It Ain’t Easy Being a Cleveland Fan…
Johnny-on-the-Spot … by John Foster …
Having been raised in Northern Ohio, folks always question me regarding my sports alliances.
I tell them it is nearly genetic.
You will be an Ohio State football fan and a Cleveland Browns fan.
There’s been some reward for backing the “Scarlet and Grey”.
Numerous Big 10 football titles usually a play-off contender, including the first play-offs crown in 2014.
But the Browns have been pretty sketchy in my time.
We had our “Kardiac Kids” moments and those play-offs with the Broncos when John Elway made his name.
(See “The Drive” and “The Fumble”.)
Then I moved to Indiana about the time the Browns went to Baltimore.
When owner Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore in February, 1996. the city was promised a new franchise and, in 1999, the “new” Browns took the field.
I was pretty excited and watched the 1st game and realized I knew none of the players.
But I had familiarity with a lousy Colts franchise and stuck with them.
I even had a #98 Tony Siragusa (Goose!) jersey.
Since them there’s been a Super Bowl win and several play-off appearances.
The Browns have been largely miserable, which is sad for the loyal fan base.
But in the spring and summer, it’s always been Cleveland Indians/Guardians baseball.
I come from the Rocky Colavito/Woodie Held era.
Since Cleveland won it’s last World Series, it’s been 75 years.
They won the world title in 1920 and 1948.
Then Cleveland appeared in the World Series in 1954, 1995, 1997 and 2016.
Long-suffering Cleveland fans should have known it was going to be tough to win it all again after Willie Mays made his memorable catch with his back to the infield of a Vic Wertz deep drive to the Polo Grounds outfield in the 8th inning of game 1.
If the ball drops, Cleveland breaks a 2-2 tie with at least 2 runs but as it was, the Giants won in extra innings and swept Cleveland in 4 games.
It took 41 years for Cleveland to get back to the World Series.
But, in 1995, Cleveland returned to the World Series, only to lose in 6 to the Atlanta Braves when 5 of the games were decided by one run.
Two years later, in 1997, Cleveland lost to the Florida Marlins, 4 games to 3, prolonging the fans’ anguish.
Nineteen years later, Cleveland faced the Chicago Cubs in the 2016 fall classic.
This play-off was memorable because it matched up the two teams with the longest, active world title drought.
In true historic Cleveland fashion, the Cubs snapped their 108 year losing skid, stopped Cleveland in game 7, by an 8-7 score.
Close but no cigar.
Agonizing!
Again.
In 123+ baseball seasons, Cleveland has been in 16 play-offs.
I was too young to remember the 1954 series, but later, I told myself, “Surely Cleveland will win a World Series in my lifetime!”
Well, here we are in 2023 and I’m still waiting.
Then, 2022, to fall in line with the “woke” cry, my beloved Indians became the Guardians.
I still don’t know how Atlanta, with the “tomahawk chop” dodged the “PC bullet” but that’s where we stand today.
Cleveland has adopted its’ version on “Moneyball” to stay in the hunt with the big money behemoths.
It also helps they’re in the American League Central where mediocrity seems to reign.
But I still love ’em and hope for a day that a world championship comes to Cleveland baseball.
Watching the movie, “Major League” is a pre-season ritual for me.
It would be a real “Wild Thing” to get a World Series crown again in Cleveland.
The only thing better than that is the old “Stadium mustard” you would smear on your hot dogs.
Batter up!