Cleveland Rocks: The Story of the 1995 Cleveland Indians

The 1995 Cleveland Indians had one of the most exciting seasons in baseball history. At time it defied description:
They hit .291 as a team and led the league in runs scored, hits, and stolen bases.
They had eight .300 hitters in the starting lineup.
Albert Belle became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs and 50 doubles.
The team won 100 and lost just 44, winning its division by 30 games, the largest first place margin in baseball history.
Night after night, Jacobs Field came alive, as the Indians brought a spirit and sense of pride back to Cleveland. They rocked the Boston Red Sox in the Division Series. They rolled over the red-hot Seattle Mariners in the League Championship Series. And they battled the Atlanta Braves for six nail-biting games in the World Series. It’s all here: the dramatic moments, the interviews with key players, the behind-the-scenes story of one of the most phenomenal seasons Major League Baseball has ever seen. In 1995 Cleveland rocked and the Tribe rolled.
**Up until recently, I've been downloading my personal VHS collection. However, the collection is obviously limited. I started a Patreon page to better find and purchase old VHS videos on EBAY and other websites, as well as at garage sales and other locations that might have VHS available, so I can upload them for all to see and share for free. See it here: / tombombadil

[@JL-ec1by]

They were absolutely LOADED! Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Eddie Murray, Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Omar Vizquel, Sandy Alomar, Albert Belle.

[@TheDaexiled1]

Cleveland Indians were the only team to have 6 consecutive years of season sellouts, I live in New Orleans now but grew up in Cleveland, I went to many games with my parents and friends even was lucky enough to go to the playoff games and 1 game each from the 1995 and 1997 world series games. Great nostalgia

[@softwhiteund3rarm0r]

Oh to be going to these games as a fan would be great. Truly epic team in Cleveland sports history

[@paulwilliams3930]

One of the best teams ever assembled

[@afridgetoofar1818]

Offensively? Yes. Pitching? Not even close.

[@johncrumpler9950]

Because of the 95 Cleveland Indian team Jacobs Field will always be Jacobs Field to me in my heart and to all the fans of Cleveland

[@Handlethis81637]

This was the first team I really fell in love with.

[@mkaz4232]

So cool being a kid in Cleveland during this time, everyone was watching the Tribe

[@ryansells2043]

Born into a 3 generation Yankee family raised in Ohio..the mid/ late 90s was such a conflicting and wonderful time for me as a kid loving baseball. Cleveland Indians on the radio going to bed at night, such nostalgia

[@Marquise619]

Padres fan here, the 90s gave me sort of a soft spot for the Tribe. Loved Thome, Lofton, Belle, and you guys signed Winfield and I wanted to see him win as well. Always thought if you guys got an ace we would’ve surely met up in the 98’ series. Hopefully some day both our cities can end our droughts.

[@mattmansfield7155]

I was 5 years old for this season and I watched this video like 1,000 times when I was a kid. It is absolutely the foundation of my Indians and baseball fandom and I've been looking for digital copy forever. Thanks a million!

[@DrPlatypus1]

Almost exactly the same story here man. We're a year apart in age. So cheers to you, and sorry for your lifelong heartbreak with the Indians. 2016 still haunts me. Same as 97. 95 I was a bit young.

[@nickcallisdead]

@@DrPlatypus1 yeah 16 hurt. 07? Lofton had farewell season. Was still nothing like the standing room only in/out park. The feeling in City. Take 16 and multiply by 100000000. Cuz it really started in 94. We had 100 wins before lockout. Then 95, 96,97,98 just amazing come from behind games. I was at the Seattle game 99-20? Indians had biggest come back in history. Non the less great memories. Something we may never see again ever

[@rocket42dave34]

Me to

[@skyguy5587]

Was 5 in 95’ as well but as a north Georgia kiddo growing up so happy that the Braves won it all… until last year it was all we had in Atl

[@Pitchblackplays]

Same exact. I was 5 as well and my grandparents had this on VHS, I watched it all the time at their house.

[@NevadaLamb]

Man do I love these films. I grew up in Seattle and watched the Mariners’ highlight videos all the time. It’s so cool to see them for the other teams.

[@ffet1236]

Became a baseball fan because of this 1995 Indians team. I was 10 yrs old.

[@timnolan4587]

As a Tiger fan from Michigan, Ive always liked the Indians. The mid-90's Indians had amazing talent. The outfield hitting from Ramirez, Lofton and Belle were an awesome mix of different skills.

[@Handlethis81637]

As an Indians/Guardians fan, dating to the 90s, I have a hard time rooting against the AL Central, expect for the White Sox because of their broadcasters. They’re pieces of shit.

[@afridgetoofar1818]

I remember when fans at Tiger stadium threw batteries at Kenny Lofton

[@benmichelson7074]

This was the dream team in Cleveland. The 1995 Indians.

[@dodgefan15223]

Ah to be 14 again watching these guys with Chief Wahoo as their mascot... good times 😊

[@charlesgerety1403]

That lineup was stacked

[@ZWeinstein15]

Crazy to think that a you had Manny Ramirez and Eddie Murray in the lineup and they were arguably only the 3rd and 4th most powerful hitters in that lineup.

[@bena.3955]

Still unbelievable that this group did not win a World Series.

[@87Khein]

The Marlins series was more disappointing for them than this. The Braves were playing in their third World Series of the '90s and had a Hall of Fame pitching staff.

[@erikkarlonas180]

didnt help that the strike zone for NL pitchers was 2 miles wide in 95. Some of the pitches that were called were clearly not strikes but still we should have won it. Dont even start with 97..that was so disappointing. 2016 just the same. Indians will get there..itll happen.

[@Dom_721]

The Cleveland curse.

[@ChristopherJenkins-rg8kf]

​@@Dom_721Cleveland won the nba championship don't know if you know that or not there is no curse they are only cursed in football

[@Dom_721]

@@ChristopherJenkins-rg8kf it took nothing short of having arguably the best player in nba history to pull that off too. You're right though. I had no clue it even happened until the prophet such as yourself informed me

[@kandikidzora]

I miss herb score.... Him and Tom Made the best announcers

[@scoot1105]

Arguably the best team in baseball history not to win the World Series. This team was a helluva lot of fun to watch and follow!!

[@afridgetoofar1818]

The 1998 Braves and 2001 Mariners say hello.

[@SwordHMX]

I think another Cleveland team from 1954 takes that title for this franchise.

[@dodgefan15223]

Thank you so much for posting . I got a little misty eyed watching the old promos at the beginning. I had a blast watching these guys as a kid. Still miffed the tribe and Chief Wahoo is no more do to PC’ness.

[@realtexxxmancosplay]

Well you can't control political correctness, so it is what it is.

[@jameskillough3376]

Best team Cleveland ever had 8 players in the lineup with a batting average 300 or better should have won that world series was such a great season they had all the come from behind wins so close but just not enough.will never forget that team...thanks for the memories

[@thecultureofindia734]

I will forever be upset that this video contains NO FOOTAGE of Paul Assenmacher’s dramatic strikeouts of Griffey and Buhner in the 7th inning of Game 5. It was the most important and critical sequence that gave the Tribe the pennant. On TV, they showed his wife in the stands during these at-bats, when the tension was sky high. It made for great theater! Instead, all this video says is “though Seattle threatened in the 7th and 8th, Cleveland’s bullpen persevered.” I wouldn’t be so mad if there was footage of this elsewhere ......... BUT I CANNOT FIND THIS MOMENT ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!

[@TheTigersfan20]

I love the music playing when they focus on Eddie Murray. So peaceful and uplifting.

[@sagelow3274]

This video brought back good times. 95-98 are my favorite teams of all time. All they needed was one shut down ace and they would of had 2 WS trophies.

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

That opening commercial is so odd...

[@GUNSHIPFLEX]

The childhood was magical. This and wahoo what a finish

[@Youngboss1024]

This team made my childhood awesome.

[@ljays22]

My husband at 3:09. The energy was insane. Oh man, do I wish new name was Tribe. Tribe the nickname for team and we fans have been a loyal tribe. To me…fitting…but some people around a conference table had other ideas. RIP Cleveland Indians. The Tribe. A tribe I’ve been happy to be part of.

[@joe6096]

I'll never say RIP to the Indians name. They are always and will forever be the Indians in our household. I'll always proudly wear my Indians gear WITH Chief Wahoo.

[@tonyiacomi4822]

Best team in history to never win a world series

[@Paul8820]

2016 Indians: Hold Our beer

[@tonyiacomi4822]

@@Paul8820 hahahaha. But the 1995 team was better than 2016. But it was more heartbreaking in 2016 with that 3-1 lead over those cocksuckers

[@joekidd2291]

Montreal Expos had some great teams. 1994 should have been Expos Tribe World Series.

[@pohorex6834]

@@Paul8820 the 2016 indians were worse than the 2017 indians, so that doesnt work

[@joe6096]

@@Paul8820 The ending of the 2016 World Series was definitely far more heartbreaking than how 1995 ended, but make no mistake: the 1995 Cleveland Indians would have completely annihilated the 2016 Indians in a best-of-7 playoff series. That '95 team had only TWO guys in the regular lineup who didn't bat .300 (Vizquel and Sorrento), and Sorrento's BA was .278, the lowest on the team!!! .278!! The '16 Indians BEST hitter was Frankie and he was barely above .300. There was Kipnis batting a whole .260.

[@nativeamerican6025]

I have this VHS video but no more VCR player. Thanks for the upload. What a season!

[@Barneyst1]

My father in law gave us an old vcr player. I got a converter for like 20 dollars and converted a lot to digital. It's really easy. Great way to save them.

[@FalconsFanForever]

And loss to my Atlanta Braves such a great team we went up against Cleveland Indians were a awesome team but loss to the best one. My Braves blew ur chances of a World Series in 1995. We needed it big time.

[@biblebeliever3079]

Thanks for the upload! GO TRIBE 2019

[@johncrumpler9950]

Eddie Murray he was the anchor to the Indians in 95 what a great record 3000 hits congratulations Eddie you're one of a kind so much leadership

[@jollyroger6135]

Thank you for posting! Go tribe!

[@megailjamesdunson5579]

Let's Go! #Cleveland Indians Forever!!

[@titansrule72]

how the hell did this team not win multiple titles?!? they were stacked.

[@jameskillough3376]

What everyone wants to know ...

[@C-Land_Indians]

Those were definitely the good times! Even though we didn't win a World series 🤔☹️

[@giolopes2519]

I’m not from Cleveland but man was I a fan of this team!!!

[@ryanr.3925]

There was no better team than the 95 cleveland lineup to this day . We had such a strong franchise

[@shallows69]

Amazing doc!

[@johncrumpler9950]

They called them the dream team of Cleveland such a good group of guys Superior athletes

[@boxofficegal79]

This is great! Thanks so much for posting this and videos from other Indians years through the late 1990s. Would you please post the 1996 video ("Still Rockin' On")? Thank you so much!!!!

[@Mvproszn]

We were so close to having a Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians World Series Battle of Ohio, but the Atlanta Braves ruined the party

[@dalelima]

I was born in 1949 The Indians won the world series in 1948, I'm going too be 73 years old will I ever see a world series win before I die?

[@jalkabre5904]

No, neither will I. Indians are gone so they will never win a World Series in our lifetime. I don't care about the Guardians. They could win 5 WS in a row and it would mean nothing to me.

[@nickjoseph6094]

I watched this VHS about 1000 times as a kid.

[@johncrumpler9950]

For whom the Bell tolls way to go Albert

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

Two things I love here: The theme song to The Drew Carey Show & The Tribe!

[@user-co8uc1tg4f]

They will always be the Indians to me

[@MP-in4or]

This was one of the best teams in the history of baseball. Too bad so many fans in Cleveland had no idea who was playing on this team. I cannot stand fans who only show up for winners and do not stand by their team. They only do things because they want something to talk about. 'who is the owner of the Indians?' "Albert Belle"

[@joe6096]

I'm not sure that's entirely true. I think most Clevelanders, to this day 27 years later, can give you the batting lineup that Grover basically ran through the copy machine 150 times: 1. Lofton CF 2. Vizquel SS 3. Baerga 2B 4. Belle LF 5. Murray DH 6. Ramirez RF 7. Thome 3B 8. Alomar/Pena C 9. Sorrento 1B That was honestly from my memory, I did not google that.

[@jimbutke]

@@joe6096 I can do the same! Magical season. Now let’s go Guardians!

[@AndresGarcia-en5pc]

thanks I cried

[@Skazellino]

Sad that it's all over now. Indians was my team not the Guardians. A 30 year fan will be lost.

[@Wheeloffortunefan999]

yeah, fuck the cancel culture

[@sparc77]

That was truly a great team. And I think against any other pitching staff in the majors, they would have taken it all.

[@HiNRGboy]

I always batted like Albert Belle in HS, childhood hero lol 😉

[@kevin2400]

Chief wahoo forever...... the block C can suck it

[@greeneggs16]

Kevin Davis yea, I don’t fuckin get it

[@luckylew4283]

Used to watch this on VCR as a kid . Roll tribe

[@cobykenobi]

I'm a Dodger fan but I remember watching this series with my dad and we were both rooting for the Indians. What a great team and series that year!

[@k-dramalover886]

I rooted for the Indians too. I will always root for Hershiser.

[@joe6096]

@@k-dramalover886 Lifelong Clevelander here, when we signed Orel I thought we'd hit the big time. But I love his tenacity on the mound. When he had that bulldog stare at the hitter you could feel it. We all loved him in Cleveland. Good guy too - I was getting ice cream at the ice cream stand in a Cleveland suburb that he probably lived in at the time and he showed up with his wife and kids. I didn't bother him much just thanked him as we walked by his booth.

[@Deathtofrogleghorn]

We had this too on VHS. They messed up by not releasing it on DVD.

[@tribefan879]

They did release it on DVD if you bought their 10th anniversary box set with all these videos from 1994 to 2003.

[@Deathtofrogleghorn]

Councilman Les Wynan I’m talking about a rerelease of it years later. I know they didn’t have DVD’s in 1995. I grew up in the era!

[@chesberger4474]

That Kenny Lofton guy is gonna be a star one day.

[@matthewsmith8488]

Ya hopefully one day

[@NoName-le5oz]

Nostalgia 😩

[@StevenBertuglia]

Just look at the names on the back of the jerseys. Lofton, Belle, Ramirez, Murray, Surrento, Thome, Sandy Alomar, Vizquel, Herschisizer(however you spell it ) the list goes on. Imagine they keep all these guys together. I know some of them were older, but most were younger and went on to have great careers with Other teams. Sad.

[@johncrumpler9950]

I was at game 4 of the world series in Cleveland

[@patrickkaminowski6380]

I came here just for that weird Sportschannel commercial

[@greeneggs16]

Remember watching this on vhs

[@lesliemartin8669]

Les Martin Jr. Me being a lifelong Baseball fan,I played Little League myself,I thought the Indians were definitely going to win the World Series over The Atlanta Braves.But I guess the Braves who had the best pitching Staff in Baseball were to much for the Indians.Hell the next year in 1996 The Yankees had a hard time Beating the Braves,but they did. Long Live Derek Jeter.

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

Question for Cleveland fans: I was born in Seattle in 1973, and from 1991-2002, I ate, drank and slept the NBA, and wasn't as versed on the NFL and MLB. Why did Cleveland give up Paul Sorrento, the STARTING first baseman on a team that went to Game 6 of the World Series, and let him come to Seattle?

[@joe6096]

Because the Indians let Sorrento go in free agency after the 1995 season and signed veteran Julio Franco, who'd spent much of his earlier career with the Indians, back for the 1996 season. It wasn't a move much of us Indians fans liked because Franco was old at the time.

[@shelleymoomaw8801]

In Game 4, ALCS against Seattle, who was Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn that threw out the first pitch? He looked a lot like Sheen, the Tribe won that night 7-0, the Indians should have thought about having him back for the World Series, it was a great moment on the field and for the fans, I was there that game and when the Jumbo-Tron started playing a scene from "Major League" and the Manager said "Get me Vaughn" and he came walking out from the Bullpen to "Wild Thing" cranking out all over The Jake, The stands went crazy!! I heard Sheen in 2016 kind of volunteered to come throw out the first pitch during the World Series, wonder if The Tribe kind of wish they had, couldn't have hurt I guess. Go Tribe, always!!

[@drewzuhosky6826]

This show was aired on SportsTime Ohio years later.

[@felixramos8732]

How was Albert belle not the MVP this year?

[@christopherskeldon]

Albert belle was my favorite player, I'm from Louisiana and an LSU fan soooooo it s only natural that belle is my favorite player. He should have been MVP bit his off the field antics and the fights the Gatorade bottle thrown at kid. He wasn't the nicest person. But a hell of a hitter and rub machine.

[@thecultureofindia734]

The media didn’t like him. Biggest snub of my lifetime.

[@jonathanwashington9199]

@@christopherskeldon IMO Albert Pujols Was And Still Is Nicer Than Belle Pujols HOF

[@nickcupkovic5721]

They were the best team in baseball Just came up a little short Go Guardians Thinking bout the future always!

[@scottconner3726]

25 Years Ago I Was 9 Years Old In The Year Of 1995 About To Turned The Age Of 10 Years Old In The Month Of November 1995

[@87Khein]

The only World Series my team won...since 1991 and 1996 both got away

[@scottconner3726]

My Atlanta Braves Baseball Team Won Their Only World Series Title In The Year Of 1995

[@scottconner3726]

25 Years Ago

[@makeitugly]

Thank Joe Brinkman.

[@KnotTime]

I love your videos, do you have any playoff highlights from the Indians?

[@TomBombadil_Ben-adar]

Unfortunately I haven't found any. I'm basically uploading all of my old VHS collections and I don't believe playoff highlights are in there. I will be uploading the 1997 highlight video later this week...all the "year in review" videos have some playoff highlights at least.

[@KnotTime]

Nice, thank you for uploading them, I'm having a great time reliving all this stuff! For whatever reason MLB still hasn't uploaded Belle's home run from the 1995 alds, it's a shame.

[@TomBombadil_Ben-adar]

You'd think that one would be popular since it was the infamous "checked bat" home run with Albert's classic muscle posing

[@KnotTime]

Yea, exactly! A guy uploaded the clip on youtube awhile ago but his channel got shut down and I've been trying to find it since.

[@TomBombadil_Ben-adar]

Well, if I find it I'll definitely upload it

[@TheDNAlevelC]

This is complete proof of the pennant curse. There is no reason this team couldn't win there has never been a better ball team.

[@asburycollins7328]

"2024 the best in MLB anytime any moment offense "

[@justinthornton9416]

Manny and Kenny and Vizquel, should’ve been HOFers in my opinion…. Vizquel for his glove alone

[@miriamstepniak2793]

19:56 and I thought Kershaw had a good curvball dam that was nasty it broke like 4 feet.

[@theologymatters4209]

At 6:40 Albert Belle gives a great answer lol. Seriously I don't understand why anyone asks these guys questions lol

[@AmericanFool]

I miss Chief Wahoo

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

55:40 Hold your temper, and control yourself, Eddie Murray.

[@jollyroger6135]

6:12 Umm Kenny Lofton it's the Karate Kid. And it's wax on wax off. Not wipe.

[@jonrice6855]

Repost let Cleveland remember Jim Pool #Jim Pool strong #beat ALS

[@Michael-xl4xs]

Hershiser very good poker player he played my roommate Ted Forrest years ago head's up champion at Ceasars palace and oral beat him Ted got a signed baseball from oral 👍

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

Okay I never knew Dave Winfield was an Indian.

[@Snipes-76]

How’d these guys lose to Atlanta in 95’ ?

[@oliverhernandez1236]

Man the Cleveland cavaliers are awesome

[@ryanr.3925]

Aint shit without "the king"

[@softwhiteund3rarm0r]

The cavs of the late 80s early 90s wasnt bad either. Fun times for cleveland fans. The indians were the gold standard though

[@zairehammonds3826]

ColoevlelandClark's Kenihhindiants

[@leliofonte3010]

THANK TO ME

[@thedukeofswellington1827]

Shame some hurt feelings had to get in the way

[@josephbevacqua9217]

hello

[@xxethanarnoldxx2272]

45:52 46:14

[@softwhiteund3rarm0r]

If any cleveland team is good, the fa support is great there isnt shit to do in ohio. Sports is the best show in town.

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

49:35 I HATE Eric Plunk! I have a problem with people who wear glasses! I remember seeing SO many ESPN highlights and box scores, where I heard "And, Eric Plunk takes the loss." Eric Plunk comes into a game, and his team's lead goes Ker-plunk!

[@Foisterous]

Wait can someone remind me -- why did the Mariners have home field advantage? The Tribe has a better record.

[@jameskillough3376]

That's what I'd like to know from all these years

[@DrPlatypus1]

Man Cleveland has had some shit luck. 1995 they face a 3-hall-of-fame pitching staff in the WS, and 2016 they face the best Cubs team in franchise history. I really doubt they'll ever win a WS.

[@DrPlatypus1]

Well said dude.

[@softwhiteund3rarm0r]

Better than the Yankees imo. For about 5 years the tribe was the best.

[@christianunderkofler4063]

Why does the bar tender look like Dick Goddard?

[@historywalker86]

In summation: The Braves smacked that Ass!

[@jameskillough3376]

No they didn't they barely won last gAme 1 to 0

[@dalelima]

Native American's should have been proud too have a Baseball team named after them. The Guardians name SUCKS.

[@unappealingundesirable2826]

12:05 Is that Jim Thome? You MUST know all of this about me, to understand where, when and how I grew up: Born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Japanese-American (showing HOW I grew up). I have a PHILLIES 25 THOME jersey. I think I'm 3 years younger than Jim Thome. I was also in my prime from 20-27, but at 28, it was downhill from there, and let's just say that at 49 in 2022 (and not expected to live much longer: Even back in 1996, I always thought that I'd pass away in 2021 at age 48), my looks from a female point of view, are downright UNPALATABLE. Yes, I AM saying, that wow, Jim Thome used to be good-looking (like me), and DAMB, we've both fallen into the TANK in the mid 2000s.

[@ronimusprime6798]

You guys should have never let them change your name. Its so stupid with this PC crap.😡