sure you understand it was a rally, not a parade.
Omar’s Speech
Bob remembers Omar Vizquel giving a funny speech at the rally, talking about an older woman who came up to him in Atlanta to tell him how much she loved him and the way the team played.
91 Sold Out Events
The 1997 season at Jacobs Field featured an unprecedented 91 sold out events, from every home Indians game, to the All-Star Game, to the Home Run Derby, to playoff games.
By the end of the year, everyone involved in the organization needed a vacation. Thankfully, Action Travel in Solon was there to help Bob and his family take that vacation.
The Guardian Way…?
Cleveland has won more games over the past 12 years than every other team besides the Dodgers and Yankees, but you don't really hear about The Guardian Way.
However, there is clearly an intentional philosophy of trying to create a sustained winning culture in action.
The Philosophy in Cleveland
Bob says that philosophy is based on 3 things:
Acquisition of talent, with an emphasis on high character, quality talent.
Development. Provide every possible resource that you can to make each person within the organization the best they can be
Opportunity. Give them the opportunity to show what they can do.
Having The (All-)Stars Align
It is insanely difficult to make the dollars, the talent, health, and the culture align. The Indians teams of the mid- to late-90s had the good fortune of those stars aligning, even if they didn’t win the big one.
Here, the six players who represented the Indians at the 1995 All-Star Game in Texas take a photo together.
Top row, left to right: Manny Ramirez, Carlos Baerga, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle
Bottom row, left to right: Dennis Martinez, José Mesa
Dominican Academy
Cleveland made a major investment in their Dominican academy, placing an emphasis on finding talent in the baseball-rich country.
The state-of-the art facility covers 22 acres and was built to accommodate 120 players, coaches, and staff. Fully furnished dormitory housing can hold up to 88 athletes who are supported by amenities that promote nutrition, mental-skills training, strength and conditioning, medical services and safety.
Among the changes made to Progressive Field this offseason was the reconfiguration of the upper deck in left field.
Look at these gorgeous views!
Fried Bologna Sandwich
One of the new menu items offered at Progressive Field this year is a piece of griddle-toasted bologna topped with American cheese, potato chips, and a tangy sauce on a brioche bun. Don’t tell Bob’s doctors if you see him eating one at the park this year.
Blue Seats
Progressive Field is in the midst of switching from forest green seats to blue. While they’re about 75% done making the transition, that will be a 3-year process, so there’s still a chance you get a green seat if you come to a game.
Behind The 8-Ball
The Guardians advanced to the 2024 ALCS (I know, because I was there), which is always a good thing. However, it put the construction crew behind the 8-ball because it meant they couldn’t start the new phase of renovations until late October as they waited for the season to end. Surely, a tradeoff the Guardians will be happy to make every year.
Jim Folk
Jim Folk is in his 41st season in Major League Baseball and 31st with the Cleveland Guardians. He joined the organization in June of 1992 as Director, Ballpark Operations and was elevated to Vice President, Ballpark Operations in November 2001; he will lead the next generation of ballpark improvements at Progressive Field after being named to his current position in December 2020.
President Bill Clinton
Bob had the honor of escorting sitting President Bill Clinton to the mound to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day of the inaugural 1994 season at Jacobs Field. For a kid from Lakewood, it was one of the thrills of his life.
“Beautiful, man,” said Clinton in an interview of his thoughts of the new park, which was funded largely on a tax on liquor and cigarettes. “There isn’t enough federal money to rebuild the cities. It takes efforts like this one to bring in jobs and housing.”
The capacity crowd roared as Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States, ascended to the top step of the Indians’ dugout and looked up at the crowd behind him. Clinton wound up and threw a perfect strike to Sandy Alomar Jr.
100th Anniversary
On July 21, 2001, the Indians brought back as many living members of their 100 greatest players to commemorate their 100th anniversary as a team.
Front row, left to right: Herb Score, Al Rosen, Minnie Minoso, Mel Harder, Bob Feller, Steve Gromek, Ray Narleski, Vic Power
Second row: Max Alvis, Tito Francona, Jim Perry, Kim Grant, Johnny Romano, Rocky Colavito, Joe Azcue, Woodie Held
Third row: Luis Tiant, Sonny Siebert, Sam McDowell, Andre Thornton, Len Barker, Rick Manning, Pat Tabler, Ray Fosse
Fourth row: Brook Jacoby, Doug Jones, Tom Candiotti, Joe Charboneau, Duane Kuiper, Gary Bell, Rick Waits, Orel Hershiser
Top row: Omar Vizquel, Roberto Alomar, Charles Nagy, Jim Thome, Travis Fryman, Kenny Lofton
“How Lucky Am I?”
Bob sits with his childhood hero, Rocky Colavito, at an event.
Bob has been lucky enough to not only meet his childhood idols, but to become close personal friends with them over the 47 years he has spent on the job.
While it is part of the job, and there is lots of important work to do, that perk is certainly not lost on him. Just a kid from Lakewood.
Follow Bob Online
Bob DiBiasio is also the host of “At the Ballpark with Bobby D” across the Cleveland Guardians radio network.
Home Sweet Home
Bob was gracious enough to invite me to his house so we could sit down together and record this interview.
I felt at home before I even walked in the door.
Some of the items Bob has on display in his home office.
Oh, and these were kind of cool, too…
Don’t Worry…
…that 1997 American League Champions ring wasn’t stolen.
It was on Bob’s finger.
Sorry, Dorns
This was my house growing up. If I ever get really famous, it will be known as my Boyhood Home.
That set of windows in the upper right was my room.
The driveway was almost the perfect dimensions for a half court of basketball, and every spring once the snow and ice were gone, I would draw a three point line and the free throw lane lines in chalk with the appropriate distances.
I would be out there all day and night. My neighbors must have hated me.
Indiana Dunes
One of my favorite things about traveling is that you get to learn about and see places like this. Most people think Indiana is just a flat midwestern state. And, for the most part, it is. But it does still have some amazingly beautiful places, like the Indiana Dunes.
It was authorized by Congress in 1966 as the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and was redesignated as the nation's 61st national park on February 15, 2019.
Young Dan
The first baseball team I played on that used genuine baseball team names and logos happened to be the Indians. Here I am standing in front of my teammate and friend, Matt Corning, during the summer of 1994.
It was about this age (7) when I started learning how math could help me understand sports better, such as learning probabilities, and calculating batting averages.
It was funny to hear Bob say during our interview that he had similar experiences growing up.
Power Bats, Power Arms
One of these guys had 134 career home runs. One of them had 381 home runs in about 10 full seasons worth of games. The other had 555 home runs.
That ain’t too bad.
It’s One Thing To Have A Plan…
… it’s something entirely different to be able to execute that plan.
Hall Of Fame
The 1995 Indians team had three Hall of Famers on it.
Now that MLB has officially reinstated Pete Rose and reconfirmed their stance that Joe Jackson isn’t on any ineligible list, that could potentially open the doors for guys from the Steroids Era to be inducted down the line.
If that happens, Manny Ramirez will surely become a Hall of Famer, and possibly others from this team.
If and when that happens, I’m sure Bob will be back in Cooperstown for their induction ceremonies.
Francisco Lindor
However Cleveland is building their culture, they’re doing an amazing job because their homegrown stars are willing to take less money to stay with the team.
While Francisco Lindor was eventually traded to the Mets, before leaving, he had been willing to sign an extension with Cleveland for less than his market value.
He was traded to the Mets following the 2020 season and later signed a 10-year, $341 million extension with the team.
Jose Ramirez
Jose Ramirez signed a contract with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022. It is worth $141 million, with a duration of seven years. It was an extension to a contract signed in 2021.
And while, yes, $141 million is an enormous sum of money to you and me, it is FAR below what a player of his caliber would have been worth in free agency.
Again, a player was willing to take less money than he knew he was worth, just so he could stay in Cleveland.
Start this video at 2:59 to hear Jason Grimsley explain what happened that day, in his own words.
Pine Tar
Official Rule 1.10 (b) states that no substance can cover the handle more than 18 inches from the end, and if any substance extends past that limit, “in the umpire’s judgment,” the bat would be removed from the game.
The “umpire’s judgment” mention is important to note here, because that is no exact science. Just ask George Brett.
July 24, 1983: The Pine Tar Game article from the SABR Games Project by Bruce Slutsky
Jim Thome
What an unbelievable career Jim had, finishing with more than 600 career home runs. For a player with such amazing statistics, he bounced around to a handful of teams. The common denominator wherever he went, though, was that the fans and his teammates loved him.
I saw that firsthand during the summer of 2008 when I had an internship where I covered the White Sox and Cubs in Chicago. Jim treated me with respect in a way that few other players that summer did.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
On July 30, 2008, famed photographer Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 608th career home run in his last game for the Reds.
On July 31, at the trade deadline, Griffey was traded to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar, ending his nine-year tenure in Cincinnati.
On August 20, 2008, Griffey hit his first home run as a member of the White Sox, off the Mariners' R. A. Dickey, which moved him into a tie with Sammy Sosa for fifth place in career home runs. Griffey surpassed Sosa on September 23, with one off Minnesota's Matt Guerrier.
Ted Williams
On September 28, 1960, at Boston's Fenway Park, Red Sox star Ted Williams hit a home run in the last at-bat of his Hall of Fame career.
Just shy of 10,500 fans attended the game, at the end of a 1960 season that saw the Sox finish 65-89. With Boston facing a 4-2 deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning, Williams strode to the plate for the last time and hit his final home run – number 521 – off pitcher Jack Fisher and into the Red Sox bullpen in right-centerfield.
The Ted Williams Shift
The "Ted Williams Shift" - an extreme defensive positioning with six fielders stationed on the right half of the field - was born when Indians player-manager Lou Boudreau tried it on July 14, 1946.
It was immortalized on this card from the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set.
How did Williams do against the shift that day? Not bad. He became the first Red Sox player ever to hit three home runs in one game at Fenway Park.
Progressive Field looks so nice driving on the highway with the skyline behind it.
Is That All We Needed To Do?!
The 1997 Denver Broncos were one of the teams in the 1990s who changed their uniforms and then immediately won the championship during their first season wearing them, as they beat the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII.
It Takes More Than Simply Building A New Stadium
You also need to put a winning team on the field. Luckily for the Indians, they did both.
Heritage Park at Progressive Field
The lower level at Heritage Park. Don’t miss it.
Me and Joe
One of the many photos I have taken over the years with Joe’s plaque on the lower level of Heritage Park at Progressive Field.
If you ever go to a game with me in Cleveland, I promise, I will take you down there to show this to you.
The Ray Chapman plaque.
A New Museum?
It seems like the plan is for there to be some kind of museum or museum-like area in Progressive Field when all of the renovations are done.
The Indians were the first franchise to have a museum in their stadium, so it would be fitting for their current stadium to have one again.
Monetize Your History!
It has always shocked me that teams don’t find better ways to monetize their own histories. Selling throwback uniforms of the great players from their franchise’s past seems like such an easy thing to do. Show me a picture of the guy wearing the uniform, then have a rack of those exact uniforms hanging right next to it for me to make an impulse buy. I will.
Upper Deck
Some of the new seats in the upper deck at Progressive Field, with the red seats forming the diamond C logo.
Everybody’s Buddy
There’s a reason Bob has been around the organization for nearly half a century. He’s great at his job, but he’s an even better person, as is evident when you see the number of long-lasting friendships he has with the players he has worked with over the years.
Here, Bob catches up with Joe Charboneau and Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Forever indebted.
Young At Heart
Bob was the perfect person to talk with about this team. He’s vibrant, and energetic, and is clearly just so passionate about this franchise and those players. It was a joy to watch him remember these stories in person.
Longest Tenured Employees
2025 is Bob’s 46th season overall with the Guardians, but his current stint started in 1988.
Johnny Goryl and Wendy Hoppel are believed to be the other longest-tenured employees of the Guardians.
Wendy’s tenure with the club began in June of 1984 when she was hired as an assistant to the Farm & Scouting Director. 2025 is Wendy’s 41st season in the Guardians Baseball Operations department and her 25th season as the club’s Director of Baseball Administration.
Johnny Goryl is a Special Assistant to Player Development whose tenure with the club began in 1982. He won the Cleveland BBWAA “Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy” Award in 1986, and was inducted into the Guardians Distinguished Hall of Fame in 2024.
A Long History With The Tribe
Even though I grew up in Chicago as a White Sox fan, I also liked the Indians a lot. My first team with a real MLB team name and logo was in 1994 when my team was the Indians, and then the actual Indians went on their run so it was easy to want to root for them.
Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest
One of my favorite video games to play growing up was Ken Griffey Jr.’s Slugfest on my Game Boy Color. I would always play as the Indians because they just had such an amazing lineup, and I loved being able to manipulate the batting order to alternate between right-handed and left-handed batters since they had each, as well as a number of switch hitters.
The speed in the lineup allowed me to steal an inordinate amount of bases, and to just cause chaos on the basepaths and for the pitcher, in general.
Here are the stats I kept for one season’s worth of games.
*Note: No trades were made. This is the original roster of the Cleveland Indians.
Join Our Email Newsletter
It’s free, and it’ll give you some bonus content throughout the month that you won’t get from the podcast episodes or by following any of our other social media platforms.
We put out new issues on the second Friday and the fourth Friday of every month. No more, no less.
Absurd Power
On May 9, 1995, in just the 12th game of the season, the Cleveland Indians tied a major league record by scoring eight runs in the 1st inning before making an out. Seven of those runs scored as the result of home runs, including Kenny Lofton’s leadoff homer, Paul Sorrento’s grand slam, and Carlos Baerga’s two-run blast. Cleveland went on to a 10 – 0 victory behind Orel Hershiser and Paul Assenmacher.
307 Home Runs
The 1995 Indians hit 207 home runs in 144 games.
That might not seem like a lot, especially when the current single-season record for most home runs by a team is 307, which was achieved by both the 2019 Twins and the 2023 Braves.
1997 Mariners
Until Major League Baseball started messing with the baseball in the 2000s, the pre-2000 record was just 264 home runs by the 1997 Mariners.
Ken Griffey, Jr. hit 56 of those 264 home runs, the first of two straight seasons in which Griffey would tie for his career high with 56.
1995 Indians
Let’s remember, once again, that the 1995 season was shortened because of the Strike. The Indians hit 207 home runs in just 144 games, averaging more than 1.4 home runs per game.
If they had played a full 162-game schedule at that pace, the 1995 team would have hit 233 home runs, which would have been good enough for the 4th highest single-season total in history at the time.
Albert Belle led the team (and the league) with 50 out of the team’s 207 home runs hit that season.
1,000 Runs
Similarly, Bob mentioned how the 1995 team did not score 1,000 runs. They did score 840 runs, which was an average of more than 5.8 per game in the 144 games they played.
If they had played a full 162-game schedule at that pace, the 1995 team would have scored 945 runs.
Albert Belle led the team (and the league) with 121 out of the team’s 840 runs scored that season.
1999 Indians
Only 20 teams in major league history have actually hit the 1,000 run mark in a single season, but 13 of those instances came before the year 1900.
Of the 7 different 1,000-run seasons since 1900, one of them was the 1999 Indians, who scored 1,009 runs.
Roberto Alomar led the team (and the league) with 138 out of the team’s 1,009 runs scored that season, but there were five players on the team that year who scored 100 or more runs:
1. Roberto Alomar - 138
2. Manny Ramirez - 131
3. Omar Vizquel - 112
4. Kenny Lofton - 110
5. Jim Thome - 101
So whether the 1995 team would have gotten 1,000 in a full season or not, the franchise built those 90s teams to hit for power and score lots of runs.
The players who made up the 1995 Cleveland Indians hit a bunch of home runs during their careers.
The pitchers who made up the 1995 Cleveland Indians are mostly overlooked, but they had some great careers, too.
Support My Baseball History
If you don’t have PayPal and want to send a donation through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other platform, email me at shoelesspodcast@gmail.com and I’ll send you directions for whichever method you prefer.
We appreciate you being here.