1996 Cleveland Indians season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1996 Major League Baseball season was the Cleveland Indians ' third season at Jacobs Field . For the second consecutive season, the Indians had the best record in Major League Baseball. This was the first time in franchise history that the Indians had accomplished that feat.[ 1] Between May 30 and August 19, the Indians hit at least one double in each of 75 games, the longest such streak in MLB since 1901.[ 2]
Offseason
November 9, 1995: Rubén Amaro Jr. was released by the Cleveland Indians.[ 3]
December 6, 1995: Casey Candaele was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.[ 4]
December 7, 1995: Julio Franco was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.[ 5]
December 14, 1995: Jack McDowell signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.[ 6]
January 4, 1996: Mario Díaz was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.[ 7]
March 31, 1996: Mark Clark was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets for Reid Cornelius and Ryan Thompson.[ 8]
Regular season
Once again, the Indians had a formidable offensive lineup. They led the Majors in hits (1,665), batting average (.293), on-base percentage (.369). They also struck out an MLB-low 844 times.[ 9]
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
BAL
BOS
CAL
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIL
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TEX
TOR
Baltimore
—
7–6
6–6
4–8
5–7
11–2
9–3
9–3
7–5
3–10
9–4
7–5
3–10–1
8–5
Boston
6–7
—
8–4
6–6
1–11
12–1
3–9
7–5
6–6
7–6
8–5
7–6
6–6
8–5
California
6–6
4–8
—
6–6
4–9
6–6
4–8
7–5
4–8
7–6
6–7
5–8
4–9
7–5
Chicago
8–4
6–6
6–6
—
5–8
10–3
7–6
6–7
6–7
6–7
5–7
5–7
8–4
7–5
Cleveland
7–5
11–1
9–4
8–5
—
12–0
7–6
7–6
10–3
3–9
6–6
8–4
4–8
7–5
Detroit
2–11
1–12
6–6
3–10
0–12
—
6–6
4–8
6–6
5–8
4–8
6–6
4–9
6–7
Kansas City
3–9
9–3
8–4
6–7
6–7
6–6
—
4–9
6–7
4–8
5–7
7–5
6–6
5–8
Milwaukee
3–9
5–7
5–7
7–6
6–7
8–4
9–4
—
9–4
6–6
7–5
4–9
6–7
5–7
Minnesota
5–7
6–6
8–4
7–6
3–10
6–6
7–6
4–9
—
5–7
6–7
6–6
7–5
8–5
New York
10–3
6–7
6–7
7–6
9–3
8–5
8–4
6–6
7–5
—
9–3
3–9
5–7
8–5
Oakland
4–9
5–8
7–6
7–5
6–6
8–4
7–5
5–7
7–6
3–9
—
8–5
7–6
4–8
Seattle
5–7
6–7
8–5
7–5
4–8
6–6
5–7
9–4
6–6
9–3
5–8
—
10–3
5–7
Texas
10–3–1
6–6
9–4
4–8
8–4
9–4
6–6
7–6
5–7
7–5
6–7
3–10
—
10–2
Toronto
5–8
5–8
5–7
5–7
5–7
7–6
8–5
7–5
5–8
5–8
8–4
7–5
2–10
—
Game log
1996 Game Log: 99–62 (Home: 51–29; Away: 48–33)
April: 16–8 (Home: 8–3; Away: 8–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
April 2
Yankees
1–7
Cone
Martinez (0–1)
—
42,289
0–1
2
April 3
Yankees
1–5
Pettitte
McDowell (0–1)
Nelson
41,843
0–2
3
April 5
Blue Jays
1–7
Guzman
Hershiser (0–1)
—
41,782
0–3
4
April 6
Blue Jays
5–3
Nagy (1–0)
Hanson
Mesa (1)
41,852
1–3
5
April 7
Blue Jays
8–3
Martinez (1–1)
Quantrill
—
41,689
2–3
6
April 10
@ Orioles
2–3 (10)
Orosco
Tavarez (0–1)
—
45,097
2–4
7
April 11
@ Orioles
4–14
Erickson
Hershiser (0–2)
Rhodes
43,189
2–5
8
April 12
@ Red Sox
3–1
Nagy (2–0)
Sele
Mesa (2)
26,703
3–5
9
April 13
@ Red Sox
14–2
Martinez (2–1)
Moyer
—
31,827
4–5
10
April 14
@ Red Sox
7–6 (11)
Tavarez (1–1)
Stanton
Mesa (3)
31,796
5–5
11
April 15
@ Red Sox
8–0
McDowell (1–1)
Wakefield
—
32,861
6–5
12
April 16
@ Twins
7–2
Hershiser (1–2)
Radke
—
13,103
7–5
13
April 17
@ Twins
8–9
Hansell
Shuey (0–1)
Stevens
11,276
7–6
14
April 19
Red Sox
9–4
Martinez (3–1)
Gordon
—
40,521
8–6
15
April 20
Red Sox
2–1
McDowell (2–1)
Wakefield
Mesa (4)
40,498
9–6
16
April 21
Red Sox
11–7
Ogea (1–0)
Pennington
—
42,256
10–6
17
April 22
Orioles
6–3
Nagy (3–0)
Erickson
Mesa (5)
42,236
11–6
18
April 23
Orioles
9–8
Ogea (2–0)
Mussina
Mesa (6)
40,770
12–6
19
April 24
@ Yankees
8–10
Kamieniecki
Martinez (3–2)
—
20,187
12–7
20
April 25
@ Yankees
4–3
Poole (1–0)
Pettitte
Mesa (7)
18,580
13–7
21
April 26
@ Blue Jays
6–3
Hershiser (2–2)
Hanson
Mesa (8)
30,227
14–7
22
April 27
@ Blue Jays
6–11
Castillo
Nagy (3–1)
—
40,140
14–8
23
April 28
@ Blue Jays
17–3
Lopez (1–0)
Viola
—
31,143
15–8
24
April 30
White Sox
5–3
Martinez (4–2)
Tapani
Mesa (9)
40,268
16–8
May: 19–9 (Home: 8–2; Away: 11–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
25
May 1
White Sox
9–5
McDowell (3–1)
McCaskill
Plunk (1)
40,447
17–8
26
May 2
@ Mariners
6–4
Hershiser (3–2)
Wolcott
Mesa (10)
21,711
18–8
27
May 3
@ Mariners
5–2
Nagy (4–1)
Hitchcock
Mesa (11)
38,086
19–8
28
May 4
@ Mariners
1–5
Menhart
Lopez (1–1)
—
57,133
19–9
29
May 5
@ Mariners
2–0
Martinez (5–2)
Bosio
Mesa (12)
56,883
20–9
30
May 6
@ Athletics
3–5
Taylor
Assenmacher (0–1)
Mohler
47,313
20–10
31
May 7
@ Athletics
4–8
Johns
Hershiser (3–3)
—
10,126
20–11
32
May 8
@ Athletics
7–3
Nagy (5–1)
Reyes
—
9,288
21–11
33
May 10
@ Angels
8–13
Boskie
Lopez (1–2)
—
23,522
21–12
34
May 11
@ Angels
6–5
McDowell (4–1)
Sanderson
Mesa (13)
32,102
22–12
35
May 12
@ Angels
4–1
Poole (2–0)
Percival
Mesa (14)
22,768
23–12
36
May 14
Tigers
5–1
Nagy (6–1)
Gohr
—
40,765
24–12
37
May 15
Tigers
5–2
Martinez (6–2)
Lima
Mesa (15)
42,259
25–12
38
May 16
Tigers
8–3
McDowell (5–1)
Williams
—
42,330
26–12
39
May 17
Rangers
12–10
Embree (1–0)
Heredia
Mesa (16)
41,225
27–12
40
May 18
Rangers
3–6
Oliver
Anderson (0–1)
Henneman
40,973
27–13
41
May 19
Rangers
8–5
Nagy (7–1)
Witt
Mesa (17)
43,299
28–13
42
May 21
Brewers
6–5
Tavarez (2–1)
Boze
—
39,974
29–13
43
May 22
Brewers
8–10
Karl
McDowell (5–2)
Fetters
41,027
29–14
44
May 23
Brewers
5–1
Hershiser (4–3)
Miranda
—
42,395
30–14
45
May 24
@ Tigers
6–3
Plunk (1–0)
Veres
Mesa (18)
26,967
31–14
46
May 25
@ Tigers
7–6
Nagy (8–1)
Lewis
Mesa (19)
41,527
32–14
47
May 26
@ Tigers
5–0
Martinez (7–2)
Williams
—
39,056
33–14
48
May 27
@ Rangers
2–3
Pavlik
McDowell (5–3)
—
46,521
33–15
49
May 28
@ Rangers
3–11
Oliver
Hershiser (4–4)
—
35,727
33–16
50
May 29
@ Rangers
4–5
Cook
Tavarez (2–2)
Henneman
35,893
33–17
51
May 30
@ Brewers
2–0
Nagy (9–1)
Bones
Mesa (20)
11,543
34–17
52
May 31
@ Brewers
10–4
Martinez (8–2)
McDonald
—
24,050
35–17
June: 14–14 (Home: 8–8; Away: 6–6)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
53
June 1
@ Brewers
1–2
Garcia
McDowell (5–4)
Fetters
22,004
35–18
54
June 2
@ Brewers
11–6
Poole (3–0)
Karl
—
21,150
36–18
55
June 4
Mariners
7–10
Carmona
Mesa (0–1)
Charlton
42,179
36–19
56
June 5
Mariners
13–5
Plunk (2–0)
Milacki
—
42,274
37–19
57
June 6
Mariners
2–5
Wells
Martinez (8–3)
Charlton
42,236
37–20
58
June 7
Angels
4–3
McDowell (6–4)
Boskie
Mesa (21)
42,260
38–20
59
June 8
Angels
5–0
Hershiser (5–4)
Finley
—
42,267
39–20
60
June 9
Angels
6–8 (13)
Hancock
Tavarez (2–3)
—
42,237
39–21
61
June 10
Athletics
5–4
Nagy (10–1)
Johns
Mesa (22)
42,167
40–21
62
June 11
Athletics
6–5 (13)
Ogea (3–0)
Reyes
—
42,249
41–21
63
June 12
Athletics
6–9
Montgomery
McDowell (6–5)
Mohler
40,673
41–22
64
June 13
@ Yankees
6–2
Hershiser (6–4)
Rogers
Shuey (1)
30,707
42–22
65
June 14
@ Yankees
3–4
Gooden
Ogea (3–1)
Wetteland
32,580
42–23
66
June 15
@ Yankees
10–3
Nagy (11–1)
Boehringer
—
42,032
43–23
67
June 16
@ Yankees
4–5
Pettitte
Martinez (8–4)
Wetteland
51,180
43–24
68
June 18
Red Sox
9–7
Swindell (1–0)
Sele
Mesa (23)
42,209
44–24
69
June 19
Red Sox
11–4
Hershiser (7–4)
Gordon
—
42,276
45–24
70
June 20
Red Sox
5–4
Shuey (1–1)
Stanton
—
42,306
46–24
71
June 21
Yankees
7–8 (10)
Nelson
Mesa (0–2)
Wetteland
42,176
46–25
72
June 21
Yankees
3–9
Mendoza
Tavarez (2–4)
—
42,454
46–26
73
June 22
Yankees
9–11
Brewer
Martinez (8–5)
Wetteland
42,461
46–27
74
June 23
Yankees
5–6
Gooden
McDowell (6–6)
Wetteland
41,767
46–28
75
June 25
@ Red Sox
4–0
Hershiser (8–4)
Gordon
—
33,576
47–28
76
June 26
@ Red Sox
4–6 (15)
Garces
Embree (1–1)
—
33,727
47–29
77
June 27
@ White Sox
10–15
Fernandez
Swindell (1–1)
—
27,782
47–30
78
June 28
@ White Sox
2–4
Baldwin
Tavarez (2–5)
Hernandez
33,136
47–31
79
June 29
@ White Sox
3–2 (10)
Shuey (2–1)
Karchner
—
43,601
48–31
80
June 30
@ White Sox
4–2
Hershiser (9–4)
Tapani
Mesa (24)
30,351
49–31
July: 16–11 (Home: 7–6; Away: 9–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
81
July 1
Royals
2–4
Haney
Nagy (11–2)
—
40,814
49–32
82
July 2
Royals
3–2
Poole (4–0)
Belcher
—
42,283
50–32
83
July 3
Royals
6–4
Tavarez (3–5)
Magnante
Shuey (2)
42,470
51–32
84
July 4
White Sox
5–6 (10)
Karchner
Mesa (0–3)
Hernandez
42,355
51–33
85
July 5
White Sox
0–7
Alvarez
Hershiser (9–5)
—
42,536
51–34
86
July 6
White Sox
2–3
Karchner
Shuey (2–2)
Hernandez
42,454
51–35
87
July 7
White Sox
6–1
Ogea (4–1)
Fernandez
Assenmacher (1)
42,343
52–35
88
July 11
@ Twins
11–7
McDowell (7–6)
Radke
—
16,438
53–35
89
July 12
@ Twins
7–5
Mesa (1–3)
Stevens
Shuey (3)
18,246
54–35
90
July 13
@ Twins
19–11
Ogea (5–1)
Aguilera
—
31,552
55–35
91
July 14
@ Twins
4–5
Guardado
Plunk (2–1)
—
25,312
55–36
92
July 15
@ Royals
3–6
Magnante
Tavarez (3–6)
Montgomery
22,294
55–37
93
July 16
@ Royals
10–4
McDowell (8–6)
Haney
—
16,871
56–37
94
July 17
@ Royals
2–3
Belcher
Hershiser (9–6)
Montgomery
19,532
56–38
95
July 18
Twins
5–4
Graves (1–0)
Guardado
—
40,934
57–38
96
July 19
Twins
2–3
Rodriguez
Nagy (11–3)
Naulty
42,373
57–39
97
July 20
Twins
6–5 (11)
Shuey (3–2)
Stevens
—
43,433
58–39
98
July 21
Twins
7–5
McDowell (9–6)
Radke
Shuey (4)
42,341
59–39
99
July 22
@ Blue Jays
4–2
Hershiser (10–6)
Hanson
Mesa (25)
35,517
60–39
100
July 23
@ Blue Jays
1–3
Hentgen
Ogea (5–2)
Timlin
35,194
60–40
101
July 24
@ Blue Jays
10–0
Martinez (9–5)
Janzen
—
35,218
61–40
102
July 25
@ Orioles
10–7
Nagy (12–3)
Coppinger
—
47,025
62–40
103
July 26
@ Orioles
14–9
Assenmacher (1–1)
Mussina
—
46,751
63–40
104
July 27
@ Orioles
2–14
Wells
Hershiser (10–7)
—
47,360
63–41
105
July 28
@ Orioles
6–3 (13)
Mesa (2–3)
Stephenson
—
46,273
64–41
106
July 30
Blue Jays
1–3
Flener
Martinez (9–6)
Timlin
42,355
64–42
107
July 31
Blue Jays
4–2
Assenmacher (2–1)
Timlin
—
42,301
65–42
August: 15–13 (Home: 7–7; Away: 8–6)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
108
August 1
Blue Jays
3–5
Hanson
Lopez (1–3)
Timlin
42,249
65–43
109
August 2
Orioles
11–1
Hershiser (11–7)
Erickson
—
42,465
66–43
110
August 3
Orioles
4–9
Orosco
Ogea (5–3)
—
42,448
66–44
111
August 4
Orioles
14–2
Anderson (1–1)
Coppinger
—
42,349
67–44
112
August 5
Orioles
10–13
Wells
Assenmacher (2–2)
—
40,863
67–45
113
August 6
@ Mariners
4–3
Lopez (2–3)
Wells
Mesa (26)
31,472
68–45
114
August 7
@ Mariners
5–4
Tavarez (4–6)
Charlton
Mesa (27)
30,431
69–45
115
August 8
@ Mariners
2–1
Ogea (6–3)
Mulholland
Mesa (28)
36,822
70–45
116
August 9
@ Athletics
10–4
McDowell (10–6)
Telgheder
—
20,122
71–45
117
August 10
@ Athletics
1–5
Adams
Nagy (12–4)
—
30,238
71–46
118
August 11
@ Athletics
3–9
Wasdin
Lopez (2–4)
—
21,914
71–47
119
August 12
@ Angels
5–4
Hershiser (12–7)
Finley
Mesa (29)
19,499
72–47
120
August 13
@ Angels
2–4
Boskie
Ogea (6–4)
Percival
19,569
72–48
121
August 14
@ Angels
7–8
Gohr
McDowell (10–7)
Percival
23,887
72–49
122
August 16
Tigers
3–1 (12)
Assenmacher (3–2)
Lewis
—
42,485
73–49
123
August 17
Tigers
6–3
Hershiser (13–7)
Thompson
Mesa (30)
42,511
74–49
124
August 18
Tigers
11–3
Ogea (7–4)
Williams
—
42,337
75–49
125
August 19
Rangers
3–10
Pavlik
McDowell (10–8)
—
42,393
75–50
126
August 20
Rangers
10–4
Lopez (3–4)
Witt
—
42,370
76–50
127
August 21
Rangers
8–10 (10)
Vosberg
Tavarez (4–7)
—
42,345
76–51
128
August 23
Brewers
5–6 (11)
Jones
Mesa (2–4)
Fetters
42,405
76–52
129
August 24
Brewers
3–4 (10)
Wickman
Plunk (2–2)
Fetters
42,437
76–53
130
August 25
Brewers
8–5
Shuey (4–2)
Miranda
Mesa (31)
42,335
77–53
131
August 26
@ Tigers
2–1
Nagy (13–4)
Lira
—
22,349
78–53
132
August 27
@ Tigers
12–2
Lopez (4–4)
Thompson
—
19,602
79–53
133
August 28
@ Tigers
9–3
Hershiser (14–7)
Sager
—
21,091
80–53
134
August 30
@ Rangers
3–5
Pavlik
Ogea (7–5)
Russell
40,383
80–54
135
August 31
@ Rangers
3–6
Oliver
McDowell (10–9)
Vosberg
46,319
80–55
September: 19–7 (Home: 13–3; Away: 6–4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
136
September 1
@ Rangers
8–2
Nagy (14–4)
Burkett
—
46,084
81–55
137
September 2
@ Brewers
6–7
Jones
Mesa (2–5)
—
18,015
81–56
138
September 3
@ Brewers
2–8
Karl
Hershiser (14–8)
—
10,599
81–57
139
September 4
@ Brewers
7–0
Ogea (8–5)
D'Amico
—
12,666
82–57
140
September 8
Mariners
2–1
Nagy (15–4)
Mulholland
—
42,307
83–57
141
September 8
Mariners
5–6
Charlton
Mesa (2–6)
—
42,217
83–58
142
September 9
Angels
4–3
Shuey (5–2)
Holtz
Mesa (32)
42,208
84–58
143
September 10
Angels
7–5
Assenmacher (4–2)
Percival
—
42,181
85–58
144
September 11
Angels
2–0
McDowell (11–9)
Finley
Mesa (33)
42,264
86–58
145
September 12
Angels
11–2
Anderson (2–1)
Boskie
—
42,244
87–58
146
September 14
Athletics
9–2
Nagy (16–4)
Wengert
—
—
88–58
147
September 14
Athletics
9–8
Plunk (3–2)
Small
Mesa (34)
42,233
89–58
148
September 15
Athletics
9–10 (10)
Reyes
Mesa (2–7)
—
42,226
89–59
149
September 16
@ White Sox
4–3
McDowell (12–9)
Alvarez
—
25,392
90–59
150
September 17
@ White Sox
9–4
Anderson (3–1)
Fernandez
Plunk (2)
18,763
91–59
151
September 18
@ White Sox
4–3
Lopez (5–4)
Baldwin
Mesa (35)
20,289
92–59
152
September 19
Royals
9–1
Ogea (9–5)
Appier
—
42,297
93–59
153
September 20
Royals
4–6
Bevil
Nagy (16–5)
Bluma
42,358
93–60
154
September 21
Royals
13–4
Hershiser (15–8)
Rosado
—
42,339
94–60
155
September 22
Royals
6–5
McDowell (13–9)
Jacome
Mesa (36)
42,291
95–60
156
September 23
Twins
7–6
Graves (2–0)
Parra
Mesa (37)
42,299
96–60
157
September 24
Twins
7–5
Ogea (10–5)
Rodriguez
Mesa (38)
42,272
97–60
158
September 25
Twins
6–3
Nagy (17–5)
Robertson
—
42,469
98–60
159
September 27
@ Royals
6–11
Rosado
Hershiser (15–9)
—
15,939
98–61
160
September 28
@ Royals
5–4
Mercker (1–0)
Scanlan
Mesa (39)
19,820
99–61
161
September 29
@ Royals
1–4
Belcher
Ogea (10–6)
Pichardo
14,556
99–62
Legend: = Win = Loss Bold = Indians team member
Detailed records
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
April
24
16
8
0.667
152
118
May
28
19
9
0.679
154
126
June
28
14
14
0.500
165
149
July
27
16
11
0.593
152
128
August
28
15
13
0.536
167
135
September
26
19
7
0.731
162
113
Total
161
99
62
0.615
952
769
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
80
51
29
0.638
488
389
Away
81
48
33
0.593
464
380
Total
161
99
62
0.615
952
769
Notable transactions
May 14, 1996: Greg Cadaret was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.[ 10]
June 15, 1996: Greg Swindell signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.[ 11]
Roster
1996 Cleveland Indians
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Award winners
All-Star Game
Postseason
Game log
1996 Postseason Game Log
Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Indians team member
Minor league affiliates
References
^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures , 2008 Edition, p. 371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
^ "Team Batting Streak Finder: Consecutive games with Doubles >= 1, In the Regular Season, since 1901" . Stathead Baseball . Retrieved April 22, 2021 .
^ Ruben Amaro Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
^ "Casey Candaele Stats" .
^ Julio Franco Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
^ Jack McDowell Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
^ "Mario Diaz Stats" .
^ Mark Clark Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
^ "1996 Major League Baseball Season Summary" .
^ "Greg Cadaret Stats" .
^ Greg Swindell Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
^ "Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac" .
Established in 1894 Former names (all in Cleveland unless noted) - Grand Rapids Rustlers , Lake Shores , Bluebirds , Bronchos , Naps , and Indians Based in Cleveland, Ohio
Franchise Ballparks Culture and lore Rivalries Key personnel Postseason appearances (17) Division championships (12) American League pennants (6) World Series championships (2) Hall of Famers Minors
Seasons (131)
1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s