[custom_countdown width=”125px”] The History of the Cleveland Guardians: From the Blues to the Guardians The Cleveland Guardians are one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises. The organization that is now known as the Guardians began American League play in 1901, making Cleveland one of the original American League cities. Over more than 125 years, the franchise has been known by several names, including the Cleveland Blues, Cleveland Bronchos, Cleveland Naps, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Guardians. The team has won six American League pennants and two World Series championships. The Guardians’ history includes legendary players such as Cy Young, Nap Lajoie, Tris Speaker, Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Frank Robinson, Jim Thome and CC Sabathia. It is also a franchise with a fascinating history of ballparks, ownership changes, blockbuster trades and players who became stars after leaving Cleveland. The Beginning: Cleveland Baseball Before the Guardians Cleveland had Major League baseball before the current franchise. The Cleveland Blues played in the National League beginning in 1879. Later, Cleveland became home to the Cleveland Spiders, who played in the National League from 1887 through 1899. The Spiders produced several future Hall of Famers, including Cy Young, Jesse Burkett, Buck Ewing, Bobby Wallace, John Clarkson and George Davis. However, the Spiders disappeared after the disastrous 1899 season. The Spiders finished that season 20-134, still one of the worst records in professional sports history. Owner Frank Robison also owned the St. Louis Browns and transferred Cleveland’s best players to St. Louis, leaving Cleveland with a depleted roster. The Spiders were dropped from the National League after the season. The modern Cleveland franchise began in the American League in 1901. The Cleveland Blues and Bronchos The new American League Cleveland franchise initially went through several nicknames. The team was called the Cleveland Blues in 1901 and later became known as the Bronchos. In 1903, the team acquired one of baseball’s greatest early stars, Nap Lajoie, and soon became known as the Cleveland Naps. Lajoie was more than just a star player. He became the face of the franchise and one of the greatest hitters of the dead-ball era. The Cleveland Naps Nap Lajoie was one of baseball’s first true superstars. He won batting titles, accumulated thousands of hits and became so closely associated with Cleveland that the club eventually adopted the name Naps in his honor. The team also developed one of the game’s great pitchers during this period: Addie Joss. Joss threw a 74-pitch perfect game for Cleveland at League Park on October 2, 1908. His career ended tragically when he died of tubercular meningitis in 1911. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978. The 1920 World Championship The franchise’s first World Series championship came in 1920. The team was led by players including: Tris Speaker, Stan Coveleski, Joe Sewell, Ray Chapman, Jim Bagby Sr. Cleveland defeated the Brooklyn Robins in the World Series. The 1920 championship was especially significant because it came during a tragic period for the franchise. Shortstop Ray Chapman was killed after being struck in the head by a pitch during the season. The team rallied and eventually won the World Series. Tris Speaker had become a Cleveland star after the team acquired him from Boston in 1916. He remained with Cleveland for 11 seasons and became one of the greatest players in franchise history. From Naps to Indians After the 1914 season, the team dropped the Naps nickname and became known as the Cleveland Indians. The Indians name remained for more than a century. In 2021, the organization officially changed its name to the Cleveland Guardians. The new name came from the six Art Deco Guardians of Traffic statues on Cleveland’s Hope Memorial Bridge. The name change created a new chapter while preserving the statistical and historical records of the same franchise. Every Home Ballpark The Guardians have played their home games in only four primary Major League ballparks since the franchise began in 1901. Ballpark Years Location League Park 1901-1931 East 66th Street and Lexington Avenue Cleveland Stadium 1932-1993 Lake Erie waterfront Jacobs Field 1994-2007 Downtown Cleveland Progressive Field 2008-present* Downtown Cleveland *The stadium was renamed Progressive Field in 2008 after originally being known as Jacobs Field. The Guardians’ official history lists League Park as the home from 1890-1931, although the current American League franchise began playing there in 1901. Cleveland Stadium then served as the club’s home from 1932 through 1993. Jacobs Field opened in 1994, and the stadium became Progressive Field in 2008. League Park League Park was one of baseball’s historic early parks. The original wooden structure was replaced by a concrete-and-steel facility in 1910. It held approximately 21,000 fans and remained Cleveland’s home until 1931. Cleveland Stadium Cleveland Stadium opened in 1932 and became the team’s home for 62 seasons. It hosted five World Series and four All-Star Games. It was also the setting for several historic Cleveland pitching performances, including Len Barker’s perfect game in 1981. Jacobs Field The opening of Jacobs Field in 1994 helped transform Cleveland baseball. The downtown ballpark replaced Cleveland Stadium and became one of the symbols of the franchise’s remarkable resurgence during the 1990s. Progressive Field The ballpark remains the Guardians’ home today. Located in downtown Cleveland, Progressive Field sits beside Rocket Mortgage Field House and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. All Guardians Owners The Cleveland organization has had a remarkably long list of owners and controlling ownership groups. The Guardians’ official ownership history lists the following: Owner / Ownership Years Charles W. Somers 1900-1916 Jim Dunn 1916-1922 Estate of Jim Dunn 1922-1927 Alva Bradley 1927-1946 Bill Veeck 1946-1949 Ellis Ryan 1949-1952 Myron H. Wilson 1953-1956 William R. Daley 1956-1962 Gabe Paul 1963-1966 Vernon Stouffer 1967-1972 Nick Mileti 1972-1976 Ted Bonda 1977-1978 F.J. “Steve” O’Neill 1978-1983 Estate of F.J. “Steve” O’Neill 1983-1986 Richard E. Jacobs 1986-2000 Larry Dolan and family trusts 2000-present The Dolan family purchased the franchise in 2000 and remains the ownership… Continue reading The History of the Cleveland Guardians:
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The History of the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are one of the oldest and Most historic franchises in professional sports. Founded in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings and a charter member of the National League in 1876, the Cubs are the oldest continuously operating major professional sports franchise in North America that has remained in the same city throughout its existence. Every Home City the Cubs Have Claimed Unlike many franchises that relocated across the country, the Cubs have had only one home city: Years City 1870–Present Chicago The franchise has played continuously in Chicago for more than 155 years. Their ballparks changed several times, but the city never did. Home Ballparks Years Ballpark 1874–1877 23rd Street Grounds 1878–1884 Lake Front Park 1885–1890 West Side Park 1891–1893 South Side Park 1893–1915 West Side Grounds 1916–Present Wrigley Field Wrigley Field has been the Cubs’ home since 1916, meaning the team has played there for over 110 years. It is the second-oldest active Major League Baseball stadium, behind Fenway Park. Team Names Through History Years Name 1870–1889 Chicago White Stockings 1890–1897 Chicago Colts 1898–1902 Chicago Orphans 1903–Present Chicago Cubs The “Orphans” nickname appeared after legendary player-manager Cap Anson departed the club. Newspapers gradually began calling the young team the “Cubs,” and the name stuck. Cubs World Series Appearances The Cubs have appeared in 11 World Series. Year Opponent Result 1906 Chicago White Sox Lost 1907 Detroit Tigers Won 1908 Detroit Tigers Won 1910 Philadelphia Athletics Lost 1918 Boston Red Sox Lost 1929 Philadelphia Athletics Lost 1932 New York Yankees Lost 1935 Detroit Tigers Lost 1938 New York Yankees Lost 1945 Detroit Tigers Lost 2016 Cleveland Guardians Won World Series Championships The Cubs have won three World Series titles: 1907 1908 2016 The 2016 championship ended a 108-year title drought, the longest in major North American professional sports history. The 10 Greatest Cubs Players (These rankings are subjective, but most historians place these legends near the top). 1. Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub.” Played 1953–1971. 2. Ryne Sandberg, One of the greatest second basemen ever. 3. Cap Anson, The franchise’s first superstar. 4. Fergie Jenkins, First Canadian Hall of Famer. 5. Ron Santo 6. Billy Williams 7. Sammy Sosa 8. Gabby Hartnett 9. Mordecai Brown 10. Kris Bryant Many historians would also include Anthony Rizzo, Greg Maddux, and Joe Tinker. 10 Future Stars the Cubs Let Get Away Several players became far bigger stars after leaving Chicago. Player Traded By Cubs Became Star With Lou Brock 1964 St. Louis Cardinals Greg Maddux Left as free agent Atlanta Braves Rafael Palmeiro Trade Texas Rangers Joe Carter Trade Cleveland Guardians Dennis Eckersley Trade Oakland Athletics Rafael Palmeiro Trade Texas Rangers Josh Donaldson Trade Oakland Athletics Kyle Schwarber Non-tendered Philadelphia Phillies Eloy Jimenez Trade Chicago White Sox Gleyber Torres Trade New York Yankees D.J. LeMahieu Trade Colorado Rockies The Lou Brock trade remains one of the most criticized deals in baseball history. Brock became a Hall of Famer and helped the Cardinals win multiple pennants and World Series titles. Interesting Cubs Facts The Cubs won 116 games in 1906, still tied for the most victories in a modern MLB season They were the first team to win consecutive World Series championships (1907–1908). Wrigley Field’s famous ivy was planted in 1937. The Cubs went 108 years between World Series titles (1908–2016). Their all-time record is above .500 despite many decades of frustration. No franchise in baseball has played more games than the Cubs. For more than a century and a half, the Cubs have remained a symbol of baseball tradition. From the White Stockings of the 1870s, to the powerhouse teams of Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance, to Ernie Banks’ “Let’s play two,” and finally the dramatic 2016 championship, the Cubs’ story is one of the richest and most enduring in American sports history. Artie Fischal Views: 1
