The 1994 Cleveland Indians season was the 94th season for the franchise. For the first time since 1986, the Indians finished the season with a winning record. However, the 1994 season ended prematurely due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike that ended the season on August 12. It was the first season for the Indians playing at Jacobs Field after playing at Cleveland Stadium since 1946.
December 2, 1993: Dennis Martínez was signed as a free agent by the Indians.[2]
December 13, 1993: Randy Milligan was traded by the Indians to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later. The Expos completed the deal by sending Brian Barnes to the Indians on December 17.[3]
December 13, 1993: Sam Horn was released by the Indians.[4]
December 20, 1993: Félix Fermín was traded by the Cleveland Indians with Reggie Jefferson and cash to the Seattle Mariners for Omar Vizquel.[5]
February 10, 1994: Jack Morris was signed as a free agent by the Indians.[6]
On July 3, 1994, Larry Doby had his number retired by the team. Doby had played for Cleveland for ten seasons (1947–1955, 1958). He was the first African American to play in the American League, playing his first game in Major League Baseball on July 5, 1947, becoming the second African American player to play in MLB. A .287 hitter, Doby was an All-Star in two combined leagues (Negro League and American League) on seven occasions while winning a World Series in both leagues. Doby would later be inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1998.
On July 15, 1994, Albert Belle's bat was confiscated by umpire Dave Phillips.[8] It was the result of White Sox manager Gene Lamont believing that the bat was corked. During the game, Indians pitcher Jason Grimsley removed a ceiling tile in his manager's office and clambered on top of an 18-inch-wide (460 mm) cinder block.[9] He replaced the corked bat with a conventional bat but the bat had Paul Sorrento's name on it. Belle was suspended for seven games.[8]
By Friday August 12, 1994, the Indians had compiled a 66-47 record through 113 games, just one game back of the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central Division lead. They had scored 679 runs (6.01 per game) and allowed 562 runs (4.97 per game). They were leading the AL Wildcard Race over the Baltimore Orioles by 2.5 games. Cleveland was leading the Majors in nearly every offensive category, including hits (1,165), runs scored (679), home runs (167), runs batted in (647), batting average (.290), slugging percentage (.484) and total bases (1,946).[10]
Cleveland pitching was also strong, as Indians pitchers had combined for an MLB-high 17 complete games pitched before the players' strike prematurely ended the season.[10]
President Bill Clinton threw out the ceremonial first pitch on April 4, 1994, before the first Major League game played at Jacobs Field.
In May 1990, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 15-year sin tax on alcohol and cigarette sales in order to finance the new sports complex. In June 1992, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown at the site of the new Jacobs Field before construction of the building began.
In 1994, the ballpark opened under the name Jacobs Field as the new home of the Cleveland Indians, which had previously shared Cleveland Municipal Stadium with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. On April 4, 1994, the Indians played their first game at the new stadium. President Bill Clinton threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 11 innings.
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
Established in 1894 Former names (all in Cleveland unless noted) - Grand Rapids Rustlers, Lake Shores, Bluebirds, Bronchos, Naps, and Indians Based in Cleveland, Ohio
