Category: Indians

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians at 1986 New York Mets

Mike Garcia

  • 1954 Cleveland Indians-2
  • 1986 New York Mets-1

The New York Mets get handed their first loss of the season. New York was shocked in the 3rd inning when Indians’ pitcher Mike Garcia knocked a homer to give the Tribe a 1-0 lead, but a Lenny Dykstra steal in the 4th saw him tie up the game on a Gary Carter single to center. In the next frame Cleveland once again took the lead after on error on Ray Knight had Al Smith score on a George Strickland triple the very next at bat. Neither team was able to plate another runner, and the Indians won the affair 2-1. Because of his home run in the 3rd inning and going 6 strong innings pitched with 7 hits, 1 run, and 5 strikeouts, Mike Garcia is named player of the game. The Tribe win with 2 runs on 9 hits without an error while the Mets lose with 1 run on 7 hits and 1 costly game losing error.

Game Notes

  • Date Played: 5 Nov 2018
  • Venue: Soothing Meadows
  • Game Duration: Unknown
  • 2B: None
  • 3B: George Strickland
  • HR: Mike Garcia
  • TB: Mike Garcia (4), George Strickland (3), Bill Glynn (3), Al Smith (2), Larry Doby, Jim Hegan, Rafael Santana, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra, Gary Carter, Mookie Wilson, Ray Knight,
  • SH: George Strickland, Jim Hegan
  • SF: None
  • IBB: None
  • HBP: None
  • With RISP: Cleveland 1-5, New York 1-4
  • GIDP: None
  • RBI: George Strickland, Mike Garcia, Gary Carter
  • Team LOB: Cleveland-9, New York-6
  • E: Ray Knight
  • DP: None
  • Outfield Assists: Larry Doby
  • PB: Jim Hegan
  • SB: Lenny Dykstra, Mookie Wilson
  • CS: None
  • Picked Off: None
  • Win: Mike Garcia
  • Loss: Dwight Gooden
  • Save: Ray Narleski
  • Balks: Doug Sisk
  • WP: Doug Sisk
  • HBP: None
  • IBB: None
  • Pickoffs: None
  • Additonal Notes: Al Smith was thrown out of the game in the top of the 7th inning.

GTS-1965 Minnesota Twins at 1954 Cleveland Indians

Larry Doby

  • 1965 Minnesota Twins-3
  • 1954 Cleveland Indians-6

The Tribe take the Twins thanks to a little help from Larry Doby and a 5 run 6th. Minnesota led the game 2-0 after a Rich Rollins RBI single in the 2nd and a Rollins RBI on a fielder’s choice to short in the 4th. For Cleveland, Dave Philley doubled to begin the 6th, and he went home on a 2 out Dave Pope single. Al Rosen drove in Bobby Avila on the following at bat, and right afterwards, Larry Doby hit an outta the park 3 run zinger to make it 5 for the inning. The Indians added another in the bottom of the 7th and Minnesota added their 3rd and final run of the day on a Harmon Killebrew solo blast in the top of the 8th. Larry Doby only went 1 for 4, but with his 3 RBI homer he gets the game ball. The Twins scored 3 runs on 8 hits with 1 error while the Tribe grab 6 runs on 9 hits without an error.

Game Notes

  • Date Played: 3 Nov 2018
  • Venue: Soothing Meadows
  • Game Duration: Unknown
  • 2B: Dave Philley (2), Zoilo Versalles, Al Rosen
  • 3B: Sandy Valdespino
  • HR: Larry Doby, Harmon Killebrew
  • TB: Harmon Killebrew (5), Zoilo Versalles (4), Larry Doby (4), Dave Philley (4), Sandy Valdespino (3), Bobby Avila (3), Al Rosen, Tony Oliva, Rich Rollins, Dave Pope, Jim Hegan
  • SH: None
  • SF: None
  • IBB: None
  • HBP: Jerry Kindall
  • With RISP: Minnesota 2-5, Cleveland 5-8
  • GIDP: Jimmie Hall
  • RBI: Larry Doby (3), Rich Rollins (2), Harmon Killebrew, Bobby Avila, Dave Pope, Al Rosen
  • Team LOB: Minnesota-7, Cleveland-7
  • E: Harmon Killebrew
  • DP: Rosen-Avila-Glynn
  • Outfield Assists: None
  • PB: None
  • SB: None
  • CS: None
  • Picked Off: None
  • Win: Art Houtteman
  • Loss: Mudcat Grant
  • Save: Ray Narleski
  • Balks: None
  • WP: None
  • HBP: Art Houtteman
  • IBB: None
  • Pickoffs: None
  • Additonal Notes: None

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians at 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers

Daryl Spencer

  • 1954 Cleveland Indians-3
  • 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers-6

Even though they were outhit for the game, all the Dodgers needed was the 1st inning to secure their victory over the Cleveland Indians. After 4 singles and a walk, Daryl Spencer hit a difficult bouncer to second that saw him safe at first, and the winning run of the game scoring on the error by Avila. Spencer also added a two run homer in the 6th to earn the game ball. Try as they might to make the comeback, Cleveland could only add a run in the 4th and another in the 5th. The Indians lose with 3 runs on 10 hits with 1 error, and the Dodgers plated 6 on 8 hits without an error.

Game Notes

  • Date Played: 11 Aug 2015
  • Venue: Soothing Meadows
  • Game Duration: Unknown
  • 2B: Jim Hegan
  • 3B: None
  • HR: Al Smith, Daryl Spencer
  • TB: Al Smith (4), Daryl Spencer (4), George Strickland (3), Jim Hegan (2), Jim Gilliam (2), Ron Fairly (2), Bobby Avila, Al Rosen, Larry Doby, Bill Glynn, Dave Philley, Willie Davis, Tommy Davis, John Roseboro
  • SH: None
  • SF: None
  • IBB: None
  • HBP: None
  • With RISP: Cleveland 2-6, Los Angeles 4-6
  • GIDP: Bobby Avila, Larry Doby
  • RBI: Ron Fairly (2), Al Rosen, Jim Hegan, Al Smith, Daryl Spencer
  • R: Bobby Avila, Al Rosen, Al Smith, Jim Gilliam, Willie Davis, Tommy Davis, Frank Howard, Ron Fairly, Daryl Spencer
  • Team LOB: Cleveland-8, Los Angeles-8
  • E: Bobby Avila
  • DP: Gillliam-Wills-Fairly, Spencer-Gilliam-Fairly
  • Outfield Assists: None
  • PB: None
  • SB: None
  • CS: None
  • Picked Off: None
  • Win: Sandy Koufax
  • Loss: Mike Garcia
  • Save: Ron Perranoski
  • Balks: None
  • WP: Koufax
  • HBP: None
  • IBB: None
  • Pickoffs: None
  • Additonal Notes: None

1954 Cleveland Indians

indians generic

In 1954, the Cleveland Indians earned 111 victories and the all-time record for winning percentage by an American League team at .721. During the season they compiled two different 11 game winning streaks which was not seen again in the majors for the next 60 years.  With a solid pitching staff that led the league in team ERA and most complete games, the heavily favored Indians were swept in the World Series by Willie Mays and the NY Giants 4 games to none.  The 1954 Cleveland Indians come into the Great Teams Season looking to capture a championship that has eluded the franchise since the 1948 Indians bested the Boston Braves.

Starters: 

  • C: Jim Hegan
  • 1B: Vic Wertz
  • 2B: Bobby Avila
  • SS: George Strickland
  • 3B: Al Rosen
  • OF: Al Smith
  • OF: Larry Doby
  • OF: Dave Philley

4 Man Starting Rotation

  • Early Wynn
  • Mike Garcia
  • Bob Lemon
  • Art Houtteman

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians at 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates

Al Rosen

  • 1954 Cleveland Indians-3
  • 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates-6

In the classic matchup of Cleveland versus Pittsburgh, the 1991 Pirates accept the victory. Despite Al Rosen of the Indians taking home player of the game honors going 4 for 3 and only a triple short of the cycle, the rest of the Cleveland roster could only manage 2 hits among them.  The Buccos only managed one extra base hit the entire game, but took advantage of a Strickland error in the 3rd, strung together a walk and four singles for 3 runs in the 4th, and added 2 runs in the 6th from a Jay Bell triple.  Twenty game winner John Smiley takes the win after the Pittsburgh offense gets 9 hits for 6 runs and an error.  The Indians put 3 runs on the board, all from Rosen, 5 hits, and giving up the previously mentioned error from Strickland.  The 1954 Cleveland Indians stand in 11th place and take on the 2001 Seattle Mariners in round 6.

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians 5 Round Recap

indians generic

The Indians looked to be headed for disaster as they matched the Cubs loss for loss through the first 3 games of the season. With a 1-0 loss in Boston to the 1946 Red Sox, a 3-2 loss on the road to the 1909 Pirates, and a 6-3 loss against the 1962 Dodgers, the ’54 Indians were staring down the tunnel to a long season.  In round 4 they got their first victory, a 6-3 battle with the last place 1965 Twins proved nothing, but, in their next game, a 2-1 upset of the first place 1986 Mets had everyone take notice of their potential and have put them into 11th place currently.  While the hitting for the Indians has been only average throughout the first 5 games, a combined team ERA of 2.14 on the mound has slowed down most of the offenses they have faced thus far.  Indians fans pray that that momentum can remain as they head into interleague play against the 1991 Pirates, and 2 home games against the 2001 Seattle Mariners and 1906 Chicago Cubs.

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians at 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates

pirates generic

  • 1954 Cleveland Indians-2
  • 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates-3

Just by looking at the raw numbers it appears impossible that the 1909 Pirates pulled out the victory in this one. Scoring a run in the 2nd inning without a hit thanks to a walk and an error on Cleveland’s shortstop Strickland, the Pirates tied the game after the Indians put a run on the board in the top of the inning.  In the 5th they took the lead after another walk, a base hit, and a double from Jap Barbeau scored Bill Abstein and Tommy Leach to give the Buccos a 3-1 lead and the game.  The Indians scored another in the 8th, but could not come away with anything more.  Thanks to his 2 RBI game winning double in the 5th, Jap Barbeau takes player of the game distinction.  The 1954 Indians scored 2 runs on 8 hits with 1 error.  The 1909 Pirates scored 3 runs on 3 hits with 2 errors and somehow pull out the victory.

Notes: Played at Red Canyon on 22 May 2014.

GTS-1954 Cleveland Indians at 1946 Boston Red Sox

dave ferris

  • 1954 Cleveland Indians-0
  • 1946 Boston Red Sox-1

In baseball, a solid pitching duel is always a beauty to behold, and for the Indians and the Red Sox it was just that. Both teams combined for only a single run with 9 hits as Bob Lemon for Cleveland pitched 8 innings and shut down the offense of the Red Sox through 7 before giving up a leadoff homer to Leon Culberson in the bottom of the 8th inning and therefore the game.  He struck out 7 batters and only surrendered 2 other hits in the game.  On the other hand, Dave Ferriss for the Red Sox may have given up more hits, but he allowed none of them to cross the plate and is therefore named player of the game.  The 1954 Indians were shutout with 6 hits and 2 errors.  The 1946 Red Sox scored 1 on the 8th inning blast, but only got 3 hits total without any errors.

Notes: Played at Red Canyon on 22 Apr 2014.