The 1997 Cleveland Indians: a Cleveland Sock-cess Story

[@timothyparryjropen]

The last year of WKNR 1220 AM's contract as the flagship station with the Indians, it switched to WTAM 1100 the next year.

[@bena.3955]

This was the most heart breaking World Series loss. Even more than losing to the Cubs in 2016.

[@GlitchyMorpheus]

I know we were the shitty marlins but I feel ya game 7 loss in last at bat must have been heartbreaking.

[@mkhbtown]

The 1997 World Series was way tougher to lose than the 2016 World Series. Considering the history of the opponents, fan bases, and how those teams were built. The Cubs waited over 100 years, had a great fan base, and built their team from scratch. The Marlins were a 5th year expansion team with terrible fans and bought their championship before stripping it back down to nothing. I felt the Cubs at least deserved their championship, something I never felt about the Marlins.

[@NoName-le5oz]

same feeling with the Sacramento Kings losing by the Lakers in 2002.

[@SwordHMX]

It prevented Mike Hargrove from winning a ring, so I think it is wonderful!

[@mitchellclark4967]

I was 9 years old and remember this. But the 2016 loss being up 3-1 hurt just as bad. Growing up a huge indians fan cause of my dad being a big Indians fan I just wanted to see the tribe win a world series. I thought for sure we had it in 2016. Don't forget 2007 being up 3-1 over Boston in the alcs then Boston comes back to win then sweep the Rockies in the world series. Should have been the Indians that year too

[@SakAttack87]

When you look at how absolutely stacked their offense was throughout the mid/late 90s, you have to wonder how many World Series the Indians could have won in that era if they had that one legitimate ace?

[@adriano5044]

I used to love those red Indians jackets! Absolutely loved them!

[@Jiltedin2007]

1997 Cleveland Indians: This was The Most Painful World Series Loss we have ever suffered! 1986 Boston Red Sox and 2011 Texas Rangers: Shut Up and Hold Our Beers!

[@GlitchyMorpheus]

I can't imagine. We don't give a shit about the Marlins anymore but you guys are a loyal fanbase it was almost not fair lol

[@Jiltedin2007]

@@commonsense6534 How many of those Super Bowls the Patriots would’ve won if they never started Tom Brady? Exact same scenario with the 49ers and Joe Montana.

[@JoeShmoe102]

The editing on this vid is so 90s it hurts haha

[@DarkKirby14LP]

Hernandez winning WS MVP is still baffling

[@jiordone8563]

Jack McDowell had a botched elbow surgery that pretty much ended his career early that year. He was supposed to be healed and healthy for the second half of the season. Maybe could have helped in that World Series.

[@ThesteelLion]

I absolutely love the Indian then and now every time they win it makes me happy I live in Michigan but I absolutely love the tribe I hate the fact that I have to change their name this year because people are easily offended

[@BeSm-qq6rs]

Yet another example of the CLE sports curse. Sandy Alomar carried this 86-76 team that got hot in the playoffs. I remember how the critics in both leagues were whining about two mediocre teams in the World Series.

[@AW-dq2oo]

David Justice, “I couldn’t name anybody on the Indians.” You literally just played them two years ago in the World Series. Not a David Justice fan.

[@LaMostraVia]

5:43 unfortunately this turned out to be a pretty lousy trade.

[@thejoeyd9207]

It almost worked out for that one year. We were 4 strikes away from winning the whole thing lol

[@LaMostraVia]

@@thejoeyd9207 I would have rather had MLB hall of famer Jeff Kent. We had Matt Williams for 1 year. 1 friggin year lol. Yeah and Cleveland almost won 3 World Series. You don’t get trophy’s for almost winning.

[@thejoeyd9207]

@@LaMostraVia Yeah, tell me about it. Still waiting. Travis Fryman turns out decent (the guy we got Williams for). But still. Jeff Kent turned into a monster.

[@josephbevacqua9217]

Do you have the Browns are back video?

[@BeSm-qq6rs]

If they did, its been destroyed. The refs can only do so much.

[@Kay_Fabe]

As a Yankee's fan during this time, the Indians were dangerous

[@rego00001]

before lbj. such a good time for cle... a great young team

[@AW-dq2oo]

But the Browns were gone🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️....but some would argue they never really returned....until now

[@robertryan399]

“It is of greater importance to build a club that can win its division rather than a club that can win a World Series...our philosophy is to build a club that is not on paper the best club but by building a club that can win a division” - Mark Shapiro explaining why the Indians didn’t think it mattered if they finished 86-75.... Shapiro isn’t wrong. Resigning Albert belle would have been an albatross around the teams neck, but Cleveland could make these decisions because they knew the central division was so weak that year. Sometimes teams like the 97 Indians, the 2000 Yankees, or the 06 cardinals can make this type of calculated decision that they don’t have to bet the farm to qualify for the playoffs in a weak division. But they still have to explain to us why their teams are so mediocre 😂

[@DrPlatypus1]

Typical Cleveland, choked when it mattered most. Pathetic.

[@adrianselbst6777]

Long live the Florida Marlins. One of the greatest comebacks and endings in world series history

[@kevin2400]

Cleveland Indians should of won the World Series in 97

[@adrianselbst6777]

@@kevin2400 my friend that is certainly one way to look at things.

[@adrianselbst6777]

isn't thatt something? should have. didn't. :)

[@AW-dq2oo]

The Marlins are dead

[@adrianselbst6777]

@@AW-dq2oo yeah it's a shame. The south remembers.