With a chance of a baseball championship, there’s a certain buzz in Cleveland. Even though the championship drought in Cleveland was ended by Lebron James, it would be even sweeter for Clevelanders to win a World Series in the same year. Like their Cub counterparts, there has been much despair when talking about America’s favorite pastime. “Believeland” has sorely missed a title in their baseball stadium. The team’s biggest curse dates back to 1948.

This sports phenomenon is called  “the curse of Rocky Colavito”. During the late-50s the Cleveland Indians were one of the best teams in the American League. Thanks to some of their brilliant players, the Indians looked like title contenders. One such player was Rocky Colavito. Colavito was a home run champion and batting champion during the ‘59 season and was a rising star. In 1960, Colavito was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn. When he was traded, Colavito was on first base. After an inside the park home run, Manager Joe Gordon told him it was his last at bat as an Indian. Colavito was shocked and so was his friend and star pitcher for the Indians, Herb Score.

“I had to tell Herb three times what happened,” Colavito said. “He couldn’t believe it.”

Kuenn was the better player on paper, but due to an injury, he never played at a high level in Cleveland, and left the following year. The move devastated locals as Colavito was a fan favorite who a star for the Tigers. The Indians manager,  Fred “Trader” Lane was known to wheel and deal his players. He traded away stars such as Roger Maris, Norm Cash, and Score in his tenure with the Tribe. Colavito is steamed about this trade till this day.  

“I loved Cleveland and the Indians,” Colavito said. “I never wanted to leave.”

The “curse” has rocked Cleveland baseball for many years since the Colavito trade. Many bad moves made by the tribe’s front office has led to disappointment. During 1965, Colavito was traded back to the Indians, but he wasn’t the same. Though he tried his best, he could only put up above-average results for the team. Attendance to the ball games rose exponentially with the return of their beloved Colavito, though he never performed with much success. The Indians have been close to a World Series in 1995 and 1997, yet the team has never been able to reach the top of the mountain.

With many baseball blunders in their history, the Indians are looking their best in decades. With the Cubs as opponents, it’ll really be a battle for the Tribe to come out on top.  55 years after being traded away from his Indians,  Colavito makes it clear that he loves Cleveland and never cursed the Indians.

“Frank Lane did,” said Colavito.