Cleveland Indians: Eight September quick hits in Indians history

Time for a quick tour of September history for the Cleveland Indians. The items that perhaps flew under the radar, but are still interesting.

A look back at some memorable September moments in Cleveland Indians history.

September 1, 1994 – The Indians get a future Hall of Famer for a dinner

The future Hall of Famer was Dave Winfield. The Indians had a conditional deal with the Minnesota Twins. The season was currently suspended due to a player strike. If the season was resumed the Indians would send a player to be named later to the Twins.

The season was not resumed, so to call the whole thing square the Twins execs took the Indians execs out to dinner.

I checked this with two sources and both said the same thing: The Twins took the Indians out to dinner. So technically the Indians took Winfield (who they didn’t have to pay, since there was a strike going on) and then got a dinner too. Call this a win.

Winfield did wind up re-signing (?) with the Indians in 1995. He hit .191 in limited duty.

September 7, 1935 – A routine 5-6-4-3 triple play

1935 – A line drive goes through 3B Odell Hale‘s hands, hits him in the head, and ricochets into the glove of SS Bill Knickerbocker, who catches it in the air (one out). Knickerbocker throws the ball to 2B Roy Huges for second out. Huges throws the ball to 1B Hal Trotsky for a force out to complete a 5-6-4-3 triple play, likely the only one that involved a head.

After the game, Hale allegedly tells the reporters “I really used my head on that play…”

I can’t make this stuff up. But it turns out that people can. The original report I read said “Sammy Hale“, which would have been one hale of a trick, given that: a) Sammy Hale never played for Cleveland, and b) he retired in 1930. Also, the original report said that it tore through Hale’s glove. The newspaper report at the time reads “went through his hands”. This seems to be more likely.

September 19, 1995 – Solo Solo Solo

Albert Belle hits a solo home run in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings in an 8-2 Indians victory over the White Sox. This is the only time in his Indians career that Belle went yard three times in one game.

September 19, 2013 – Game winner for Matt Carson

In the bottom of the 11th Matt Carson hits a two out bases loaded single to win the game. Cleveland 2, Houston 1. Carson raises his batting average to .778 at this point. He finishes the season at .636, with an OPS of 1.603.  Carson’s hot September winds up earning him a spot on the postseason roster. Sadly, the 2013 postseason only lasted one game.

One day later (September 20, 2013)

The Indians sign Yandy Diaz as a free agent. Good call.

September 22, 1997

John Smiley breaks his arm warming up in the bullpen, ending his career.

September 27, 1984 – Jamie Quirk – BA 1.000, SLG 4.000, OPS 5.000

Jamie Quirk, recently acquired from the White Sox, hits a home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth off closer Ron Davis, winning a game for the Indians, 4-3 over Minnesota.

The win cripples the Twins title chances in 1984, and further endears Quirk to his former team – the Kansas City Royals. The Royals finish 84-78, three games ahead of the Twins (81-81).

This was Quirk’s only at-bat as an Indian. He is released at the end of the season.

One wonders exactly how far he would have had to hit the ball to NOT be released.

September 29, 1954 – Yeah yeah, Willie Mays is good. We get it.

Willie Mays runs 100 miles uphill to catch what would have been an extra base and probably game winning hit for Vic Wertz in the 1954 World Series. You’ve probably seen the video. I know I have. And I’m sick of it. Put it right up there with the Jordan over Ehlo shot and any Meghan Trainor video.

Indians go on to lose the series, four games to nada.