1998 AL Central Division Title

Lore & Background

The franchise originated in 1896 as the Columbus Buckeyes (also known as the Columbus Senators), a minor league club based in Columbus, Ohio that played in the Western League. The team relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, midway through the 1899 season, where they were known as the Grand Rapids Prodigals. In 1900, the franchise moved to Cleveland and was called the Cleveland Lake Shores. The Western League itself was renamed the American League prior to the 1900 season while continuing its minor league status. When the American League declared itself a major league in 1901, Cleveland was one of its eight charter franchises. Originally known as the Cleveland Bluebirds, or Blues, the team was also unofficially called the Cleveland Broncos in 1902. Beginning in 1903, the team was named the Cleveland Napoleons, or Naps, after team captain and manager Nap Lajoie. Lajoie left after the 1914 season, and club owner Charles Somers requested that baseball writers choose a new name. They chose Cleveland Indians, which remained in use for more than a century. Common nicknames for the Indians were "the Tribe" and "the Wahoos", the latter referencing their longtime logo, Chief Wahoo. After the Indians name came under criticism as part of the Native American mascot controversy, the team adopted the current name, Guardians, beginning with the 2022 season.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the diamond at Jacobs Field on a crisp September evening. The air buzzed with anticipation as the Indians needed just one more win to clinch the AL Central. Manny Ramirez stepped into the batter's box, the weight of the city on his shoulders. With a crack that echoed off the stadium walls, he sent a towering fly ball deep into left field. As it cleared the fence, the roar of 40,000 fans erupted, drowning out the wind. It wasn't just a home run; it was the sound of a franchise reclaiming its identity.

Reader's Guide

From August 24 to September 14, 2017, the team won 22 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in American League history, and the second-longest winning streak in MLB history. The team's World Series championship drought, dating to 1948, is the longest active among the 30 current Major League teams.

Did You Know?

• The team's name is derived from the Guardians of Traffic, eight 1932 Art Deco sculptures by Henry Hering on the city's Hope Memorial Bridge.
• The team's mascot is named "Slider".
• The team's spring training facility is at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona.
• From August 24 to September 14, 2017, the team won 22 consecutive games, the longest winning streak in American League history.