Today in Tribe History: January 13, 1986

Mike Garcia, part of the Cleveland Indians’ “Big Three” pitching staff during the 1950s, passes away at the age of 62. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 12, 1972

With the 21st pick in the January Secondary draft, the Cleveland Indians select Duane Kuiper. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 11, 2000

Cleveland Indians legend Bob Lemon passes away in California after a heart attack and stroke. He was 79 years old. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 10, 1926

Future Cleveland Indians player and manager George Strickland is born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 9, 1971

Elmer Flick, a longtime Cleveland Indians outfielder and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, passes away, two days short of his 95th birthday. Read More

Who’s Left on the Tribe?

Baseball has a problem staring it in the face and no more obvious is that dilemma apparent than at the downtown Cleveland offices of the franchise soon-to-be remembered as the Indians.

Plenty of uncertainty loomed over the state of the Major League Baseball landscape with the persistent public squabbles that put the 2020 season in jeopardy due to the safety and logistical concerns created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic plaguing the country beginning ten months ago. While owners and players were ultimately able to get in 60 unattended regular season games at a financial loss, the ramifications of the lost revenues cast a gray cloud over the game as teams have had to adapt and adjust to the changed marketplace. The disjointed relationships between owners and players and the fiscal damages sustained, plus the wrecking ball smashed into the minor league system, all spell some unpleasant feelings about how negotiations may transpire as time ticks away on baseball’s most recent collective bargaining agreement, set to expire on December 1 of this year.

As for the Cleveland baseball club, the efforts of the front office this offseason seem to spell out both doom and gloom as the perennial playoff contending roster has been systematically dismantled for cheaper alternatives while once again putting the organization in a negative spotlight. Most recently in the news for its decision to rebrand for 2022 in the sake of political correctness, now the Dolan-led front office group is being criticized for having an active team salary base that is less than individual one-year commitments that teams have made to several dozens of the game’s brightest stars. Thursday’s trade of future big earner Francisco Lindor and moderate investment Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets further highlighted the Indians’ extensive cost-cutting efforts.

If the team was looking to roll out “Pennypinchers”, “Scrooges”, or “Misers” as its new moniker moving forward, it has hit the ground running in embracing the name. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 8, 1991

Gaylord Perry, the Cleveland Indians’ first Cy Young Award winning pitcher, is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Read More

No Smiles Nor Enjoyment in Cleveland as Lindor, Carrasco Dealt to Mets

Cleveland fans were warned in March of 2019 to “enjoy him”, but the long anticipated move finally happened on Thursday as the Indians announced the trade of four-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets.

Joining Lindor in relocating to Queens was starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, the longest tenured representative of the franchise and a fan favorite after his public battle with leukemia two seasons ago. His name was floated about some during the Winter Meetings, but with several years of control at what was perceived as a reasonable cost, his inclusion frees up significant finances over the next few years from a position of strength in the Indians organization. The Indians have previously over the last several years dealt from the starting rotation, removing Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, and Corey Kluber for packages of prospects or just general salary relief. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 7, 1978

Former American League Most Valuable Player George Burns passes away at the age of 84. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 6, 1920

Future 300-game winner Early Wynn is born in Hartford, Alabama. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 5, 2011

A pair of ex-Indians players, second baseman Roberto Alomar and pitcher Bert Blyleven, are announced as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. Read More

Today in Tribe History: January 4, 2015

Longtime Major League Baseball executive Hank Peters dies in Boca Raton, Florida, at the age of 90 after complications from a stroke. Read More