Cleveland Indians: Another home opener for the Tribe

The Cleveland Indians begin another season with hope and fanfare, but can they keep the fans intrigued all season?

For the 24th consecutive year, the Cleveland Indians home opener is sold out. Before the two greatest words in baseball, “Play Ball”, echo through the park, Akron native Patrick Carney, who is the drummer for the Black Keys, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The national anthem will be sung by William Clarence Marshall who is an operatic singer and has appeared with the Cleveland orchestra. The outfield will be mostly covered by an American flag, and held by members of each branch of the military.

The Tribe has chosen, “Only Here” as their 2016 branding campaign, which will honor three former Cleveland Indians who provided memorable moments in Cleveland baseball history. In case you forgot, below is a small reminder of those players and those moments.

Kenny Lofton‘s Spiderman impression at center field, climbing the wall to rob the Baltimore Orioles’ B.J. Surhoff of a home run on August 4, 1996–and on August 5, 2001, for scoring the Tribe’s game-winning run to erase a 14-2 deficit against the Seattle Mariners.

Travis Hafner will next be honored for his walk-off single in game two of the 2007 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees. Most people will simply remember this game as the “Bug Game” which took place on October 5, 2007, at Jacobs Field.

Last but not least, who could forget Indians utility player Bill Selby. It was Joel Skinner‘s first series as a manager that ended in fashion. On July 14, 2002,  the Yankees had a 10-7 lead in the bottom of the 9th inning when Selby–who only had five Major League home runs–hit a walk-off grand slam off the Yankees All-Star closer Mariano Rivera.

"“The excitement level will be off the charts. You’ll see a lot of guys running to the ballpark. I might jog” – Terry “Tito” Francona"

Corey Kluber will be toeing the rubber for the tribe in the season opener, and most would believe that Boston will counter with David Price. The Tribe were 4-2 against the Red Sox last year and beat Price the only time they faced him.

Since 1901, the Indians are 59-56 in home openers. The late great Bob Feller has more wins in home openers (four) than any other pitcher in Cleveland history, winning in 1939, 1948, 1951 and 1952. 18 times the Cleveland Indians have had the largest crowd in Major Baseball, which included 73,290 in the final season opener at Cleveland Stadium in 1993.

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So with John Adams hammering on Big Chief Boom-Boom, the sold out fans screaming at full throat, and a young, hungry Tribe team primed ready, this could be the start of something great, but then again we thirst for the end to be something historic!

Go Tribe Go