Losing in Cleveland Since 1964

There is no such thing as The World of Wadley jinx and, before I go any further in this post, I want to say that I'm not trying to start one right now. But really, let's give some love to the Cleveland Indians. Check that, I meant the first place Cleveland Indians, but let's not jinx it. You read it right, the Indians sit atop the AL Central Division standings with an 11-4 record, comfortably ahead of the White Sox, Tigers and Twins. Still, saying the words "first place" and "Cleveland" in the same sentence are almost laughable in the sports world and rightfully so. The city, which has three professional sports teams in the Indians, the Browns of the NFL and the Cavaliers of the NBA, has not won a major pro sports championship since 1964 when the Browns won the NFL title and that was before the Super Bowl era. The Cavaliers have failed to win an NBA championship since they joined the league in 1970-71 and the Indians haven't won the World Series since 1948, when Bob Feller was just 29 years old. Cleveland is the most tortured sports town in America, but the thing is, they have come so close on numerous occasions.



Jordan hits the shot over Ehlo in '89



1964 was a long time ago if you couldn't figure that one out. That's 47 years since the last major pro sports championship in the city of Cleveland. Think about all that has changed and happened since then. Lyndon Johnson took office in 1963 and Barack Obama is the eighth President of the United States since then. Nikita Khrushchev was in his last year of power in the Soviet Union and man had not yet walked on the moon. Michael Jordan wasn't even two years old yet and Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominated the NBA. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees in seven games for the World Series and we hadn't even been introduced to greats like Mike Schmidt or Reggie Jackson. While Cleveland has suffered for those 47 years, there are other cities that have been living the good life. New York hasn't really had a problem, winning 20 pro sports championships since '64 and Boston has 18 to their credit. Los Angeles has won 12 with 11 of those courtesy of the Lakers and Chicago, despite the Cubs woes, have won nine championships since Cleveland's last. Shoot, even Green Bay, who only has the NFL's Packers, has four Super Bowls in the past 47 years. 

Chicago Cubs fans like to complain that there team hasn't won since 1908 and, yes, that has to be awful but at least they have the pleasure of other city teams bringing home the trophy. The White Sox, Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks have combined for 21 championships since 1908 so, while Cubs fans may cry about their baseball team, they have had plenty to cheer about in all the other sports. Cleveland fans can't say the same. How crazy is it that none of the three pro sports teams have been able to get it done? It doesn't matter what season it is there has been heartbreak and sorrow for Cleveland fans. That has to be tough to deal with because the questions "how?" and "why?" just can't be answered.

Edgar Renteria celebrates his series winning hit
in the 1997 World Series (NY Times)

The Indians won two AL pennants in the 90's yet failed to win the World Series in either of them. In 1995 they fell to the Braves in six games. In 1996 they repeated as divisional champs, but lost in the Division Series. 1997 brought another AL pennant but, again, the Indians lost, this time to the Florida Marlins. They won their third AL Central title in a row and upset the Yankees in the Division Series. All signs pointed to this being the year the drought ended, but it was not meant to be. With the series tied in game seven, the Indians led 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth. However, Jose Mesa blew the save as the Marlins tied the game with two outs. Edgar Renteria would then hit his famous game winning hit in the 11th to give the Marlins the World Series title. The Indians were one out away from the title and blew it, a heartbreak for the city. In 2007 the Indians again won the AL Central crown and featured superstar pitchers Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia, but they lost in Game 7 of the ALCS to the Red Sox. Since then they have struggled to win games, never finishing better than .500.

Fans can still see Michael Jordan take the ball the free throw line, rise up and sink the game winning jumper over Craig Ehlo. They can see Jordan jump up in the air, fist-pumping in celebration while Ehlo crumples to the floor in defeat. It was Jordan's game and series winner in 1989 that sealed the Bulls first round upset of the Cavaliers. Five years later Jordan would hit another game/series winner in the second round of the playoffs against Cleveland and the Cavs are considered one of the greatest victims of Michael Jordan. In 2003 the team drafted LeBron James with the first pick in the draft and he was supposed to lead the Cavs to the big one. The King, as they called him, was a hometown kid and lit up the NBA right away. He led Cleveland to the Finals in 2007 but they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Perhaps the biggest blow came this past summer when LeBron went on national television to announce that he was signing with the Miami Heat amid free agency. Cleveland fans felt betrayed by their hometown son and proceeded to burn his jerseys in the streets.

Mike Davis' interception on Red Right 88

The city of Cleveland and the Browns have been through a lot together and the Browns have not produced many winning seasons since their return to the NFL in 1999. Art Modell pulled the team out of Cleveland and moved the Browns to Baltimore in 1996, but the NFL replaced them in '99. It got off to a rocky start when the Browns used their first draft pick on quarterback Tim Couch and they have only had one winning season since their ressurection. Of course there are the infamous football plays in Cleveland history such as Red Right 88, The Drive and The Fumble that have haunted Browns fans for forever. The outlook never looks good for the Browns and 2011-12, if there is a season, is no different.

Despite all this, Cleveland fans remain true to their teams. The Cavaliers boasted the highest attendence in the NBA this season and the Indians hold the record for consecutive sellouts. The Dawg Pound is a fixture at Browns games no matter what the team's record is. With the Indians in first place, at what point do the Cleveland fans start believing? Surely they can't hold this lead on the division too much longer with other heavyweights in the AL Central but, no matter where you live, you have to sympathize with the Cleveland fans. They have been through more than any other city and have suffered more than any other American sports city but they don't call it "Believeland" for nothing.