Cleveland celebrates 2016 team, an unforgettable season and a World Series that slipped away
CLEVELAND (AP) — Sometimes it's OK to celebrate heartbreak, even if it still stings. In Cleveland, where a World Series title has remained elusive since 1948, finishing second is still reason enough to throw a party. Ten years after losing a drama-drenched World Series in seven games to the Chicago Cubs, who ended their 108-year title drought at Cleveland's expense, the Guardians are honoring their 2016 AL pennant-winning team this weekend while triggering memories mixed with joy and pain.
Nearly all the members of Cleveland's '16 team — known as the Indians back then — and including former manager Terry Fracona, now with the Cincinnati Reds, were on hand at Progressive Field on Friday to relive that unforgettable year spoiled by the Cubs. It was a chance for the former players to reconnect, share laughs and swap stories from a season and postseason they'll never forget. They'll talk about Rajai Davis hitting his iconic homer off Aroldis Chapman in Game 7.
They'll grumble about a rain delay that many Cleveland fans remain convinced saved the Cubs. They'll consider what might have been. Mostly, they'll be teammates again.
“It's so good to see so many of these guys’ faces,” said Jason Kipnis, Cleveland's starting second baseman in 2016. "We could have a group text and all that stuff, but to get back and get that hug and reminisce with them, that makes it a lot of fun. "There’s always people who are like would you rather not go to the playoffs than go to the World Series and lose it?
No, because the memories of that run have lasted a lifetime already. ” Strengthened by the acquisition of elite reliever Andrew Miller at the trade deadline, the 2016 Indians went 94-67 in the regular season to win the AL Central before beating Boston and Toronto in the playoffs to set up a date with the Cubs in a Series pitting two teams with generational championship dry spells. After splitting the first two games at home, the Indians won two straight at Wrigley Field and opened a commanding 3-1 lead.