1991 Cleveland Indians

1991 Cleveland Indians / Franchise: Cleveland Guardians / BR Team Page

Record: 57-105, Finished 7th in AL Eastern Division (1991 AL)

Managed by John McNamara (25-52) and Mike Hargrove (32-53)

Coaches: Dom Chiti, Rich Dauer, Mike Hargrove, Luis Isaac, Gordon MacKenzie, Jose Morales, Mark Wiley and Billy Williams

Ballpark: Cleveland Stadium

History, Comments, Contributions

Losing 20 more games than the year before, the 1991 Cleveland Indians season was the team's decade nadir. Albert Belle was the offensive stalwart, hitting .282 with 28 home runs, 95 RBI and a .540 slugging percentage. Only one other player hit more than 10 home runs (Carlos Baerga with 11). On the base paths, Alex Cole was electric with 27 steals in just 122 games, also contributing a .295 batting average and .386 on-base percentage.

The rotation had the foundation for success, though Charles Nagy was the team's only 10 game winner, finishing with exactly that many. Greg Swindell tossed a team high 238 innings and 7 complete games, to complement a 3.48 mark, while Tom Candiotti posted a 2.24 ERA in 15 starts before a mid-season trade to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Steve Olin led a mediocre bullpen with 17 saves, while Shawn Hillegas paced the club with 51 appearances. In 18 frames over 10 appearances, Eric Bell posted a 0.50 ERA and a stunning 854 ERA+, while going 4-0.

The year saw the Indians trade many of their veterans, from Mitch Webster to Brook Jacoby to Reggie Jefferson to Greg Swindell, often with little to show for the moves. On December 10, however, the club made one of its best trades of the decade, sending pitcher Willie Blair and catcher Ed Taubensee to the Houston Astros for outfielder Kenny Lofton and infielder Dave Rohde. Lofton would become a sparkplug the club needed to help them ascend from mediocrity to pennant winners in just a few years. In addition, the team took outfielder Manny Ramirez in the 1st round of that year's draft, a choice that would begin reaping benefits in just a couple of seasons.

Awards and Honors

• All-Star: Sandy Alomar