Cleveland Indians facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cleveland Indians |
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 2025 Cleveland Indians season |
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| Major league affiliations | |||
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| Current uniform | |||
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| Retired numbers | |||
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| Major league titles | |||
| World Series titles (2) |
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| AL Pennants (6) |
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| Central Division titles (8) |
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| Wild card berths (1) | 2013 | ||
| Front office | |||
| Principal owner(s) | Larry Dolan Paul Dolan (controlling owner/Chairman/CEO) Matt Dolan (part owner) |
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| President of baseball operations | Chris Antonetti | ||
| General manager | Mike Chernoff | ||
| Manager | Terry Francona | ||
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team from Cleveland, Ohio. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League (AL) Central division. Since 1994, their home stadium has been Progressive Field. They were the champions of the American League in 2016. The team trains in Goodyear, Arizona during spring.
Since they became a major league team in 1901, the Indians have won two World Series championships. These wins happened in 1920 and 1948. They have also won eight Central Division titles and six American League pennants. The team's current wait for a World Series championship is the longest in baseball right now.
The name "Indians" came about after the 1914 season. The team's owner, Charles Somers, asked baseball writers to pick a new name. This was because their star player, Nap Lajoie, had left. The name "Indians" was chosen because it was used for an earlier Cleveland team, the Cleveland Spiders. That team had a Native American player named Louis Sockalexis.
Some common nicknames for the team are "The Tribe" and "The Wahoos." "The Wahoos" refers to their old logo, Chief Wahoo. The team's mascot is named "Slider." By the end of the 2019 season, the Indians had won more games than they had lost in their history. From August 24 to September 14, 2017, the Indians won 22 games in a row. This is the longest winning streak in American League history!
Contents
Team Uniforms
The Indians have different uniforms for home and away games.
Home Uniforms
Their home uniform is white. It has blue trim around the sleeves. The word "Indians" is written in red with a blue outline across the front. The jersey also has the Chief Wahoo logo on the left sleeve. The home cap is blue with a red brim. It features the Chief Wahoo logo on the front. Since 2016, the team has worn red shirts, belts, and socks with their home uniforms.
Away Uniforms
The road uniform is gray. The word "Cleveland" is written in blue letters with red trim across the front. It also has blue trim around the sleeves. The Chief Wahoo logo is on the left sleeve. The road cap is blue with a red "C" on the front. The Indians wear blue shirts, belts, and socks with their away uniforms.
Alternate Uniforms
The team also has an alternate blue jersey. It has white trim around the sleeves. The word "Indians" is written across the front in red with a white outline. The Chief Wahoo logo is on the left sleeve. When they wear these blue jerseys for away games, they use a blue cap with the Chief Wahoo logo. For home games, they can use their regular home cap or a red cap with a blue "C."
For all games, the team uses a blue batting helmet with a red "C" on the front.
Fan Fun and Traditions
The Drummer
John Adams, known as "The Drummer," has played a bass drum at almost every home game since 1973. He is so famous that the team even made a special bobblehead doll of him! John used to buy his own tickets, but now the Indians pay for his seats. This is because he has added so much to the game day fun. He has been on TV shows and in newspapers.
Amazing Sellout Streak
From June 12, 1995, to April 4, 2001, the Indians sold out 455 home games in a row! This means every ticket was sold for each game. This amazing streak brought over 19 million fans to Progressive Field. The demand for tickets was so high that all 81 home games for a season would sell out before the season even started. This sellout streak set a new record for Major League Baseball.
Team Songs
During the middle of the 8th inning, the Indians play "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys. When this song plays, fans often chant "O-H-I-O," just like the Ohio State Buckeyes fans do. When the Indians win a game, they play "Cleveland Rocks" to celebrate.
Indians in Movies and TV
The Cleveland Indians have been featured in many movies and TV shows over the years. Here are a few examples:
- The Kid From Cleveland – This 1949 movie featured the team's owner and many players. It came out right after they won the 1948 World Series.
- Major League – A popular 1989 movie about a made-up version of the team.
- Major League II – The 1994 sequel to the first Major League movie.
- In a 1968 cartoon called Go Go Gophers, two Native American characters joked about the team. They said the players weren't "real Indians" and didn't wear feathers.
- In the children's book "Danny Dunn, Time Traveler", a professor tries to name an Indian tribe. He can only think of the Cleveland Indians!
Player Statues
Several famous Indians players have statues outside Progressive Field. These statues honor their great achievements:
- Bob Feller (since 1994): He is the Indians' all-time leader in wins and strikeouts for a pitcher. He was also an eight-time All-Star and a champion in the 1948 World Series.
- Jim Thome (since 2014): He hit the most home runs for the Indians. He was also a three-time All-Star with the team.
- Larry Doby (since 2015): He was the first black player in the American League. He was a 1948 World Series Champion and a seven-time All-Star.
- Frank Robinson (since 2017): He became the first black manager in MLB history. He managed the Indians from 1975 to 1977.
- Lou Boudreau (since 2017): He was the AL MVP in 1948. He was also a 1948 World Series Champion as both a player and manager. He was an eight-time All-Star.
Images for kids
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The team is named after the eight Guardians of Traffic statues displayed on the Hope Memorial Bridge next to their home field.
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Cy Young on a 1911 baseball card
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Nap Lajoie, who won the 1903 American League Batting Championship with the Indians, was the team's namesake from 1903 to 1915, and is an MLB Hall of Famer.
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1909 Cleveland Naps
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Tris Speaker on a 1933 baseball card
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Bob Feller; winner of the A.L. pitching Triple Crown in 1940, member of the 1948 World Series Championship team, the Indians all-time leader in wins and strikeouts, and an MLB Hall of Famer.
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Logo from 1946 to 1950
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Lou Boudreau, 1948 American League MVP
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Al Rosen, 1953 Most Valuable Player.
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Herb Score – who was the 1955 American League Rookie of the Year, a two-time A.L. All-Star, and after his playing career went on to be the longest-tenured announcer in club history, serving 34 seasons (1964–1997) as a member of the Indians broadcast team.
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In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first African-American manager in MLB history
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Slider, the team mascot since 1990
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Progressive Field in 2008
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Kenny Lofton in 1996
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Mark Shapiro – Indians GM from 2001 to 2010, President from 2010 to 2015, and two-time Sporting News Executive of the Year.
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CC Sabathia won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award with the Indians.
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Sabathia's teammate Cliff Lee won the AL Cy Young Award in 2008.
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Mike Chernoff, who has served as Indians/Guardians' general manager since 2015.
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Manager Terry Francona, who in his tenure with the Indians/Guardians is a two-time AL Manager of the Year (2013, 2016), led the team to the 2016 AL Championship, and is the all-time franchise leader in wins by a manager.
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Corey Kluber, who is a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner with the Indians (2014, 2017).
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Shane Bieber, who won the 2020 AL Cy Young Award, giving the team five winners in 14 seasons.
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The Ohio Cup trophy
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Guardians wordmark logo, featured on the team's home uniforms
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Cleveland in "diamond C" font is featured on the team's road uniforms
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Guardians TV announcer Matt Underwood (seated, center) and longtime lead radio announcer Tom Hamilton (right)
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Mel Harder
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Joe Sewell
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See also
In Spanish: Cleveland Guardians para niños
