Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
Some teams have bad luck. Then there are some that make people think that someone broke a warehouse full of mirrors, leading to a seemingly infinite amount of bad karma. Cleveland baseball fans have every right to question if the second scenario happened. Here are 11 moments that show why that kind of thinking is possibly valid.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus, we'll send you other unbelievable stories from baseball's past.
Jose Mesa’s Game 7 Meltdown: The 1997 World Series Slips Away
Here’s a recurring nightmare for Cleveland fans. It’s 1997. Game 7. Ninth inning, two outs, a one-run lead, and Jose Mesa took the mound to close out the game and bring the Series to Cleveland. What followed was a meltdown for the ages, as the Marlins tied it up and then snatched the World Series in extra innings. Then they wake up, screaming.
Rocky Colavito Traded—And The Curse That Followed
In 1960, the unthinkable happened: Rocky Colavito, the city’s home run king and heartthrob, was traded. Fans wept, newspapers ran angry editorials, and a “curse” was born. Even though Colavito would rejoin the team a few years later and still produce, it was too late to bring a championship back to the city.
The 2016 World Series: Rain Delay Before the Heartbreak
Rajai Davis’s game-tying homer in the eighth had the city on its feet—then came the infamous rain delay. When play resumed, the Cubs scored, and Cleveland’s 68-year title drought continued. If that doesn’t happen, this image above becomes iconic throughout the city.
Ten-Cent Beer Night: Chaos at Municipal Stadium
What could go wrong with unlimited ten-cent beers? On June 4, 1974, Cleveland found out. Fans stormed the field, stole bases (literally), and the game was forfeited. It was held as the worst kind of promotion until Bill Veeck and the White Sox said “Hold our beer” and did Disco Demolition Night a few years later.
The “Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx” of 1987
Ah, the SI Cover Jinx strikes again. This time, the victim was the Indians and their fans. “Believe It! Cleveland Is the Best Team in the American League,” blared the cover, featuring Corey Snyder and Joe Carter. The season unraveled spectacularly, ending with 101 losses. It’s a wonder teams didn’t demand Sports Illustrated use blank covers.
Losing Ray Fosse to Pete Rose’s All-Star Game Collision
Ray Fosse was a rising star until Pete Rose forgot it was an exhibition game and barreled into him at the plate during the 1970 All-Star Game. The collision was heard around America, Fosse rolled on the ground, dazed, destined to be a shadow of himself. Fans wonder what would have happened had Charlie Hustle just slid.
Willie Mays’ The Catch: 1954 World Series Dreams Dashed
Game 1, 1954 World Series: Vic Wertz crushes a ball to deep center—and Willie Mays turns, sprints, and makes “The Catch.” The Indians, who had crushed the American League during the regular season, never recovered, and the Giants swept the series. For Cleveland fans, “The Catch” is “The Groan.”
Len Barker’s Perfect Game—And Nearly Zero Fans Saw It
On a chilly May night in 1981, Len Barker tossed a perfect game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium—one of baseball’s rarest feats. Sadly, barely 7,000 fans were there to see it … and many stormed the field afterwards. They probably figured, “Hey, we were here. We deserve to celebrate.”
The 1995 World Series Near-Miss Against the Braves
After 41 years out of the Fall Classic, the loaded ‘95 squad seemed destined for glory. But the Braves’ pitching staff proved too much, and Atlanta clinched the series. The heartbreak was softened only by the hope that “next year” would finally be the one.
The 40-Year Playoff Drought: A Generation of Waiting
This image isn’t from a particularly important game; rather, it’s indicative of how poorly many home games were attended during the lean years. After their 1954 World Series appearance, Cleveland endured a 40-season playoff drought until their return in 1995. For generations of fans, October baseball was just a rumor, and empty seats often outnumbered the faithful.
Herb Score’s Career Cut Short by a Line Drive
This one really hurt. Pitcher Herb Score looked like the next great thing—until a liner up the middle off Gil McDougald’s bat smashed into his face in 1957. Though Score returned, he was never quite the same, and Cleveland’s golden arm became another story of “what could have been.”
The Boating Tragedy: Olin, Crews, and Ojeda’s Fateful Spring
Spring Training, 1993: Players like to bond during idle time in the Grapefruit League. Pitchers Steve Olin, Tim Crews, and Bob Ojeda decided to go for a fishing trip at dusk. Unfortunately, the boat hit a dock that was unlit, and it claimed the lives of Olin and Crews and seriously injured Ojeda. The loss shattered the clubhouse and left an open wound in the hearts of Cleveland fans. What had looked like a promising season left young players like Carlos Baerga mourning. Some heartbreaks go far beyond the field.