Posted April 2, 201015 yr From the vault... This is a look back at three consecutive years of high drama in the Cleveland sports world. From 1994 - 2007 (yes, the '94 season ended on Aug 11, 1994 and there was no post season but the Tribe was on their way up) the Indians were contenders except for maybe a couple years. In '95 of course they made it to the World Series for the first time in decades... After losing the first two games in Atlanta, these are pictures from Game 3 in Jacobs Field on October 24, 1995. The starting pitchers were John Smoltz for Atlanta and Charles Nagy for Cleveland. Some of the pre-game festivities Chrissie Hynde sings the National Anthem Player introductions Teams dispersing after the introductions One of Atlanta' pitchers. Probably one of the relief pitchers Albert Belle at the plate Our seats were terrific and not far from the action at all. Nearby, this is then-owner of the Atlanta Braves Ted Turner with then-wife Jane Fonda. One of the greatest ball players of all time Omar Vizquel. And a genuinely nice person. Tied 6-6 in the eighth inning The Indians would go on to win it in the Ninth. The Braves lead in the series was now 2-1 and the streets of Cleveland were filled with mayhem. Unfortunately, the Braves went on to win the '95 World Series on October 28, 1995 in Atlanta. Only days away from this terrific run at Baseball's title, on November 6, 1995, owner of the Cleveland Browns Art Modell announces he is moving the team to Baltimore. He is essentially ticked off at the Gateway Sports Complex and the success of the Indians and Cavaliers in their new homes. December 17, 1995 would be the last home football game in Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Some other facts about the Stadium... The Stadium was dedicated on July 1, 1931. Two days later, approximately 37,000 watched a boxing match between Max Schmeling and Young Stribling. The Browns started playing there in 1946. The Indians played their first game at the lakefront on July 31, 1932 but moved back to League Park in '34. Startin in '36 (?) they moved games between League Park and Municipal Stadium. The Indians played all games at Municipal Stadium after the 1946 season. These are pictures from the "Final Play" event held in September of 1996. It was the last time the Stadium was open to the public. The Stadium was demolished starting in November of '96 The famous "Gate A" Even though this event was sponsored by the NFL (the Indians had played their last game in the Stadium on October 3, 1993) things like the baseball dugouts were available for people to check out. IIRC, I was there the last day of the event and, at this point, it had about an hour to go before closing. Farewell remarks on the Stadium walls. On to 1997... Here are a couple pics from Game 5 of the World Series in Jacobs Field on October 23, 1997. Florida would win 8-7. And, of course, they went on to win the World Series. For irony, here is David Justice at bat for the Tribe. Remember he hit the game-winning Home Run (in Game 6)as a member of the Atlanta Braves World Series team in '95. At the concession stand, this is one of the Tribe's "Super Fans" Even though we lost in '95 and '97 there were parades down Euclid Ave. a few days later. Here are some pics from '97 parade. "Super Fans" , the Wahoo guy, Sister Mary Assumpta and the "Drummer" John Adams (who has been beating the drum at home games since August 24, 1973) Grand Marshall Indians announcer Herb Score whose last play-by-play game was Game 7 of the '97 Series. Mayor Mike White. Despite its mid-90s grit the Euclid street wall looks fabulous. Then and now, even with its occasional holes, it is one of the best street walls around.
April 2, 201015 yr In my time, this was the most fun Cleveland has ever been, IMHO. I have so many memories of the Flats at this time, watching the games at Nautica Pavillion etc. Awesome time in Cleveland history. There was so much energy.
April 2, 201015 yr Wow, incredible shots! I wish I had shots of my own of the interior of the old stadium. Awesome/depressing/cursed place. That 1995 season sure was incredible.
April 2, 201015 yr Great pictures! I was at game 5 of the '95 World Series, there was nothing like it. Hopefully we can recapture some of this magic later in the spring with a Cavaliers playoff run (and title!).
April 2, 201015 yr great stuff -- thx for putting these up, except...well...as dr. smith used to say on lost in space: "whoa the pain!" :laugh:
April 2, 201015 yr Great pictures! I was at game 5 of the '95 World Series, there was nothing like it. Me too! I flew home from college for one night to go. It seemed like the most extravagant thing ever back then, but the flight was probably only $150 or something.
April 2, 201015 yr Those were great...love the shots of muncipal stadium! I still think I like it better than the current, sterile, Corporate, Browns stadium. Oddly the only WS game I went to in 95 was game 6 in Atlanta...my grandfather had season tickets and took me. I had the unfortunate experience of being at the game where the other team clinched the title, on their home field none the less. At least I didn't get any crap during/after the game (I was wearing a Lofton jersey)...I guess when your team loses, everyone else is too happy to care!
April 2, 201015 yr Having the parades down Euclid is definitely better than having them on Superior. I remember someone putting it this way (paraphrasing), "For all Euclid Avenue's shabbyness, the echo of the bands bouncing off the canyon of buildings and its sense of the human scale are enough to send chills down your spine." I think it was Litt that wrote something to that extent several years ago.
April 2, 201015 yr ... I still think I like it better than the current, sterile, Corporate, Browns stadium. I have to agree with you on that one.
April 2, 201015 yr ... I still think I like it better than the current, sterile, Corporate, Browns stadium. I have to agree with you on that one. I disagree. I like the comfy boxes! The seats and bleachers at Municipal Stadium were the worst.
April 2, 201015 yr ... I still think I like it better than the current, sterile, Corporate, Browns stadium. I have to agree with you on that one. I disagree. I like the comfy boxes! The seats and bleachers at Municipal Stadium were the worst. Plus we would get blacked-out alot And the stadium was falling apart. Its a good thing we have a new one.
April 2, 201015 yr ... I like the comfy boxes! The seats and bleachers at Municipal Stadium were the worst. I also have to agree with you on that one. In a perfect world, I'd like the old shell with a modernized interior.
April 8, 201015 yr These are incredible. I should scan mine from that time frame. I am QUITE sure that I was the last person to kick a football through the bleacher end's uprights at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. I was 2nd from the end of the line on the last day of the "Final Play" and I made my kick (I used to kick in HS) and the people after me missed. A friend of mine is a cop who was working down there and I stayed and talked to her for a long while as everyone left. I was one of the last people in there, so unless a construction worker kicked a ball through..........I was the last. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. ;) Thanks for the memories!
April 8, 201015 yr These are incredible. I should scan mine from that time frame. I am QUITE sure that I was the last person to kick a football through the bleacher end's uprights at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. I was 2nd from the end of the line on the last day of the "Final Play" and I made my kick (I used to kick in HS) and the people after me missed. A friend of mine is a cop who was working down there and I stayed and talked to her for a long while as everyone left. I was one of the last people in there, so unless a construction worker kicked a ball through..........I was the last. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. ;) Thanks for the memories! That is awesome!
April 9, 201015 yr Great stuff. I practically lived at Jacobs Field in those years. I couldn't get playoff tickets so I ended up at Nautica Stage to watch it on the big screen and then headed over to Smart Bar afterwards to celebrate. Wonderful times. And I also faxed protest letters to the NFL offices and those of all the team owners after Art decided to go bye-bye. It felt good to be doing something about it. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 9, 201015 yr These are incredible. I should scan mine from that time frame. I am QUITE sure that I was the last person to kick a football through the bleacher end's uprights at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. I was 2nd from the end of the line on the last day of the "Final Play" and I made my kick (I used to kick in HS) and the people after me missed. A friend of mine is a cop who was working down there and I stayed and talked to her for a long while as everyone left. I was one of the last people in there, so unless a construction worker kicked a ball through..........I was the last. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. ;) Thanks for the memories! That is an amazing story! ...And I also faxed protest letters to the NFL offices and those of all the team owners after Art decided to go bye-bye. It felt good to be doing something about it. Yeah I remember sitting in my apartment in Akron in the Highland Sq neighborhood, where I lived at the time, and I was calling the NFL offices in NYC. The lines were jammed and I finally got through. The person actually listened and took my call and forwarded my thoughts. The NFL had some sort of phone bank at their hdqtrs for the barrage of complaints/concerns (emailing and internet were still the exception, not the rule). The representative told me that thousands upon thousands of phone calls were received from Cleveland, Akron and Canton (home of pro football, of course) protesting Modell's actions.
April 10, 201015 yr The only thing I don't miss about this time period is Mayor White... I think we have a much more honorable man in the Mayor's office at this point in time.
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