Remembering the 1995 American League Champions 30 years later

Later today, the Cleveland Guardians are hosting a celebration of their 1995 team before their game against the Seattle Mariners.

If you were a fair weather fan who wasn't aware of Cleveland's baseball history, that fact may be confusing given it's a celebration of a team that didn't win it all. The answer is quite simple; they are one of a very few number of teams with a legitimate claim to being the greatest team that did not win the World Series. 

Despite the 1995 season being shortened due to the work stoppage that had started the year prior, Cleveland was still able to win 100 games, finishing 100-44. If that winning percentage were to be maintained for a full 162 game season they would have 112 wins, which would be the fourth-most in MLB history. They won their division by a staggering thirty games. The second-best record was held by the Atlanta Braves who finished 90-54.

When Cleveland got to the playoffs they swept Boston, beat Seattle in six games, and ultimately fell to the Braves in six games in the World Series. The Braves had the only pitching staff with a chance to slow down the Cleveland offense, their front of the rotation was Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, three Hall of Famers. 

While Cleveland sent four hitters to that year's All-Star game (Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Carlos Baerga), their lineup also included Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Jim Thome, six time All Star Sandy Alomar, and 11-time gold glove winner Omar Vizquel.

Belle also finished second in the MVP race after having one of the greatest seasons of all time, as he hit .317 with 50 home runs, 52 doubles and 126 RBI. 50 homers, 52 doubles. Unfortunately, Belle was not liked by many people in the media, which cost him a number of votes and ultimately the award. 

Their offense was able to put up insane numbers even with the shortened season. They had five different hitters finish with over 20 home runs, and they hit 207 as a team. For reference, the league average that season was 146.

Not only did they have power, but they also had the highest team batting average in the league and the least amount of strikeouts. They also finished top five in stolen bases.

The pitching staff was solid, but nowhere near the insane quality of the offense (Dennis Martinez was the only starter named to the All-Star team). The biggest weapon that Cleveland had with their pitching was closing pitcher Jose Mesa. Mesa finished the season with 46 saves, including a streak of 38 in a row, which was the major league record at the time.

Throughout the entire season Mesa allowed fewer than 10 runs and finished second in the Cy Young voting.

There are multiple statistics, feats, and other accomplishments that can show how dominant this team was. There is one fact that always stands out. That season, Cleveland trailed in 90 games but ended up going 46-44 in them. No matter what was happening, there was always a feeling in the fanbase that they would find a way to win, and more times than not, they did.