The Top 5 All-Time Cleveland Sports Heartbreaks

1. Indians Lose in Game 7 to the Florida Marlins in the 1997 World Series

The depression that Cleveland sports fans felt on the morning of Monday, October 27th is among the deepest felt by any sports fans in history. The Indians had it all set up to win a title, they had their closer on the mound, they were up 2-1, and the Marlins were down to four strikes with Charles Johnson down 1-2 with a runner on first. Instead, Jose Mesa left a fastball up, and he lined a single into right field, putting runners on the corners with one out.

Needing a double play, Marlins Craig Counsell lined a fastball to right field, scoring Moses Alou with the tying run, and putting the blood pressure of Indians fans through the roof. Still with a chance to win the game, the Indians did little on offense in the 10th and 11th, giving Florida a chance to win the game against usual Tribe starter Charles Nagy.

The end came after Tony Fernandez, with Bobby Bonilla on first, booted a what looked to be an easy ground ball to put runners on the corners. After an intentional walk, the Tribe was able to get Bonilla at home on a ground ball, leaving it up to Édgar Rentería, who lined a 0-1 pitch to center for the game winner, scoring Craig Counsell.

It was a loss that can’t be defined in words, only tears and flat out pain, a loss that sticks with you for years to come. Indians fans were close this year as well, but still 1997 was tougher to swallow despite being up 3-1 this year in the Fall Classic.

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