Editorials

Cleveland’s 12 Closest Championship Calls Since 1964

Published by
Ken Hornack

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


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Ken Hornack

Ken Hornack is a longtime NBA sports journalist. Before covering the Orlando Magic for the Daytona Beach News-Journal and FoxSportsFlorida.com, the native of the Cleveland area got his foot in the door with the Cavaliers during the Tom Nissalke coaching era and will forever associate his senior year of high school with the Miracle of Richfield. You can follow him @Ken_Hornack.

Published by
Ken Hornack

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