CLEVELAND -- As a charter member of the American League, the Guardians have a rich history that spans 125 seasons. But when you think of the franchise’s top moments, what comes to mind?
Perhaps you think back to 1995, and all the special memories Cleveland created in that magical season. Or maybe you think of Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1997, or Rajai Davis in 2016, or Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry in 2024. For some, maybe 1948 is top of mind.
There are countless options to choose from, and narrowing them down is no easy task. They regrettably can’t all make the list, and mine is admittedly subjective. But here are what I consider to be the Top 10 moments in franchise history.
1. Final out of 1920 World Series
This list must start with the first time Cleveland scaled baseball’s mountaintop. The Indians beat the Brooklyn Robins in seven games, 5-2, to win the 1920 World Series, which marked their first championship in the franchise’s 20th season. Indians right-hander and future Hall of Fame Stan Coveleski secured the title by tossing a shutout, which he capped by getting Brooklyn’s Ed Konetchy to ground into a Series-ending forceout in the ninth inning of Game 7.
2. Larry Doby’s World Series home run
Doby delivered one of the most consequential swings in the 1948 World Series against the Boston Braves, when he belted a solo homer in the third inning of Game 4 to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. Doby -- a future Hall of Famer and pioneer who one year prior broke the color barrier in the American League -- became the first Black player to homer in a Fall Classic, and his big swing made the difference in Cleveland’s 2-1 win. The Indians took a 3-1 series lead and went on to win Game 6 to secure the franchise’s second World Series title, which stands as its most recent.
3. First title in 41 years
The Jacobs Field crowd swelled in anticipation when third baseman Jim Thome camped under a foul popup off the bat of Jeff Huson. When Thome snagged it, a celebration Clevelanders waited 41 years for commenced. By beating the Orioles, 3-2, the Indians clinched the AL Central and the franchise’s first title since the 1954 AL pennant. The magical ‘95 season marked a turning point in Cleveland after four decades of losing, and it was only the start to a golden era in Indians baseball. The ‘95 season culminated with a trip to the World Series and marked the first of five straight postseason berths for the Indians.
4. “Drive into left!”
Before a heartbreaking finish to the 2016 World Series, Rajai Davis authored one of the most improbable moments in franchise history. The Indians, once down 6-1, trailed the Cubs, 6-4, in the eighth inning of Game 7. With two outs, Davis -- who was known more for his speed than his power -- improbably mashed a game-tying two-run home run off Aroldis Chapman, on a line drive that just cleared the 19-foot left-field wall at Progressive Field.
Davis’ blast sent fans at the ballpark into a frenzy, and Cleveland players jumped out of the dugout in celebration as he rounded the bases. Chapman, meanwhile, stood still on the mound, seemingly stunned. Though Chicago won in 10 innings, Davis forever etched his name into franchise lore that night.
5. Kenny Lofton’s dash to the plate
Kenny Lofton was a dynamic baserunner, and he still seemed to catch the Mariners by surprise in Game 6 of the 1995 ALCS. The Indians were one win away from reaching the World Series, but held a slim 1-0 lead in the eighth inning. A Randy Johnson offering to Omar Vizquel got by catcher Dan Wilson, allowing Ruben Amaro to score from third easily. Lofton, who was on second base, kept running, and he was halfway to the plate by the time Wilson corralled the ball at the backstop. Lofton slid in safely to give the Indians another insurance run, in their 4-0 win in which they clinched their first pennant since 1954.
6. Sandy Alomar Jr. ties it up
Sandy Alomar Jr. spent 11 seasons playing with Cleveland, and he cemented himself as a postseason legend in Game 4 of the 1997 ALDS. The Indians trailed the Yankees, 2-1, and were four outs away from elimination. Alomar belted a two-out game-tying solo home run off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, which was one of only two postseason blasts the future Hall of Famer surrendered in his career. After Alomar injected new life into Jacobs Field, Omar Vizquel delivered a walk-off single in the ninth, and the Indians clinched the series with a 4-3 win in Game 5. Cleveland beat the Orioles in the ALCS to clinch its second AL pennant in three seasons.
7. Bruce walks it off for The Streak’s 22nd win
The 2017 Indians had already set the American League record for longest winning streak. Why not keep it rolling? Cleveland made it 22 straight victories on Sept. 14, in a dramatic 3-2 walk-off win over Kansas City. The Indians trailed, 2-1, in the ninth, when Francisco Lindor hit a two-out, two-strike game-tying RBI double -- just beyond the outstretched glove of left fielder Alex Gordon. In the 10th, after a José Ramírez leadoff double, Jay Bruce lined a rocket into the right-field corner to secure the win and extend the streak. Cleveland also punched its ticket to the postseason that night, and though it lost its next game, The Streak stands as the second longest in AL/NL history (1916 New York Giants, 26 games).
8. "The ultimate present under the tree"
The Guardians trailed the Yankees, 5-3, and were down to their last out in Game 3 of the 2024 ALCS. They were in danger of falling into a 3-0 series deficit. Then Jhonkensy Noel sent Progressive Field into pandemonium by demolishing a game-tying two-run homer off Luke Weaver. Just as memorable as his swing was Noel promptly flinging his bat to the side as he began his home run trot, and television broadcaster Brian Anderson’s iconic call of the moment. Anderson said, “Oh my goodness! Big Christmas has tied it! The ultimate present under the tree.” Noel’s blast set the stage for David Fry’s walk-off two-run shot in the 10th.
9. Completing the 15 1/2-game comeback
The Guardians erased their 15 1/2-game deficit of the Tigers to clinch the 2025 AL Central crown, which marked the largest comeback to win a division title (since 1969) or league (pre-’69). Cleveland was still playing its own regular-season finale when it clinched, thanks to a Detroit loss in Boston. But the Guardians wanted to celebrate truly winning the title, and Brayan Rocchio obliged by hitting a walk-off three-run homer in the 10th inning of a 9-8 win over the Rangers.
10. Len Barker’s perfect game
If you were among a crowd of 7,290 at Cleveland Stadium on May 15, 1981, on a damp night with a first-pitch temperature of 49 degrees, you were treated to a legendary performance. In a 3-0 win over the Blue Jays, Barker threw the 10th perfect game in AL/NL history, which he sealed by getting Ernie Whitt to flyout to center fielder Rick Manning in the ninth inning. Barker tallied 11 strikeouts -- seven of which came over the final 11 outs he recorded -- and did not pitch in a single three-ball count. He threw just 102 pitches, including 73 for strikes, and his masterful performance stands as the team’s most recent no-hitter.
Honorable mentions
- Bob Feller’s Opening Day no-hitter in 1940
- Frank Robinson homers in player-manager debut, Opening Day 1975
- 1994 Opening Day walk-off in first game at Progressive Field
- The 12-run comeback vs. Seattle, Aug. 5, 2001
- Travis Hafner’s walk-off in the “Bug Game,” 2007 ALDS Game 2
- Lindor’s grand slam in Game 2 of the 2017 ALDS
- Ramírez and Tim Anderson’s altercation, Aug. 5, 2023
- Lane Thomas’ grand slam in Game 5 of the 2024 ALDS