RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Cleveland Stadium, commonly known as Municipal Stadium or Lakefront Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football. The stadium opened in 1931 and is best known as the long-time home of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball, from 1932 to 1993 (including 1932-1946 when games were split between League Park and Cleveland Stadium), and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), from 1946 to 1995, in addition to hosting other teams, other sports, and concerts. The stadium was a four-time host of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, one of the host venues of the 1948 and 1954 World Series, and the site of the original Dawg Pound, Red Right 88, and The Drive.
Through most of its tenure as a baseball facility, the stadium was the largest in Major League Baseball by seating capacity, seating over 78,000 initially and over 74,000 in its final years. It was superseded only by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from 1958 to 1961, while it was the temporary home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and by Mile High Stadium in 1993, the temporary home of the expansion Colorado Rockies. For football, the stadium seated approximately 80,000 people, ranking as one of the larger seating capacities in the NFL.
Former Browns owner Art Modell took over control of the stadium from the city in the 1970s and while his organization made improvements to the facility, it continued to decline. The Indians played their final game at the stadium in October 1993 and moved to Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field) the following season. Although plans were announced to renovate the stadium for use by the Browns, in 1995 Modell announced his intentions to move the team to Baltimore citing the state of Cleveland Stadium as a major factor. The Browns played their final game at the stadium in December 1995, after which they were renamed the Baltimore Ravens. As part of an agreement between Modell, the city of Cleveland, and the NFL, the Browns were officially deactivated for three seasons and the city was required to construct a new stadium on the Cleveland Stadium site. Cleveland Stadium was demolished in 1996 to make way for FirstEnergy Stadium, which opened in 1999. Much of the debris from the demolition was placed in Lake Erie to create an artificial reef.
On Sunday, September 2, 1990, the Toronto Blue Jays faced off against the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland Stadium. The Blue Jays sent out their ace, Dave Stieb, who entered the game with a remarkable 16-5 record. The Indians countered with Bud Black, who was having a solid season with a 10-8 record. At this point in the season, the Blue Jays were in a tight race in the AL East, while the Indians were struggling to stay out of the basement in the AL Central. The 1990 season was marked by a number of standout performances, including the rise of young stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and the continued dominance of established players like Rickey Henderson.
The game started as a pitching duel, with both Stieb and Black keeping the opposing offenses at bay through the first three innings. The Blue Jays broke the silence in the fourth inning, when first baseman Fred McGriff hit a solo home run off Black. Toronto added another run in the fifth inning, with a double from center fielder Kenny Williams and another double from second baseman Manuel Lee. Despite these runs, the game remained a pitchers' duel, as Stieb kept the Indians' offense completely in check.
Meanwhile, the Indians struggled to mount any offense against Stieb. Despite drawing four walks, the team was unable to capitalize on these opportunities. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, were able to add an insurance run in the ninth inning, courtesy of another solo home run from McGriff. This provided a comfortable cushion for Stieb, who completed the game without allowing a single hit to the Indians.
The game ended in a 3-0 victory for the Blue Jays, with Stieb throwing a no-hitter and improving his record to an impressive 17-5. McGriff's two home runs were key to the victory, providing all the offense the Blue Jays needed. The win helped the Blue Jays in their pursuit of the AL East title, although they would eventually finish in second place behind the Boston Red Sox. The Indians, meanwhile, continued their struggles and finished the season in the last place in the AL Central. The 1990 season was memorable for a number of reasons, including Nolan Ryan's 300th win and the Cincinnati Reds' wire-to-wire World Series victory, but this game stood out as a highlight, showcasing the dominance of Dave Stieb and the power of Fred McGriff.
On September 21, 1970, the New York Jets faced off against the Cleveland Browns in...
New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns - NFL Radio Broadcast / On September 21, 1970, the New York Jets faced off against the Cleveland Browns in an early season NFL game. The Jets, led by the legendary Joe Namath, were coming off a historic Super Bowl III victory in the previous season. The Browns, on the other hand, were in the midst of a transition period under head coach Blanton Collier, having lost the 1969 NFL Championship game. This game was not just another regular season match-up, but also marked the debut of Monday Night Football on ABC, a significant milestone in the history of sports broadcasting that would forever change the way Americans consumed football. As we delve into this game, we see two teams, each with their own narratives, clashing under the bright lights of prime-time television, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
1963 marked the first time in 5 years that only one game was played at...
1963 MLB All-Star Game - Radio Broadcast / 1963 marked the first time in 5 years that only one game was played at the midseason break. The game took place at Cleveland Stadium in front of only 44,000 in a ballpark that could hold twice as many. It didn't help that the Indians entered the break in 6th place, and their only representative on the all-star team was "Mudcat" Grant , who didn't even see any action. The game was notable however in that Stan Musial made his 24th and final appearance in the all-star game. And youngster Carl Yastrzemski would make his 1st of 18 future appearances.
Rocky Colavito finished his career with 374 HR's and he played in 9 All-Star Games. Now 90 years young,
Rocky Colavito (Indians HOF) Interview / Rocky Colavito finished his career with 374 HR's and he played in 9 All-Star Games. Now 90 years young, Rocky joins me on this episode to talk about his 1st game at the Polo Grounds, his tryout at Yankee Stadium, his love for Cleveland & the wedding gift the team gave he & his wife that he'll never forget!
The third annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played in July 1935 at Cleveland...
1935 MLB All-Star Game - Radio Broadcast / The third annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played in July 1935 at Cleveland Stadium. Nearly 70,000 fans filled the enormous ballpark, which had just opened a few years earlier. The game was a showcase for the new stadium, which was nearly 4 times the capacity of Cleveland's previous League Park. Babe Ruth didn't play in this game, having retired mid season just a month earlier. But, hall of famer Lefty Gomez made his third consecutive all-star game start as pitcher for the American League. He was joined by other stars such as Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Charlie Genhringer, Al Simmons, and Mel Ott.
