- 1915
- 1920
- 1948
- 1994
- 1999
- 2020
-
Indians Nickname
With Lajoie gone, the Molly McGuires now needed a new nickname. Somers asked the local newspapers to come up with a new name and based on their input, the team was renamed the Cleveland Indians. Legend has it that the team honored Louis Sockalexis when it assumed its current name in 1915. Sockalexis, a Native American, had played in Cleveland ... -
World Series Winner 1920
In the 1920 World Series, the Cleveland Indians beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, then known interchangeably as the Robins in reference to their manager Wilbert Robinson, in seven games, five games to two. This series was a best-of-nine series, like the first World Series in 1903 and the World Series of 1919 and 1921. The only World Series triple play, the ... -
World Series Winner 1948
The 1948 World Series matched the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves. The Braves had won the National League pennant for the first time since the “Miracle Braves” team of 1914, while the Indians had spoiled a chance for the only all-Boston World Series by winning a one-game playoff against the Boston Red Sox for the American League flag. Though ... -
Jacobs Field Opens
Throughout the 1980s, the Indians’ owners had pushed for a new stadium. Cleveland Stadium had been a symbol of the Indians’ glory years in the 1940s and 1950s. However, during the lean years, even crowds of 40,000 were swallowed up by the cavernous environment. The old stadium was not aging gracefully; chunks of concrete were falling off in sections and ... -
Larry Dolan New Owner
In 2000, Larry Dolan through a family trust bought the Cleveland Indians of the MLB for $323 million from Richard Jacobs, who, along with his late brother David Jacobs, had paid $35 million for the club in 1986. Jacobs had taken the Indians public in 1997. As part of the deal, Dolan bought all of the stock at just over ... -
New Name for Indians’ or Not?
On July 3, 2020, on the heels of the Washington Redskins announcing that they would “undergo a thorough review” of that team’s name, the Indians announced that they would “determine the best path forward” regarding the team’s name and emphasized the need to “keep improving as an organization on issues of social justice.” On December 13, 2020, it was reported ...
History of the Indians
The Cleveland Indians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since 1994, they have played at Progressive Field. The team’s spring training facility is at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. Since their establishment as a major league franchise in 1901, the Indians have won two World Series championships: in 1920 and 1948, along with eight Central Division titles and six American League pennants. The Indians’ current World Series championship drought is the longest active drought, and through 2016 is the fifth-longest in baseball history.
After it came under criticism as part of the Native American mascot controversy, the team ceased using the name "Indians" following the 2021 season, officially becoming the Cleveland Guardians on November 19, 2021.
Established
1901
City
Cleveland
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1901 – 1999 / American League
Team History
2022 - Present / Cleveland Guardians
1915 – 2021 / Cleveland Indians
1903 – 1914 / Cleveland Naps
1901 – 1902 / Cleveland Blues
Nickname
Indians – Legend has it that the team honored Louis Sockalexis when it assumed its current name in 1915. With the artificial connection to Native Americans, the Cleveland Indians are also often called “The Tribe.”
Championship
World Series 2
1948, 1920
Stadium
2008 – Present / Progressive Field
1994 – 2007 / Jacobs Field
1934 – 1993 / Cleveland Stadium
1900 – 1946 / League Park
1912 – 1934 / Dunn Field
Owner
1999 – Present / Larry Dolan
1986 – 1999 / Richard Jacobs
1978 – 1983 / Steve O’Neill
1972 – 1978 / Ted Bonda
1972 – 1975 / Nick Mileti
1966 – 1972 / Vernon Stouffer
1962 – 1966 / Gabe Paul
1956 – 1962 / William R. Daley
1952 – 1956 / Myron H. Wilson
1949 – 1952 / Ellis Ryan
1946 – 1949 / Bill Veeck
1927 – 1946 / Alva Bradley
1916 – 1922 / Jim Dunn
1901 – 1916 / Charles Somers
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
3 / Earl Averill
5 / Lou Boudreau
14 / Larry Doby
18 / Mel Harder
19 / Bob Feller
20 / Frank Robinson
21 / Bob Lemon
25 / Jim Thome
42 / Jackie Robinson
455 / Indians Fans
*Blue is this team’s history