Cleveland Guardians Make Baseball History
Baseball history has been made in Cleveland. The Guardians have pulled off a remarkable turnaround, going from trailing the Detroit Tigers by 9.5 games on September 10 to finishing strong with a 14-3 record, while the Tigers stumbled to a 3-13 finish. This comeback is, in fact, the most significant since MLB adopted divisional play in 1969.
Interestingly, at one point in July, the Guardians were 15.5 games behind. September has been nothing short of spectacular for them, contrasting sharply with the Tigers’ struggles.
And just to add a twist, Cleveland will face Detroit in a three-game series, kicking off today at 1 PM. If needed, the second and third games will start at the same time.
Despite a shaky second half of the season, the Tigers have already locked in a playoff spot, but the AL Central title remains up for grabs.
Fans in Cleveland are understandably excited. I know quite a few who still joke about the team’s former name, “Indians,” and they even call them “The Tribe.” Personally, though, I focus on the team rather than the name. Most fans seem to share that sentiment. With that said, the Guardians are hosting the Tigers today at Progressive Field, and I’ll be tuned in, especially with Tom Hamilton calling the game—he’s the best in the biz. Meanwhile, local sports writers like Terry Pluto and Paul Hoynes are covering it closely, given how seriously Northeast Ohio takes its sports teams.
On a side note, I met my wife in 1978 during a fundraiser in San Diego. She’s been through countless seasons of ups and downs with the Browns, Cavaliers, and Guardians. It’s been a rollercoaster, to say the least. Just one championship since then—what a trip! This week, her excitement might just bubble over a bit knowing what’s at stake. The anticipation is palpable, though I can’t help but wonder how long it will last. The dark clouds of disappointment often loom nearby, but maybe, just maybe, this fall will break the pattern.
Cleveland hasn’t seen a World Series win since 1948, despite several near-misses in 1995, 1997, and 2016. You’d think they’d have better luck, considering they also won titles in 1920. Yet, for all that hype, it still feels like a distant memory, and I find myself indifferent to those earlier victories. The Browns, on the other hand, have never made it to the Super Bowl and last won the NFL Championship in 1964. The Cavaliers are decent now, but they’ve never clinched the title without LeBron James, which leaves some fans skeptical. However, who knows? Maybe two championships are on the horizon. The Browns seem to be out of the running this year without key players stepping up.
Ohio State, in college football, has claimed titles in 1968, 1970, 2002, and 2014, with hopes of possibly repeating their success in 2024. But when it comes to Cleveland’s professional sports, it feels like a long stretch of disappointment, broken only by rare moments of triumph.
So, if the Guardians keep this momentum, expect some wild mood swings among Clevelanders this week—and maybe longer. You might not know it, but Ohio’s pride tends to bubble over during moments like this. As long as “Guardball” keeps rolling, I have a feeling we’ll hear more about it soon.
Ultimately, Cleveland has one of the most passionate fan bases out there. We’ve endured our fair share of heartaches, yet September has brought so much hope. Here’s to making October even more unforgettable.
