The 1995 Cleveland Indians season was the 95th season for the franchise.
This season led to the Indians returning to the World Series and their first postseason of any kind since 1954. The season started late by 18 games due to the 1994 strike, giving it just 144 games. The Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division with a record of 100 wins and 44 losses. This was the first team in the history of the American League ever to win 100 games in a season that had fewer than 154 games.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,
The most outstanding pitcher for the Indians was their relief pitcher, José Mesa, who finished second in the voting for the American League's Cy Young Award. Mesa pitched in 62 games; he led the league by being the finishing pitcher in 57 games, and he saved a league-leading 46 games, even though he pitched just exactly 64 innings. Mesa was the winning pitcher in three games, and he lost none. Mesa's earned run average was a microscopic 1.13. Mesa only gave up eight earned runs, one unearned run, and three home runs in the entire regular season.
The most outstanding batter and everyday player for the Indians was their left fielder, Albert Belle, who finished second in the voting for the American League's Most Valuable Player Award. Belle played in 143 of the 144 games, and became the first major leaguer to hit 50 doubles and 50 home runs in a single season. Belle led the league in runs scored (121), runs batted in (126), doubles (52), home runs (50), total bases (377), and slugging percentage (.690). Belle had 173 hits and a batting average of .317.
The second most outstanding batter and everyday player for the Indians was their right fielder, Manny Ramirez. Ramirez played in 137 games, scored 85 runs, batted in 107 runs, hit 26 doubles and 31 home runs, had 149 hits, and batted .308.
On a team that was led by its outfielders in batting, the Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton, playing in just 118 games, also had 149 hits, scored 93 runs, batted .310, and led the American League with 13 triples and 54 stolen bases. This was Lofton's fourth of five consecutive years leading the American League in stolen bases. Lofton also won a Gold Glove in the outfield. Despite Lofton only hitting seven home runs he still finished the shortened season with 53 runs batted in.
The Indians won the Central Division by an overwhelming 30 games over the second-place Kansas City Royals, and they went into the playoffs going strong. In their American League Division Series, the Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox in a three-game sweep. Next, in the American League Championship Series, the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners four games to two. The Indians' starting pitcher, Orel Hershiser, was voted the American League Championship Series' Most Valuable Player.
In the World Series, the Indians faced the Atlanta Braves (champions of the National League for the third time in four years), who had finished the regular season with a 90–54 record, had defeated the Colorado Rockies three games to one in the National League Division Series, and had swept the Cincinnati Reds four games to none in the National League Championship Series. The Braves had the National League's Cy Young Award winner in Greg Maddux, who finished the season with a 19–2 won-loss record and a 1.63 earned run average as a starting pitcher. Maddux also finished in third place in the voting for Most Valuable Player.
The Indians lost the World Series to the Braves by four games to two, with the Braves winning all three games in Atlanta, and the Indians winning two out of three games in Cleveland. The World Series Most Valuable Player was the starting pitcher Tom Glavine of the Braves, who won two games in the Series.
Offseason November 9, 1994: Derek Lilliquist was selected off waivers from the Indians by the Atlanta Braves.Derek Lilliquist at Baseball-Reference November 18, 1994: Paul Byrd, Jerry Dipoto, Dave Mlicki and a player to be named later were traded by the Indians to the New York Mets for Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Roa. The Indians completed the deal by sending Jesus Azuaje (minors) to the Mets on December 6.Paul Byrd at Baseball-Reference November 21, 1994: Torey Lovullo was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Torey Lovullo at Baseball-Reference March 25, 1995: Billy Ripken was signed as a free agent with the Indians.Billy Ripken at Baseball-Reference However, Ripken only played in six games for the Indians.
Regular season
The Indians led the Majors in nearly every offensive category, including runs scored (840), hits (1,461), home runs (207), runs batted in (803), batting average (.291) and slugging percentage (.479). They also struck out the fewest times (766) of all 28 MLB teams.1995 Major League Baseball Season Summary Baseball-Reference.com They also had one of the most formidable pitching staffs in the AL, allowing the second-fewest hits (1,261), finishing with the best ERA (3.83), the fewest runs allowed (607), fewest earned runs allowed (554), the most saves (50) and the fewest intentional walks (16).
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions April 5, 1995: Dave Winfield was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Dave Winfield at Baseball-Reference However, Winfield only played in 39 games as a designated hitter in the regular season, and none in the postseason, and he retired at the end of the season. April 10, 1995: Paul Assenmacher was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Paul Assenmacher at Baseball-Reference April 25, 1995: Bud Black was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Bud Black at Baseball-Reference May 5, 1995: Casey Candaele was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Casey Candaele at Baseball-Reference May 15, 1995: Matt Williams was traded by the Indians to the Houston Astros for Eddie Tucker.Matt Williams at Baseball-Reference June 6, 1995: Todd Frohwirth was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Todd Frohwirth at Baseball-Reference July 14, 1995: Bud Black was released by the Indians. July 27, 1995: David Bell, Rick Heiserman, and Pepe McNeal (minors) were traded by the Indians to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ken Hill.Ken Hill at Baseball-Reference
Roster 1995 Cleveland Indians Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other battersManager
Coaches (Infield) (Bullpen) (Hitting) (First base) (Third base) (Pitching)
Game log
Legend Indians Win Indians Loss Game postponed
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 27 || @ Rangers || 11–6 || Martinez (1–0) || Gross (0–1) || – || The Ballpark in Arlington || 32,161 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 28 || @ Rangers || 9–10 || Whiteside (1–0) || Poole (0–1) || Russell (1) || The Ballpark in Arlington || 22,179 || 1–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 29 || @ Rangers || 5–6 || Burrows (1–0) || Shuey (0–1) || – || The Ballpark in Arlington || 28,048 || 1–2 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 30 || @ Rangers || 7–6 || Mesa (1–0) || Whiteside (1–1) || – || The Ballpark in Arlington || 26,026 || 2–2 || W1
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || May 2 || @ Tigers || 11–1 || Martinez (2–0) || Bergman (0–2) || – || Tiger Stadium || 39,398 || 3–2 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || May 3 || @ Tigers || 14–7 || Clark (1–0) || Doherty (0–2) || – || Tiger Stadium || 29,996 || 4–2 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || May 4 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Wells (1–1) || Hershiser (0–1) || Henneman (1) || Tiger Stadium || 28,846 || 4–3 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || May 5 || Twins || 5–1 || Nagy (1–0) || Erickson (0–3) || Mesa (1) || Jacobs Field || 41,434 || 5–3 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || May 6 || Twins || 2–5 || Radke (1–0) || Black (0–1) || Aguilera (4) || Jacobs Field || 37,325 || 5–4 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || May 7 || Twins || 10–9 || Poole (1–1) || Guthrie (1–1) || – || Jacobs Field || 39,431 || 6–4 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || May 8 || Royals || 6–2 || Clark (2–0) || Appier (3–1) || Grimsley (1) || Jacobs Field || 26,704 || 7–4 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || May 9 || Royals || 10–0 || Hershiser (1–1) || Linton (0–1) || – || Jacobs Field || 27,225 || 8–4 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || May 10 || Royals || 3–2 || Plunk (1–0) || Meacham (1–2) || – || Jacobs Field || 27,749 || 9–4 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || May 12 || @ Orioles || 3–2 || Martinez (3–0) || Brown (2–1) || Mesa (2) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 40,516 || 10–4 || W5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || May 13 || @ Orioles || 1–6 || Mussina (2–1) || Clark (2–1) || – || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 40,185 || 10–5 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || May 14 || @ Orioles || 3–1 || Hershiser (2–1) || Rhodes (1–2) || Mesa (3) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 39,167 || 11–5 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || May 16 || @ Yankees || 10–5 || Nagy (2–0) || Key (1–2) || – || Yankee Stadium || 18,246 || 12–5 || W2 |- style="background:#bbb;" | – || May 17 || @ Yankees || colspan=8 | Postponed (rain, makeup August 10) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || May 18 || @ Red Sox || 3–4 || Belinda (2–0) || Poole (1–2) || – || Fenway Park || 24,285 || 12–6 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 19 || May 19 || @ Red Sox || 9–5 || Tavarez (1–0) || Ryan (0–1) || – || Fenway Park || 23,507 || 13–6 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || May 20 || @ Red Sox || 7–5 || Plunk (2–0) || Pena (1–1) || Mesa (4) || Fenway Park || 29,412 || 14–6 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || May 21 || @ Red Sox || 12–10 || Assenmacher (1–0) || Pierce (0–2) || Mesa (5) || Fenway Park || 32,339 || 15–6 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || May 22 || Brewers || 5–7 || Bones (3–1) || Nagy (2–1) || Fetters (2) || Jacobs Field || 34,464 || 15–7 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || May 23 || Brewers || 5–3 || Martinez (4–0) || Sparks (1–1) || Mesa (6) || Jacobs Field || 35,373 || 16–7 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || May 24 || Brewers || 5–7 || Rightnowar (1–0) || Clark (2–2) || Fetters (3) || Jacobs Field || 29,638 || 16–8 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 25 || May 26 || @ Blue Jays || 7–4 || Hershiser (3–1) || Hentgen (3–2) || Mesa (7) || Skydome || 47,113 || 17–8 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 26 || May 27 || @ Blue Jays || 0–3 || Leiter (2–2) || Plunk (2–1) || Hall (3) || Skydome || 47,143 || 17–9 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || May 28 || @ Blue Jays || 5–4 || Nagy (3–1) || Darwin (1–4) || Mesa (8) || Skydome || 42,365 || 18–9 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 || May 29 || White Sox || 7–6 || Tavarez (2–0) || DeLeon (2–1)|| Mesa (9) || Jacobs Field || 41,736 || 19–9 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 29 || May 30 || White Sox || 2–1 || Assenmacher (2–0) || Fernandez (2–4) || Mesa (10) || Jacobs Field || 33,038 || 20–9 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 30 || May 31 || White Sox || 6–3 || Hershiser (4–1) || Abbott (2–2) || Mesa (11) || Jacobs Field || 36,771 || 21–9 || W4
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 31 || June 1 || White Sox || 7–4 || Black (1–1) || Bere (1–4) || Plunk (1) || Jacobs Field || 33,260 || 22–9 || W5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || June 2 || Blue Jays || 0–5 || Leiter (3–2) || Nagy (3–2) || Timlin (2) || Jacobs Field || 41,545 || 22–10 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 33 || June 3 || Blue Jays || 3–0 || Martinez (5–0) || Darwin (1–5) || – || Jacobs Field || 41,566 || 23–10 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 34 || June 4 || Blue Jays || 9–8 || Tavarez (3–0) || Hall (0–1) || – || Jacobs Field || 41,688 || 24–10 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || June 5 || Tigers || 8–0 || Hershiser (5–1) || Bergman (1–4) || – || Jacobs Field || 34,615 || 25–10 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || June 6 || Tigers || 4–3 || Tavarez (4–0) || Boever (3–3) || Mesa (12) || Jacobs Field || 36,115 || 26–10 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;"