Last Updated: October 20th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
Cleveland fans, you might want to prepare yourselves, as we have a list that illustrates the bad fortunes this franchise has faced over the years. As the franchise that hasn't been able to win a World Series since 1948, there must have been some moments that went the other way in order for us to get to this point.
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Let's analyze how this franchise has been so good, yet not the best.
Jose Mesa’s Game 7 Meltdown: The 1997 World Series Slips Away
We start off with probably the most heart-breaking entry of them all. 1997 was the year. They were going to Game 7 of the World Series against a fledgling Marlins team that had gotten hot to get there.
Jose Mesa was the closer they relied on all year. He had one out to go, but the Marlins found a way to tie it up on him and eventually steal the World Series away.
Rocky Colavito Traded—And The Curse That Followed
Rocky Colavito was one of the premier sluggers in baseball as the city of Cleveland rallied around him like he was a local celebrity. Then he was traded, and rumors of a curse swirled for years.
I think it was mostly a love for their former star, but we can't help but wonder if there actually is a curse on this franchise, as they haven't reached the mountaintop since.
The 2016 World Series: Rain Delay Before the Heartbreak
2016 is their recent shot at the Commissioner's Trophy. You could say it was curse against curse, drought against drought, as they faced the Chicago Cubs, who hadn't won since 1908.
This series also went to seven games, as the final matchup saw a rain delay that happened right after Rajai Davis hit a game-tying home run. That allowed the Cubs to reset and eventually win. Who knows what would've happened if the weather turned out differently.
Ten-Cent Beer Night: Chaos at Municipal Stadium
Promotions were a different beast in baseball way back when. This may not exactly be something that affected winning, but it is still a stain on the organization. For those who don't know of this historic fiasco, I'm sure I don't have to explain much more after I say that a promotion that offered beers for the equivalent of a dime led to a rowdy crowd that eventually stormed the field, and the team had to forfeit the game.
The “Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx” of 1987
Sports Illustrated used to have a huge effect on the visibility of athletes. They featured Corey Snyder and Joe Carter on their cover to promote the fact that the writers thought Cleveland would be at the top of the American League that year.
What ended up happening was a very rough 101-loss season that marred the franchise in embarrassment.
Losing Ray Fosse to Pete Rose’s All-Star Game Collision
Ray Fosse was a very solid All-Star catcher in Cleveland who gave them stability behind the plate and in the lineup. The dreaded 1970 All-Star Game led to a rough collision as Fosse blocked the plate and Rose came crashing into him. That effectively ended Fosse's career and affected the franchise's plans moving forward.
Willie Mays’ The Catch: 1954 World Series Dreams Dashed
We've all seen the iconic pictures and videos of Willie Mays' catch in the 1954 World Series. I don't think many fans remember who it was against. Cleveland won a franchise-record 111 games that season to face those New York Giants.
Unfortunately, they lost any semblance of momentum after that catch as the Giants ended up dominating in a sweep.
Len Barker’s Perfect Game—And Nearly Zero Fans Saw It
This is actually a positive performance in the history of this franchise, but the issue comes from the crowd. With a mediocre team that was playing in the middle of May, only 7,000 fans showed up that night.
Len Barker pitched the 10th perfect game in baseball history, and those in attendance rushed the field. I'm sure the team wished there were more to witness history.
The 1995 World Series Near-Miss Against the Braves
In 1995, Cleveland was home to one of the most exciting offenses in baseball. They won 100 games and stayed strong through the playoffs to end up with a World Series matchup against the very strong Atlanta Braves.
I think this one was a little more expected, as the Braves had one of the greatest pitching rotations of all time to go along with a great offense.
The 40-Year Playoff Drought: A Generation of Waiting
That 1995 World Series appearance was the first time they won the AL pennant since their 1954 one. That's a long wait for a fan base, and it's no wonder that different theories and curses were made up to explain why.
This franchise floated in mediocrity for a while before returning to prominence.
Herb Score’s Career Cut Short by a Line Drive
It just sucks to see a promising career disappear in an instant. Herb Score was a two-time All-Star in his first two seasons in the big leagues. He won the 1955 Rookie of the Year and led all pitchers in strikeouts in each of those two years.
Then he took a sharp line drive to the face in 1957, and it affected him for the rest of his eight-year career.
The Boating Tragedy: Olin, Crews, and Ojeda’s Fateful Spring
We unfortunately end on a somber note. Steve Olin was a solid reliever that Cleveland saw a future in. He went out on a boat during Spring Training in 1993 with fellow pitchers Tim Crews and Bob Ojeda.
They got into a terrible accident when they struck a pier, and only Ojeda survived. It's a sad shadow in the franchise's history.
