1997 Indians
Of all the near-misses, this was the toughest of all to stomach on several levels. Despite no longer having several key players (particularly Lofton and Albert Belle) from the team which got to the World Series in 1995, the Indians scratched their way to a seventh game against the Florida Marlins, a five-year-old franchise with a roster comprised largely of veterans who would be released or leave via free agency in the upcoming weeks.
The Indians were up 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, but closer Jose Mesa was unable to hold the lead and the game went into extra innings. In the 11th, an error by second baseman and ALCS Game 6 hitting hero Tony Fernandez prolonged a rally which culminated with Edgar Renteria singling home Craig Counsell to devastate a city which no longer had the Browns to fall back on during November and December.
Next: 1995 Indians
