1995 Cleveland Indians season

The 1995 Cleveland Indians season was the Major League Baseball season that led to the Indians returning to the World Series for the first time since 1954. In a season that started late by 18 games – giving it just 144 games – the Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division with a record of 100 wins and 44 losses. This was the first team in the history of the American League ever to win 100 games in a season that had fewer than 154 games.[1]

1995 Cleveland Indians
AL Champs
AL Central Champs
Major League affiliations
Location
Other information
Owner(s)Richard Jacobs
General manager(s)John Hart
Manager(s)Mike Hargrove
Local televisionWUAB
Jack Corrigan, Mike Hegan
SportsChannel
John Sanders, Rick Manning
Local radioWKNR (1220 AM)
Herb Score, Tom Hamilton, Matt Underwood
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The most outstanding pitcher for the Indians was their relief pitcher, José Mesa, who finished second in the voting for the American League's Cy Young Award. Mesa pitched in 62 games; he led the league by being the finishing pitcher in 57 games, and he saved a league-leading 46 games, even though he pitched just exactly 64 innings. Mesa was the winning pitcher in three games, and he lost none. Mesa's earned run average was a microscopic 1.13. Mesa only gave up eight earned runs, one unearned run, and three home runs in the entire regular season.

The most outstanding batter and everyday player for the Indians was their left fielder, Albert Belle, who finished second in the voting for the American League's Most Valuable Player Award. Belle played in 143 of the 144 games, and had more than 50 doubles and 50 home runs. Belle led the league in runs scored (121), runs batted in (126), doubles (52), home runs (50), total bases (377), and slugging percentage (.690). Belle had 173 hits and a batting average of .317.

The second most outstanding batter and everyday player for the Indians was their right fielder, Manny Ramirez. Ramirez played in 137 games, scored 85 runs, batted in 107 runs, hit 26 doubles and 31 home runs, had 149 hits, and batted .308.

On a team that was led by its outfielders in batting, the Indian's center fielder Kenny Lofton, playing in just 118 games, also had 149 hits, scored 93 runs, batted .310, and led the American League with 13 triples and 54 stolen bases. This was Lofton's fourth of five consecutive years leading the American League in stolen bases. Lofton also won a Gold Glove in the outfield. Despite Lofton only hitting seven home runs he still finished the shortened season with a very respectable 53 R.B.I.

The Indians won the Central Division by an overwhelming 30 games over the second-place Kansas City Royals, and they went into the playoffs going strong. In their American League Division Series, the Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox in a three games to none sweep. Next, in the American League Championship Series, the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners four games to two. The Indians' starting pitcher, Orel Hershiser, was voted the American League Championship Series' Most Valuable Player.

In the World Series, the Indians faced the Atlanta Braves, who had finished the regular season with a 90 – 54 record, had defeated the Colorado Rockies three games to one in the National League Division Series, and had swept the Cincinnati Reds four games to none in the National League Championship Series. The Braves had the National League's Cy Young Award winner in Greg Maddux, who finished the season with a 19 – 2 won-loss record and a 1.63 earned run average as a starting pitcher. Maddux also finished in third place in the voting for Most Valuable Player.

The Indians lost the World Series to the Braves by four games to two, with the Braves winning all three games in Atlanta, and the Indians winning two out of three games in Cleveland. The World Series Most Valuable Player was the starting pitcher Tom Glavine of the Braves, who won two games in the Series.

Offseason

Spring training

Game log

Regular season

The Indians led the Majors in nearly every offensive category, including runs scored (840), hits (1,461), home runs (207), runs batted in (803), batting average (.291) and slugging percentage (.479). They also struck out the fewest times (766) of all 28 MLB teams.[6][7] They also had one of the most formidable pitching staffs in the AL, allowing the second-fewest hits (1,261), finishing with the best ERA (3.83), the fewest runs allowed (607), fewest earned runs allowed (554), the most saves (50) and the fewest intentional walks (16).[7]

Season standings

AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cleveland Indians 10044 0.694 54–18 46–26
Kansas City Royals 7074 0.486 30 35–37 35–37
Chicago White Sox 6876 0.472 32 38–34 30–42
Milwaukee Brewers 6579 0.451 35 33–39 32–40
Minnesota Twins 5688 0.389 44 29–43 27–45

Record vs. opponents

1995 American League Records

Sources:
Team BAL BOS CAL CWS CLE DET KC MIL MIN NYY OAK SEA TEX TOR
Baltimore 4–99–46–12–108–54–57–53–66–75–76–74–17–6
Boston 9–411–35–36–78–53–28–45–45–88–47–53–48–5
California 4–93–1110–23–26–25–75–28–57–56–77–66–78–2
Chicago 1–63–52–105–88–48–56–710–33–2–17–54–95–76–5
Cleveland 10–27–62–38–510–311–19–49–46–67–05–46–310–3
Detroit 5–85–82–64–83–103–48–57–55–82–35–54–87–6
Kansas City 5–42–37–55–81–114–310–26–73–75–87–58–67–5
Milwaukee 5–74–82–57–64–95–82–109–45–67–23–25–77–5
Minnesota 6–34–55–83–104–95–77–64–93–45–74–85–81–4
New York 7–68–55–72–3–16–68–57–36–54–34–94–96–312–1
Oakland 7–54–87–65–70–73–28–52–77–59–47–65–83–7
Seattle 7–65–76–79–44–55–55–72–38–49–46–710–33–4
Texas 1–44–37–67–53–68–46–87–58–53–68–53–109–3
Toronto 6–75–82–85–63–106–75–75–74–11–127–34–33–9

Notable transactions

Roster

1995 Cleveland Indians
Roster
Pitchers
  • 52 John Farrell
Catchers
  • 15 Sandy Alomar, Jr.

Infielders

Outfielders
  • 20 Rubén Amaro, Jr.
  • 24 Manny Ramírez

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

  • 28 Mark Wiley (Pitching)

Game log

Legend
Indians Win Indians Loss Game Postponed
1995 Regular Season Game Log (100-44) (Home: 54-18; Road: 46-26)

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
CTony Peña9126369.262528
1BPaul Sorrento10432376.2352579
2BCarlos Baerga135557175.3141590
3BJim Thome137452142.3142573
SSOmar Vizquel136542144.266656
LFAlbert Belle143546173.31750126
CFKenny Lofton118481149.310753
RFManny Ramirez137484149.30831107
DHEddie Murray113436141.3232182

[15]

Other batters

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Sandy Alomar Jr.6620361.3001035
Wayne Kirby10118839.207114
Herb Perry5216251.315323
Álvaro Espinoza6614336.252217
Dave Winfield4611522.19124
Rubén Amaro286012.20017
Eddie Tucker17200.00000
Jesse Levis12186.33303
Billy Ripken8177.41223
Brian Giles695.55613
Jeromy Burnitz974.57100
David Bell220.00000

[15]

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Charles Nagy291781664.55139
Orel Hershiser26167.31663.87111
Dennis Martínez28167.31253.0899
Mark Clark22124.2975.2768
Ken Hill1274.2413.9848
Bud Black1147.1426.8534
Joe Roa16016.000

Other pitchers

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Chad Ogea20106.1833.0557
Jason Grimsley1534006.0925
Albie Lopez623003.1322

Relief pitchers

Player G W L SV ERA SO
José Mesa6230461.1358
Julián Tavárez5710202.4468
Eric Plunk566222.6771
Paul Assenmacher476202.8240
Jim Poole423303.7541
Alan Embree233215.1123
Dennis Cook110006.3913
Paul Shuey70204.265
Gregg Olson300013.500
John Farrell10003.864

Post season

1995 American League Divisional Playoffs

Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox

Cleveland wins the series, 3-0

GameScoreDate
1Boston 4, Cleveland 5October 3, 1995
2Boston 0, Cleveland 4October 4, 1995
3Cleveland 8, Boston 2October 6, 1995

Game 1, October 3

Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Team12345678910111213RHE
Boston00200001001004112
Cleveland00000300001015102
WP: Ken Hill (1-0)   LP: Zane Smith (0-1)
Home runs:
BOS: John Valentin (1), Luis Alicea (1), Tim Naehring
CLE: Albert Belle (1), Tony Peña (1)

Game 2, October 4

Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Team123456789RHE
Boston000000000031
Cleveland00002002X442
WP: Orel Hershiser (1-0)   LP: Erik Hanson (0-1)
Home runs:
BOS: None
CLE: Eddie Murray (1)

Game 3, October 6

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland0210050008112
Boston000100010271
WP: Charles Nagy (1-0)   LP: Tim Wakefield (0-1)
Home runs:
CLE: Jim Thome (1)
BOS: None

1995 American League Championship Series

Matchups

GameScoreDate
1Cleveland 2, Seattle 3October 10, 1995
2Cleveland 5, Seattle 2October 11, 1995
3Seattle 5, Cleveland 2October 13, 1995
4Seattle 0, Cleveland 7October 14, 1995
5Seattle 2, Cleveland 3October 15, 1995
6Cleveland 4, Seattle 0October 17, 1995

Game 1

October 10: Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland0010001002101
Seattle02000010X370
WP: Bob Wolcott (1-0)   LP: Dennis Martínez (0-1)   Sv: Norm Charlton (1)
Home runs:
CLE: Albert Belle (1)
SEA: Mike Blowers (1)

Game 2

October 11: Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland0000220105120
Seattle000001001261
WP: Orel Hershiser (1-0)   LP: Tim Belcher (0-1)
Home runs:
CLE: Manny Ramírez (2)
SEA: Ken Griffey, Jr. (1), Jay Buhner (1)

Game 3

October 13: Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Team1234567891011RHE
Seattle01100000003591
Cleveland00010001000242
WP: Norm Charlton (1-0)   LP: Julián Tavárez (0-1)
Home runs:
SEA: Jay Buhner (2)
CLE: None

Game 4

October 14: Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Team123456789RHE
Seattle000000000061
Cleveland31200100X790
WP: Ken Hill (1-0)   LP: Andy Benes (0-1)
Home runs:
SEA: None
CLE: Eddie Murray (1), Jim Thome (1)

Game 5

October 15: Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Team123456789RHE
Seattle001010000252
Cleveland10000200X3104
WP: Orel Hershiser (2-0)   LP: Chris Bosio (0-1)   Sv: José Mesa (1)
Home runs:
SEA: None
CLE: Jim Thome (1)

Game 6

October 17: Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland000010030480
Seattle000000000041
WP: Dennis Martínez (1-1)   LP: Randy Johnson (0-1)
Home runs:
CLE: Carlos Baerga (1)
Home: None

1995 World series

Game 1

October 21, 1995, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland100000001220
Atlanta01000020X332
WP: Greg Maddux (1-0)   LP: Orel Hershiser (0-1)
Home runs:
Away: None
ATL: Fred McGriff (1)

Game 2

October 22, 1995, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland020000100362
Atlanta00200200X482
WP: Tom Glavine (1-0)   LP: Dennis Martínez (0-1)   Sv: Mark Wohlers (1)
Home runs:
CLE: Eddie Murray (1)
ATL: Javy López (1)

Game 3

October 24, 1995, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

Team1234567891011RHE
Atlanta100001130006121
Cleveland202000110017122
WP: José Mesa (1-0)   LP: Alejandro Peña (0-1)
Home runs:
ATL: Fred McGriff (2), Ryan Klesko (1)
Home: None

Game 4

October 25, 1995, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

Team123456789RHE
Atlanta0000013015111
Cleveland000001001260
WP: Steve Avery (1-0)   LP: Ken Hill (0-1)   Sv: Pedro Borbón, Jr. (1)
Home runs:
ATL: Ryan Klesko (2)
CLE: Albert Belle (1), Manny Ramírez (1)

Game 5

October 26, 1995, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio

Team123456789RHE
Atlanta000110002470
Cleveland20000201X581
WP: Orel Hershiser (1-1)   LP: Greg Maddux (1-1)   Sv: José Mesa (1)
Home runs:
ATL: Luis Polonia (1), Ryan Klesko (3)
CLE: Albert Belle (2), Jim Thome (1)

Game 6

October 28, 1995, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789RHE
Cleveland000000000011
Atlanta00000100X160
WP: Tom Glavine (2-0)   LP: Jim Poole (0-1)   Sv: Mark Wohlers (2)
Home runs:
Away: None
ATL: David Justice (1)

Game log

1995 Postseason Game Log
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Postponement
Bold = Indians team member

Award winners

    Hershiser became the Most Valuable Player of the 1995 American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, and he is the only player to win the League Championship series Most Valuable Player Award in both leagues.

    All-Star Game

    Minor league affiliates

    Classification level Team League Season article
    AAA Buffalo Bisons International League 1995 Buffalo Bisons season
    AA Canton–Akron Indians Eastern League 1995 Canton–Akron Indians season
    Advanced A Kinston Indians Carolina League
    A Columbus RedStixx South Atlantic League
    Short Season A Watertown Indians New York–Penn League
    Rookie Burlington Indians Appalachian League

    References

    1. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
    2. Derek Lilliquist at Baseball-Reference
    3. Paul Byrd at Baseball-Reference
    4. Torey Lovullo at Baseball-Reference
    5. Billy Ripken at Baseball-Reference
    6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1995.shtml
    7. 1995 Major League Baseball Season Summary Baseball-Reference.com
    8. Dave Winfield at Baseball-Reference
    9. Paul Assenmacher at Baseball-Reference
    10. Bud Black at Baseball-Reference
    11. Casey Candaele at Baseball-Reference
    12. Matt Williams at Baseball-Reference
    13. Todd Frohwirth at Baseball-Reference
    14. Ken Hill at Baseball-Reference
    15. 1995 Cleveland Indians Statistics and Roster Baseball-Reference.com

    Further reading

    • Meisel, Zack (2020). Cleveland Rocked: The Personalities, Sluggers, and Magic of the 1995 Indians. Triumph Books. ISBN 1641253886.
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