Cleveland Indians: Appreciating this historical streak in the moment

Cleveland Indians fans are taking in this streak in many different ways, even if some just want to focus on the attendance numbers at the ballpark.

This winning streak has been some kind of amazing whirlwind. When you get caught up in the moment of all of this, as a Cleveland Indians fan, you can sometimes miss the bigger picture.

With the Indians winning 22 games in a row in miracle fashion against the Royals on Thursday night, we are in the midst of something that hasn’t happened since 1916. We are witnessing something that entire generations have missed.

For some perspective, look at the uniforms the 1916 New York Giants wore during their infamous 26-game streak:

The Indians first walk off of the streak came last night after Francisco Lindor’s ninth inning heroics, and Jay Bruce took care of business in the bottom of the tenth inning.

This whole streak we find ourselves in the middle of, is so much bigger, and even better, than anyone expected – even as it grows older each day.

What began on August 24 with a meaningful 13-6 pounding of the Red Sox and Chris Sale, has slowly blossomed into the makings of a run that may end up on the Hollywood big screen someday. The bigger issue here that needs attention, and is really quite bothersome, is the country’s perception of Indians fans and how they “should” consume this team.

Plenty has been discussed by some great writers about the fan base, and its attendance issues throughout the years. Kevin Kleps took a deep dive on the Indians receiving more love than we think, and Gabe Lacques made sure people understand that attendance-shaming is wrong in his article in USA Today.

The problem here resides in the short-sighted thinking that the Indians aren’t profiting unless people go to the games.

Zack Meisel wrote in early July about the Indians being on pace for their highest TV ratings since 2001 – that says something. Fans are consuming these games, and the fan base is growing from it, and in some cases finally coming back.

Fans are making these games a priority for their everyday lives. They’re sitting down in the evenings and consuming what is the best product the MLB has to offer, and that’s something of great value for the Indians.

They will see upticks in attendance for years to come, revenue from marketing (they’re on pace for the second best local TV rating in all of baseball), and the ever-increasing apparel deals as Under Armour takes a greater stake in baseball in the near future.

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This talent and stability isn’t going anywhere. The Indians organization has built a winner from the ground up, and the way they are signing favorable contracts to their marquee players, they have a shot as a small market club to make this title window last up to five years.

The moral of the story here is that this team just needs to be appreciated. The city of Cleveland is shrinking over the decades. It’s down to close to 400,00 occupants, and the surrounding suburbs are seeing a decline as well. It doesn’t mean Indians fans have left this world, it just means they are consuming it differently.

The stadium is filling more than it has in recent years, and it is well on pace to hit two million tickets sold for the first time since 2008. That number means something.

It’s a number the Indians have only hit three times since 2003. Season ticket holders will always be important to a city like Cleveland and the Tribe have seen a 28 percent increase in that department as well.

The 455-game sellout streak was a large by-product of the Browns departure and the Gateway Plaza evoking energy into the city.

Those times have come and gone, and the city just isn’t the same. With adjusted population, this team ranks in the top 10 in attendance per capita.

They are drawing people to the stadium and interest in the club is clearly growing, it just takes looking past the surface numbers. The Indians are maintaining a population and resulting ratings for most cities that have two major sports teams, instead they’re carrying three – that speaks volumes.

This streak is truly something to behold. It doesn’t matter how many people are on hand to witness it. The Indians have a wide-ranging fan base that TV numbers show are being reached.

Appreciate the product on the field, and cherish this history as it’s being produced. Whether the consumption happens at home, a local bar or at Progressive Field, this streak should be the focus of our attention, and what a streak it is.

Next: Streak continues in wild fashion

If a TV is the only way you can consume these Indians, that’s great. But I strongly urge you to make it to the ballpark this weekend if you can. Tonight’s game against the Royals for 23 straight is sold out, but if you can get in tomorrow, make sure you do so.

You might just witness a scene like I did last night. Gosh, these guys are something special.