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By Tom Withers
The Associated Press
As they have done in countless ninth innings over the decades, Progressive Field fans have risen to cheer in the last three strikeouts.
It was different on September 27th. They chanted “Let’s go Indians! “
One last time.
The Indians won their last home game before becoming the Guardians, beating the Royals, 8-3, to close a streak that began in 1915 and will continue next season with a new look and identity.
Amed Rosario did a homerun and Cal Quantrill (8-3) pitched six solid innings to delight a crowd of 13,121 at Progressive Field who came to watch their team play with Indians written on their shirts for the last time.
“We’re not all here long, but we all respect what Indians have meant to Cleveland forever and I think we wanted to send people on the right note,” said Quantrill, who is 8. 1 since July 1.
“We are very happy that this is how they will remember the Indians.
Rosario connected against Jackson Kowar (0-5) and finished with four hits. Bradley Zimmer beat his brother, Kansas City reliever Kyle Zimmer, in the eighth.
Salvador Perez produced two runs for the Royals.
The home final was the club’s last game in Cleveland as the Indians, ending a 106-year run in a city where the name will forever be attached to those of legendary players like Bob Feller, Larry Doby and Jim Thome.
But now the Indians are just a memory, not yet faded or far away.
The team announced the name change earlier this year following a nationwide judgment on racist names and symbols. For some, the change was late. Others are still not ready.
When “Take Me Out to The Ballgame” was played in the seventh round, Cleveland fans shouted “root, root, root for the Indians!” like to send a message.
After the game, the Cleveland players returned to the field to greet the fans.
“I thought it was a good idea,” said interim Indians manager DeMarlo Hale. “They were exceptional in the ninth round, which lasted. Two very nice gestures.
Cleveland won two World Series (1920 and 1948) as Indians, and came close to winning it all in 1995, 1997 and 2016 only to lose heartbreakingly twice. Now, the current longest baseball title drought continues under a new name.
The morning of September 27 was a make-up from last week’s rain, pushing the Indians’ departure to a previously scheduled day off.
The fit allowed fans who wouldn’t have attended otherwise to grasp the story, and there were queues at the stadium ticket office – a rare sight for a team that struggled to attend.
Wickliffe’s Ed Sosinski snagged a pair of seats on the upper deck, partly as a birthday present for his wife, Michelle, and to close a chapter.
“I was here for their first exhibition game in 1994, and I thought it was appropriate to come for the last game as an Indians,” he said. “I had no excuse not to come.
Once the Indians play their 2021 Finals in Texas on October 3, there will be a transition period before the name officially becomes Guardians, selected from over 1,000 entries submitted in a name change process. .
Cleveland fans were understandably conflicted – and divided – over the change, and expressed their wide range of feelings as they prepared to say goodbye to the one name they knew.
It was a mixture of sadness, resentment towards owner Paul Dolan for making the change and the anticipation of a new start.
Hale sympathizes with those who may not be ready to see the Indians go.
“Years and years and years,” Hale said. “I know it’s different in a way when you embrace change. But I really believe it’s going to be adopted over the years. “
The Indians’ last game led to a late run on the merchandise.
On September 26, the prices in the team shop were further reduced as fans bought t-shirts, caps – anything that contained Indians.
“It’s sort of settled,” said Gray Cooper, an English teacher at Lakewood High School. “I have enough Indian stuff that I probably won’t wear anymore.”
The transition to the Guardians has begun.
For the September 27 game, there were a 2022 schedule with the new team logo stacked on the back of the press box.
“It doesn’t look good,” a member of a television crew said in passing.
Beyond the team name change, it has been an eventful season for the Indians on several other fronts.
An injury to AL Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber played a role in the club falling too far to catch up with the White Sox, who won their first AL Central title since 2008 last week in Cleveland.
Indian manager Terry Francona had to retire in July to undergo two operations, clouding his future. And, the home games were a bit quieter as longtime drummer John Adams was away for health reasons.
During the September 27 game, fans posed for photos, many using the giant Indian logo scripted above the left-field scorecard as a background.
“They’re always going to be our Cleveland baseball team,” Cooper said. “I have a lot of memories as a kid and I was sort of hoping they would win another World Series as Indians. I hope the Guardians can do this before I die. That would be great.”
Sibling rivalry
Bradley Zimmer’s solo shot against Kyle was only the fourth time since 1900 that a brother has hit his brother. The others were: Phil’s Joe Niekro in 1976; Rick Ferrell off Wes in 1933; and George Stovall off Jesse in 1904.
Four points
Rosario is the Indians’ first player with six games with four hits since Joe Carter in 1986.
Following
The teams will head to Kansas City for a three-game series starting September 28. Cleveland will start Aaron Civale (11-5, 3.90 ERA) while the Royals have yet to announce their starter.
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