1. Joe CharboneauSuper Joe was AL Rookie of the Year for the Indians in 1980; one of my first memories of baseball.
2. World B. Free
Prolific scorer carried the 1985-86 Cavaliers to the playoffs and nearly stunned the soon-to-be champion Boston Celtics.
3. Bernie Kosar
Sidearmer from nearby Boardman, Ohio, led the Browns through several successful seasons in the 1980s.
4. Craig Ehlo
Former CBAer had a long, successful NBA career that unfortunately is only remembered for one play.
5. Bobby Phills
Late guard emerged from obscurity to have a long NBA career, and it started with the Cavs.
6. Brad DaughertyOne of the all-time greatest Cavs was one of the dominant centers of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
7. Albert Belle
Surly slugger put together 10 of the finest seasons in baseball (and Indians) history.
8. Manny Ramirez
East Coasters may have forgotten that the sweet-swinging outfielder came up with the Indians.
9. Jim Thome
Likeable guy and future Hall of Famer from Peoria, Ill., came up to the Indians during the dark days of the early 1990s.
10. Ron Harper
Superstar career was derailed by knee injury and a trade to the Clippers that ripped my heart out.
11. Mark PriceFormer all-NBAer was neck-and-neck with John Stockton as best point guard in the league for a while.
12. Steve Kerr
Current Phoenix general manager began career as Mark Price’s backup in Cleveland.
13. Andre Thornton
“Thunder” Thornton was the only power source for the futile Indians of the 1980s.
14. Sam McDowell
My dad punched out the Indians hurler in a bar in the 1960s and also nicknamed him “Sudden Sam.”
15. Hanford Dixon
The originator of the Dawg Pound along with fellow Browns cornerback Frank Minniefield.
16. Earnest Byner
Stellar career marred by fumble in Browns-Broncos championship game.
17. Webster SlaughterPrimary receiver for standout Browns teams of the late 1980s; caught a 99-yard TD pass against the Bears on Monday night.
18. Carlos Baerga
Former All-Star Indians second baseman was a key part of the 1995 World Series team.
19. Julio Franco
The current New York Met was the subject of another terrible Indians trade--this one to the dreaded Rangers for Oddibe McDowell, Pete O’Brien and a tin of Skoal.
20. Wayne Garland
Indians starter made a free agent splash when he signed a 10-year deal for $1 million...total, not per year.
21. Brook JacobyIndians third baseman hit more than 30 home runs during an aberrant 1987 season.
22. Len Barker
Threw the Indians’ last perfect game before about 3,000 at Cleveland Stadium.
23. Gerald McNeil
The Ice Cube excelled on kickoff and punt returns for the Browns.
24. Matt Bahr
Longtime Browns kicker later won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants.
25. Eric Metcalf
When Bill Belichick was just another coach, “Metcalf up the middle” pained Browns fans.
26. Andre Rison
Flamboyant receiver signed a big free agent deal with the Browns; the team moved a few months later.
27. Steve OlinYoung Indians closer died in a boating accident in spring training.
28. Chris Dudley
Yale grad and former Cavs center always struggled with free throws; once spoke at Willoughby South High basketball camp.
29. Desmond Howard
Cleveland native won Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP during his football career.
30. Jamie Easterly
“The Rat” was a key part of the “Bullpen from Hell” of the 1987 Indians; others included Ed Vande Berg, Doug Jones, Rich Yett, Darrel Akerfelds and Ernie Camacho.
31. Joe CarterHe was a 30-30 man with the Indians before becoming the Blue Jays’ World Series hero.
32. Tony Fernandez
His brief Indians’ tenure was notable for two reasons: he hit the game-winning home run in the 1997 ALCS and his error lost Game 7 of the World Series.
33. Omar Vizquel
Future Hall of Famer won many Gold Gloves with the Indians and ignited a feud with Jose Mesa.
34. Jose Mesa
Superstar Indians closer hated Omar Vizquel and had his own run-ins with the law and ladyfriends.
35. Kevin Mack
Teamed up with Earnest Byner on a dual 1,000-yard rushing season for the Browns.
36. Mike Hargrove
A Texan, the Human Rain Delay eventually became highly successful Indians skipper.
37. Tom CandiottiThe knuckleballer started his career with 16 wins for the Indians in 1986 and finished up with 151 wins overall.
38. Kenny Lofton
Current Ranger has played for 11 major-league teams and was one of the Indians’ stars of the 1990s.
39. John Bagley
“The Bag-man” had a long NBA career and was the Cavs’ point guard before Mark Price.
40. Larry Nance
Won the first NBA slam dunk contest while a member of the Phoenix Suns; traded to the Cavs for Kevin Johnson.
3 comments:
My favorite Cleveland Sports Legends:
1. Bernie Kosar. I loved his moxie and his low interception percentage. After getting cut mid-season by Bill Belichik, he played for the Cowboys in 1993 and won a ring in Super Bowl XXVIII. I was out of the country that year and only saw the Super Bowl, but according to wikipedia he played well as Troy's back-up that year.
2. Jim Thome. Seems like he has his ego in check.
3. Mark Price (born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma--where my family lived for ten years between the late 80s and the late 90s).
4. Steve Kerr. Like him better as an announcer than as a player, when he killed hte Mavs, hitting 4 threes late in game six to eliminate the Mavericks in 2003 playoffs.
5. Hanford Dixon, Frank Minnifield, Earnest Byner, Kevin Mack. I liked that Browns team and even bought a jersey. Only "alien" NFL jersey I ever owned.
6. Julio Franco. Best second baseman the Rangers ever had. Didn't realize what we gave Cleveland to get him. Pete and Oddibe were well-loved Rangers, you know.
8. Eric Metcalf. Longhorn son of Terry Metcalf, whom I watched do great things for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1970s when he was in a line-up with Mel Gray, Dan Dierdorf, Conrad Dobler, Jim Hart and Jim Otis.
9. Kenny Lofton. One of my "year peers" (born in 1967). Still keeping the flame alive.
Hi! Nice topic, but will this really work?
You just summed up my childhood in at least 35 of these name.s thanks for the trip down memory lane.
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