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A look back at the last time Cleveland Indians and Browns made the playoffs in the same year

By Aaron Gershon |
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 27: Cleveland Browns No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield (L) and No. 4 pick Denzel Ward (R) get ready to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field on April 27, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Baker Mayfield; Denzel Ward
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 27: Cleveland Browns No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield (L) and No. 4 pick Denzel Ward (R) get ready to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field on April 27, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Baker Mayfield; Denzel Ward
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With the Cleveland Browns 5-2 and looking like a playoff team, we went way back to visit the last time both the Browns and Cleveland Indians made the postseason in the same year.

The city of Cleveland isn’t exactly title town USA. Before LeBron James led the Cavaliers to an NBA title in 2016, the city of Rock and Roll hadn’t won a championship since the Browns did so in 1964 in the pre-Super Bowl era.

The Indians have the city’s longest title drought as they have not won the World Series since 1948; however, they’ve made plenty of playoff appearances since. While the Cavs also made plenty of postseason trips over the years, the Browns have not.

Cleveland’s Football squad has made the postseason 14 times in the 54-year Super Bowl era and has reached the playoffs just twice since 1990 (1994 and 2002).

However, 2020 may see the Browns finally get back to the postseason. Through seven games, Cleveland is 5-2 this season and would be the sixth seed in the AFC Playoffs if the season ended today.

The Indians are coming off their own playoff berth as, despite a short-stay in October, they did clinch the 4th seed in the AL Playoffs by finishing 35-25 in a COVID shortened season.

With such a long playoff drought and the Indians’ mixed amount of regular season success resulting in a playoff birth, it’s been a while since the Browns and Indians clinched a postseason spot in the same year. In fact, it’s been 66-years ago.

The last time both the Browns and Indians made the postseason was 1954 when the Indians battled the New York Giants in the World Series while the Browns battled the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game.

Here’s a closer look back at the 1954 Indians and Browns and what the United States looked like the last time both Cleveland teams’ reached their respective postseason’s.

CLEVELAND – 1954. The American League Champion Cleveland Indians pose for their team photograph in 1954. Larry Doby and Early Wynn are in the back row, far left and second from left, and Bob Lemon second from right. Bob Feller is in the middle row, second from left, and manager Al Lopez is in the second row from the bottom, center. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
CLEVELAND – 1954. The American League Champion Cleveland Indians pose for their team photograph in 1954. Larry Doby and Early Wynn are in the back row, far left and second from left, and Bob Lemon second from right. Bob Feller is in the middle row, second from left, and manager Al Lopez is in the second row from the bottom, center. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

1954 Cleveland Indians

Led by Hall of Fame manager Al Lopez, the 1954 Indians had one of the most dominant seasons’ in team history.

The Indians posted a 113-43 regular season to win the American League Pennant by eight games over the New York Yankees ending the Bombers five-year World Series title streak.

Cleveland’s offense was led by star hitters Larry Doby who hit 32 home runs with 126 RBI’s, Al Rosen, who hit .300 while slugging 24 homers with 102 RBI’s and Bobby Avila, who hit a team-high .341 with 15 home runs.

On the mound, the Indians rotation three future hall of famers in Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn while also featuring two-time AL ERA leader and Cleveland Indians Hall of Famer Mike Garcia and 1950 All-Star Art Houtteman.

Out of the bullpen, the Indians had another future hall of famer in Hal Newhouser, two-time All-Star Ray Narleski and eventual 1957 All-Star Don Mossi as the team formed one of the deepest pitching staffs in MLB history.

After their 111-win regular season, the Indians faced off with the New York Giants in the World Series.

In Game One, Giants’ outfielder and All-Time Great Willie Mays made his famous over the shoulder catch on the run in a game New York would win in walk-off fashion.

The Giants would go on to sweep the Indians in four-games in what would be the Indians’ final World Series berth until 1995.

HIRAM, OH – JULY, 1960: Offensive Tackle and Placekicker Lou Groza #76, of the Cleveland Browns, poses for an action portrait during training camp in July, 1960 at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio. Quarterback Len Dawson #18 is the holder. (Photo by: Henry Barr Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
HIRAM, OH – JULY, 1960: Offensive Tackle and Placekicker Lou Groza #76, of the Cleveland Browns, poses for an action portrait during training camp in July, 1960 at Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio. Quarterback Len Dawson #18 is the holder. (Photo by: Henry Barr Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

1954 Cleveland Browns

The 1954 Browns are best remembered for their dominant defense. They became the first team in NFL history to allow the fewest rushing yards, fewest passing yards and fewest total yards allowed in the same season.

After a 1-2 start to the season, the Browns strung together eight straight victories, including a pair of victories over the New York Giants, a 62-3 win over the Washington Redskins (now Washington Football Team) and a 39-10 beatdown of the Chicago Bears.

They’d lose their regular season finale to the Detroit Lions on Dec. 19 in a game that was postponed from early October due to Cleveland Stadium hosting an Indians World Series Game.

However, the Browns had already clinched their respective division and a week later, squared off with the Lions again in the NFL Championship Game.

The Browns would get their revenge as they blew out Detroit 56-10 despite being out-gained 331-303.

Cleveland’s championship roster featured several of Football’s all-time greats, including quarterback Otto Graham, kicker and offensive lineman Lou Groza, defensive lineman Bob Gain and linebacker Chuck Noll.

CLEVELAND – 1954. View in color of Cleveland Stadium in 1954 with a game in progress. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
CLEVELAND – 1954. View in color of Cleveland Stadium in 1954 with a game in progress. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

The U.S. in 1954

As one could imagine, the United States looked a lot different in 1954 when the Browns and Indians and both made the postseason.

Here’s a look at some fun facts at what America looked like 66 years-ago:

Cleveland Population Rank: 7th (914,808)

#1 Movie: White Christmas

#1 Song: “Little Things Mean a Lot” by Kitty Kallen

Average Gas Price: $0.29

Average Milk Price: $0.92

Average income: $4,137

Cost of Postage Stamp: $0.03

Celebrities Born: Jerry Seinfeld, Jackie Chan, Dennis Quad, John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey, Howard Stern, Andre Dawson,

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