There have been many memorable moments since the Indians began playing professional baseball in Indianapolis. This Day in Indianapolis Indians History reflects on 120 years of baseball in the heart of the Circle City.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 15, 1938: Indians pitcher Jack Tising threw 10 innings of one-run ball as Indy evened its best-of-seven series at one game apiece with a 4-1 win in 11 innings at Kansas City. The Indians entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed and were eliminated in six games, 4-2, and Kansas City went on to defeat St. Paul in the American Association finals, 4-3.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 12, 1939: In the series opener, the No. 3 seeded Indians topped No. 1 Kansas City by a score of 3-0 in a contest that lasted just 1 hour and 35 minutes. Left fielder Allen Hunt went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, and Indy went on to defeat the Yankees-affiliated Blues in five games, 4-1. Bob Logan, Indianapolis' all-time leader with 1,019 strikeouts, fanned six batters over 9.0 shutout frames. The Blues' lineup featured shortstop Phil Rizzuto and outfielder Vince DiMaggio, brother of Joe DiMaggio.
Sept. 13, 1939: Second baseman James Adair and Allen Hunt both registered four-hit games as Indy tallied 18 hits in a 12-4 Game 2 rout at Kansas City. Catcher Bill Baker also drove in a game-high five runs in the triumph.
Sept. 14, 1939: Center fielder Mike McCormick went 4-for-6 with four RBI while third baseman Don Lang clubbed two home runs and drove in five runs in a 13-1 victory at Kansas City. The win pushed Indy's series lead to 3-0 over the Blues.
Sept. 17, 1939: The Indians eliminated the Kansas City Blues in their best-of-seven series, 4-1, behind a 6-3 victory. Allen Hunt finished off an impressive series with a 2-for-3 performance that included two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Kansas City had won the regular season title that season with a record of 107-47, eight games ahead of second-place Minneapolis.
American Association Championship
Sept. 19, 1939: Allen Hunt's torrid postseason continued in Game 2 against Louisville, in which he finished 2-for-4 with all three runs driven in to spark a 3-1 victory at Perry Stadium. The Red Sox-affiliated Colonels, who entered the postseason with a 75-78 record as the No. 4 seed, defeated Indy in five games, 4-1. Louisville was led by manager Donie Bush, an Indianapolis native who was honored when old Victory Field (named Perry Stadium from Sept. 5, 1931-Jan. 20, 1942) was renamed Bush Stadium on Aug. 30, 1967.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 22, 1943: Thanks to second baseman Charlie Glock's 2-for-4, three-RBI performance, the Indians leveled their series at one game apiece with a 6-3 win over Toledo. Indy entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed with an 85-67 record and eliminated the fourth-seeded Mud Hens, who were affiliated with the American League's St. Louis Browns, in five games, 3-2.
American Association Championship
Sept. 27, 1943: In Game 1 against Columbus, the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, Indy fell behind 4-0 midway through the game en route to a 13-6 setback. The Red Birds went on to sweep the Indians in the best-of-five series, 3-0. Indians starting pitcher George Diehl ripped a two-run double to put Indy on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, but it wasn't enough as third-seeded Columbus won the opener and eventually the series.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 15, 1945: Indianapolis scored in six of its eight trips to the plate to earn a Game 3 win, its first in a best-of-seven series against St. Paul, 13-1. Indy registered 12 hits and nine walks, with each of Ben Geraghty, Bob Dill, Artie Parks and Stan Wentzel scoring three runs apiece. The Indians lost the series to the Saints, who were affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4-2.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 16, 1946: With a 3-2 series lead in its best-of-seven set, Indianapolis saw a 6-0 advantage in Minneapolis disappear as the home team plated one in the sixth, three in the seventh and three in the bottom of the ninth to force a Game 7. Indians pitcher Johnny Hutchings went 1-for-3 with two RBI at the dish but yielded four runs on four hits and seven walks in 6.2 innings. The Indians went on to win Game 7, 3-2, to advance to the championship series.
American Association Championship
Sept. 21, 1946: The Indians were swept by Louisville following a Game 4 loss in the league championship. Indy left 46 men on base in the series.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 15, 1948: After posting a league-best 100-54 record in the regular season, the Indians topped St. Paul at old Victory Field by a score of 8-2 to level the series at 1-1. Jack Cassini doubled twice to knock in three runs, and Les Fleming was one of three Indy players to homer in the win. However, the Saints, Triple-A affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers, defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates-affiliated Indians in the best-of-seven series, 4-2.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 18, 1949: After losing the first three games of their best-of-seven series against Minneapolis 7-2, 6-5 and 4-3 in 12 innings, the Indians hit the road for Game 4 and hammered the New York Giants-affiliated Millers, 16-2. Ted Beard, Frank Kalin and Jack Conway (two) clubbed home runs for Indy. The team recorded 17 hits and 10 walks offensively in the rout, which sparked a stunning comeback in the series that propelled the Indians to a Junior World Series title.
Sept. 21, 1949: Following a pair of narrow one-run wins (9-8, 7-6) to stave off elimination and force a Game 7, the Indians used a five-run fourth inning to grab a 7-3 lead they would not relinquish en route to an 8-5 series-clinching victory. Nanny Fernandez went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in the thrilling triumph.
American Association Championship
Sept. 25, 1949: For a third consecutive day, the Indians beat the Milwaukee Brewers at old Victory Field to grab a 3-0 lead in their championship series. The 9-3 win was sparked by Indians leadoff hitter Ted Beard, who went 2-for-3 with a triple, three runs scored and a stolen base.
Sept. 29, 1949: Trailing 4-3 through four innings in Game 6, the Indians scored the game's next six runs to run away with a series-clinching 9-5 victory in Milwaukee. Frank Kalin went 2-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI, and Ted Beard went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored to finish off a strong championship series in which he hit .364 (8-for-22) with 10 runs scored. Pitcher Mel Queen went the distance while going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI of his own to help Indy punch its ticket to the Junior World Series.
Junior World Series
Oct. 1, 1949: In the Junior World Series opener, Indianapolis scored three runs in the second inning to spark a 5-1 victory over Montreal, the Triple-A affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Les Fleming homered to back Indians starter Joe Muir, who held the Royals to three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in a complete game.
Oct. 2, 1949: For a second consecutive game, Les Fleming went deep to lead Indy to a 5-1 win and 2-0 series lead against Montreal. In front of 16,095 fans, Indians pitchers Royce Lint (W, 7.0ip, 6h, 1r, 1er, 7bb, 3k) and Forrest Main (2.0ip, 0h, 0r, 0bb, 0k) kept the hometown Royals in check.
Oct. 7, 1949: After losing Game 3 and Game 4 to Montreal, 3-1 and 7-1, the Indians needed 10 innings at old Victory Field to grab a 3-2 advantage in the Junior World Series. Trailing 4-2 midway through the eighth inning, Indy scored one run in the eighth, another in the ninth and the final tally in the 10th frame for a thrilling comeback win. Les Fleming hit his third home run of the series in the triumph.
Oct. 8, 1949: The Indians secured their first Junior World Series title with a dominant 12-2 win over Montreal, highlighted by a pair of four-run frames in the third and sixth inning. Nanny Fernandez doubled as part of a four-hit effort, and Jack Conway laced two doubles while driving in a game-high three runs. Southpaw Royce Lint went all 9.0 innings, scattering eight hits and two walks with two punchouts to earn his second postseason victory in seven appearances (six starts).
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 12, 1950: The Indians entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed under third-year manager Al Lopez and used single runs in the first and second inning to blank fourth-seeded St. Paul, Triple-A affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers, in their semifinal opener, 2-0. Dom Dallessandro smacked a run-scoring hit in the first to provide Indy pitchers Elmer Riddle (7.0ip) and Forrest Main (2.0ip) with all the support they needed.
Sept. 13, 1950: After giving up a three-run homer to Cliff Aberson in the first inning, Joe Muir held the Saints scoreless over the next eight frames. Indy's offense rewarded Muir with two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off win and 2-0 series lead.
Sept. 14, 1950: Late-inning heroics were again the story in Game 3 as Indy plated one run in the seventh and another in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 walk-off win over St. Paul. Dale Coogan ripped a solo home run for Indy in the victory, a game that lasted just 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Sept. 16, 1950: Following a travel day to the Twin Cities, Indianapolis finished off a four-game sweep of St. Paul with a 6-4 win in 11 innings. The Saints forced extra innings with a run in the bottom of the ninth on a pinch-hit solo homer by Earl Naylor, but Nanny Fernandez homered and drove in three to help the Indians to the series sweep.
American Association Championship
Sept. 22, 1950: In the first game of the league championship series against Columbus, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, Dale Coogan ripped a home run and Gary Gearhart drove in three runs to lift Indy to a 5-3 win at old Victory Field.
Sept. 24, 1950: After dropping Game 2 by a 7-4 final, the Indians returned the favor with a 7-5 win in Columbus. Indy broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth with two runs. Dale Coogan registered a game-high three hits including a home run and two doubles, and Ted Beard homered atop the Indians' lineup.
Sept. 27, 1950: The Indians, who lost Game 4 and Game 5 in Columbus by 4-3 and 7-0 scores, returned to old Victory Field and prevailed 5-4 to force a Game 7. Indianapolis scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth, and Nanny Fernandez and Gary Gearhart both clubbed home runs in the win.
Sept. 28, 1950: Indy held a 2-1 lead through seven innings, but Columbus scored one in the eighth and another in the top of the 13th inning to secure the American Association title in seven games with a 3-2 win. Nanny Fernandez had two of Indianapolis' 10 hits, but the Indians left 13 runners on base in the crushing defeat.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 15, 1953: Indians center fielder Wally Post went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as Indy shut out Kansas City, 3-0, in Game 1. Sam Jones went the distance on the mound, holding the Yankees-affiliated Blues to four hits and one walk with six punchouts.
Sept. 18, 1953: Indianapolis dropped Game 2 and Game 3 by 4-1 and 4-3 scores in Kansas City but rebounded with a 5-2 triumph at old Victory Field in Game 4 to even the series at two games apiece. Indy led wire-to-wire thanks to a three-run first inning, and Rudy Regalado went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The victory was Indy's last of the 1953 campaign as the Blues advanced to the league championship series following consecutive wins in Game 5 and 6.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 18, 1954: In Game 4 of its best-of-seven series against third-seeded Minneapolis, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Giants, top-seeded Indy ran away with a 13-5 win on the road to take a 3-1 series lead. The Indians scored three runs in each of the first three innings to build a 9-0 advantage. Joe Altobelli, who led the Indians in the regular season in hits (158), doubles (31) and triples (10), cracked two of Indy's five home runs in the game while driving in four runs. Indy then punched its ticket to the league championship series with a win in Game 6.
American Association Championship
Sept. 22, 1954: Playing in their first league final since 1950, the Indians took Game 1 against Louisville with a hard-fought 6-5 win in 12 innings. The Colonels, Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, then reeled off four straight wins to bring home the championship. Indy's lone victory in the series was highlighted by a four-run second inning that featured a two-run home run off the bat of pitcher Sam Jones.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 12, 1956: In manager Kerby Farrell's third and final year at the helm, the Indians, who finished the regular season with a league-best 92-62 record, blanked Minneapolis 4-0 in Game 2 to even the series at 1-1. Left-hander Dick Tomanek went the distance, scattering five hits and one walk in the shutout, and Roger Maris carried the offense with a two-run homer and three RBI.
Sept. 14, 1956: The Indians secured a 3-1 series lead with a nail-biting 1-0 win in Minneapolis in a rain-shortened eight-inning contest. Johnny Gray struck out nine for Indy while yielding just three hits and three walks in a complete-game effort, and leadoff batter Billy Harrell tallied two hits and one walk while scoring the game's only run.
Sept. 18, 1956: Indianapolis overcame 3-0 and 2-1 losses in Game 5 and 6 against the Millers with a narrow 2-1 triumph in Game 7 on the road. Johnny Gray, who tossed 8.0 shutout frames with nine strikeouts in a Game 4 win, again struck out nine batters in another complete game. Joe Altobelli provided offensive thump for Indy with a solo home run, and Team MVP Larry Raines tallied his second RBI of the series.
American Association Championship
Sept. 19, 1956: In Game 1 against Denver, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Indians posted a 13-1 win at old Victory Field. Second baseman Bobby Young, who hit .330 in 97 games in the regular season, went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Catcher Russ Nixon also homered, and Roger Maris recorded a game-high four RBI.
Sept. 20, 1956: Trailing 6-3 midway through the eighth inning, the Indians rallied for a thrilling 7-6 win. Indy scored once in the eighth and three in the ninth to extend its series lead to 2-0. Tommy Lasorda, who was later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 1997, was the starting pitcher for the Bears and gave up four runs on eight hits over 7.0 innings.
Sept. 22, 1956: After winning each of the first three games at old Victory Field, the Indians finished off a 4-0 sweep behind a convincing 6-1 win. Rudy Regalado homered, doubled and drove in a game-high three runs, and Roger Maris added a home run and two RBI to help Indy to its sixth American Association title and first since 1949.
Junior World Series
Sept. 28, 1956: In Game 2 at Rochester, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals,Roger Maris belted two home runs and tallied seven RBI on three hits in a 12-4 Indians victory. During his only season in Indianapolis, Maris hit .293 with 17 home runs, 75 RBI and a team-leading 20 doubles.
Sept. 30, 1956: Indianapolis earned its second Junior World Series title in dominant fashion, sweeping Rochester 4 games to 0 thanks to consecutive shutouts in Game 3 and 4. Stan Pitula threw 9.0 scoreless innings in Game 3, and Buddy Daley followed suit in the series clincher. Joe Altobelli and Bobby Young both hit home runs in the final game, and Rudy Regalado went 2-for-4 for a fourth straight contest.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 10, 1961: In Game 2 against the fourth-seeded Houston Buffs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, the Indians, who finished with a league-best 86-64 record in the regular season, earned a 10-3 win at old Victory Field thanks to a seven-run second inning. Catcher Don Pavletich belted two home runs and had four RBI, and Indians pitcher Ray Rippelmeyer threw 8.0 innings of three-run ball while hitting a home run and driving in three runs himself. The triumph was Indy's only win in the best-of-seven series.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 13, 1961: Trying to stave off elimination in Game 3 against fourth-seeded Louisville in a best-of-five series, the top-seeded Indians grabbed a 4-0 lead through three innings, with catcher Jerry McNertney tallying two RBI. The Colonels, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves, scored two runs in the fourth and four in the seventh to steal a 6-4 win and series sweep. Indy finished 17.5 games ahead of Louisville in the regular season.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 4, 1963: In Game 1 of the International League's first-place playoff series against Syracuse, who won the North Division with an 80-70 record, the Indians peppered 17 hits in an 11-2 rout at old Victory Field. Jim Koranda registered a game-high four hits with two RBI, and Deacon Jones ripped the only home run in the contest.
Sept. 6, 1963: In Game 3, Joe Shipley allowed two hits and seven walks but just one run in a 5-1 Indians win over Syracuse, Triple-A affiliate of Detroit, that gave Indy a 3-0 series lead. Ken Berry homered and Lou Vassie had three hits for Indianapolis.
Sept. 8, 1963: One day after losing a 4-3 Game 4 heartbreaker in 11 innings at Syracuse, the Indians prevailed 6-5 in 11 frames to advance to the Governors' Cup finals. Jerry McNertney and Deacon Jones each homered while Joe Shipley surrendered just one hit over 4.1 innings in relief to earn the victory.
Governors' Cup Championship
Sept. 9, 1963: In a best-of-seven championship series against Atlanta, Indy scored a 10-4 win in Game 1 thanks to a 3-for-5, two-RBI performance by Don Buford and four RBI from Charley Smith, who led the team with 25 home runs in the regular season.
Sept. 13, 1963: In Game 5, the Indians secured a 9-4 road win to seal the first Governors' Cup title in franchise history. Jim Koranda had two hits and four RBI, and pitcher Mike Joyce struck out seven over 9.0 innings while driving in two runs at the plate.
American Association Championship
Sept. 7, 1971: Following a pair of 3-2 wins in the first two games of its best-of-seven championship series against Denver, Indianapolis picked up a pivotal 10-2 road victory in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. Tony Muser went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, and Chico DeCastris launched a home run with four RBI. Rain then forced a Game 6 postponement, and Denver swept a doubleheader on Sept. 9, 4-2 and 5-2, to win the series 4 games to 3.
American Association Championship
Sept. 5, 1974: After dropping the league championship opener 4-3 and again losing in Game 2, 3-2 in 11 innings, the Indians topped Tulsa, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, with a 3-0 shutout on the road. Catcher Sonny Ruberto smacked a three-run homer in the second inning, and Indians starter Pat Zachry fanned seven over 8.0 scoreless innings to earn the win.
Sept. 7, 1974: On the heels of a 3-2 walk-off win in Game 4 the night before, the Indians overcame a 3-0 deficit midway through the fourth inning in Game 5 by scoring the game's final nine runs in a 9-3 win over Tulsa. Roger Freed and Ed Armbrister both hit home runs, with Freed accounting for four RBI. Indy's 3-2 series lead for the American Association title vanished following an 8-4, 15-inning loss in Game 6 and a 3-1 setback in the finale.
American Association Championship
Sept. 3, 1978: The Indians suffered 3-1 and 3-2 losses at home to start their best-of-seven championship series against Omaha but responded with a tight 3-2 victory in Game 3. Catcher Don Werner drove in all three runs with a home run in the fourth inning, and Indy's bullpen trio of Dave Moore (3.1ip), Angel Torres (0.1ip) and Doug Corbett (1.1ip) combined for five shutout innings. Omaha claimed the title on its home field, however, behind 5-2 and 4-2 wins in each of the next two games.
American Association Championship
Sept. 2, 1982: Facing Omaha in the league championship series for a second time in franchise history (also: 1978), Freddie Toliver led the Indians to an 8-0 Game 3 win with a 10-strikeout performance to push Indy's series lead to 2-1. Gary Redus, who homered in a 7-6 loss in Game 2, hit another home run to spark the scoring.
Sept. 5, 1982: The Indians blanked Omaha on the road 8-0 to secure the organization's seventh American Association title and first since 1956 with a 4-2 series win. Bill Dawley went the distance and surrendered only two hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Clint Hurdle and Nick Esasky both homered and drove in three runs apiece.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 7, 1984: After winning the American Association pennant with a 91-63 record, the top-seeded Indians lost Game 1, 5-1, and Game 2, 1-0, before securing a shutout win of their own over fourth-seeded Louisville in Game 3, 6-0. Razor Shines and Sal Butera collected home runs, and Tim Burke yielded six hits and one walk with five punchouts over 9.0 stellar innings. The semifinal series concluded on a sour note in Louisville, where Indy dropped Game 4, 10-0, and Game 6, 2-1, to be eliminated from the postseason. The Redbirds went on to defeat Denver in the championship series, 4 games to 1.
American Association Championship
Sept. 7, 1986: With the league championship series level at two games apiece, the Indians used a five-run sixth inning to spark a 7-2 win against Denver. Tom Romano tripled and knocked in three runs, and Razor Shines hit his second home run of the series in the victory at Bush Stadium. The Zephyrs, whose lineup featured Lloyd McClendon and Paul O'Neill, won Game 6 by a 5-3 margin the following day to force a winner-take-all Game 7.
Sept. 9, 1986: In a winner-take-all Game 7, one of the most memorable moments in franchise history came to life. Trailing 4-3 with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Billy Moore lined a 2-2 fastball into left field to score Tom Romano and Casey Candaele to propel the Indians to their first of four straight American Association titles.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 5, 1987: Led by second-year skipper Joe Sparks, the Indians entered the American Association postseason as the No. 3 seed with a 74-64 record. Indy held serve at Bush Stadium against second-seeded Louisville, winning Game 1, 4-2, before earning a 1-0 shutout in Game 2. John Stefero hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, and Sergio Valdez fired a two-hit shutout with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Sept. 8, 1987: After falling 7-2 in Game 3 and seeing Louisville score two in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 win in Game 4, the Indians never trailed in a series-clinching 5-2, Game 5 win. Jeff Fischer dazzled on the bump with 10 strikeouts over 7.0 innings of two-run ball, and Dallas Williams gave Indy the lead with a run-scoring single in the third. The victory punched Indy's ticket to the American Association finals against Denver for a second consecutive season.
American Association Championship
Sept. 10, 1987: After losing Game 1 by a 2-1 score on the road in Denver against the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, Indy picked up its first of four straight wins in the best-of-seven league championship series with a 4-2 victory. Razor Shines and Jeff Reynolds both homered and combined to drive in all four runs.
Sept. 11, 1987: Indy racked up 19 hits, including 10 extra-base hits, in a 14-4 rout in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead over the Zephyrs. Ron Shepherd paced the offense with a 4-for-5, two-homer performance. Alonzo Powell, Billy Moore and Jeff Reynolds each recorded three-hit games.
Sept. 13, 1987: Following a 5-1 win in Game 4 to grab a 3-1 series lead, the Indians overcame a 4-2 deficit with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth of an eventual 10-5, Game 5 victory against Denver to clinch the club's second straight American Association title. Ron Shepherd continued his strong series with his fifth home run of the postseason, a triple and one RBI.
American Association Championship
Sept. 6, 1988: Seeking its third consecutive American Association title, Indy overcame a 1-0 deficit at Bush Stadium with two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and eight in the sixth to bury Omaha, 11-1. Indy won Game 1 and Game 2 in Omaha, 8-7 and 7-4, before dropping Game 3 with Randy Johnson on the bump, 9-1. The final victory gave the Indians a 3-1 series win and sent them to the Triple-A Classic against the Rochester Red Wings, champions of the International League's Governors' Cup. Indianapolis catcher Marty Pevey went 1-for-3 with a home run in the clincher.
Triple-A Classic
Sept. 9, 1988: After suffering 3-2 and 5-0 losses in Rochester to start the best-of-seven Triple-A Classic, Indians southpaw Randy Johnson tossed a complete game to earn the win in a 10-2, Game 3 triumph. Johnson struck out eight batters while scattering eight hits and four walks. Razor Shines and Billy Moore cranked home runs as Indy totaled 16 knocks.
Sept. 12, 1988: After securing 11-8 and 8-4 wins at Bush Stadium in Game 4 and 5, Indy put away Rochester in Game 6 with a 3-1 victory. Darryl Motley gave the Indians a 1-0 lead with a run-scoring single in the sixth, and Razor Shines followed suit with a two-run single to complete the three-run frame. Indians starter Mark Gardner threw 7.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Tim Hulett was named MVP for the series after going 6-for-21 with a double, triple, six RBI and four runs scored.
American Association Championship
Sept. 2, 1989: In the league championship series opener against Omaha, who Indy beat 3 games to 1 in the 1988 American Association finals, the Indians prevailed 5-4 in 14 innings in a Bush Stadium classic that lasted 4 hours and 17 minutes. Omaha took a 3-2 lead in the 11th, only to see Indianapolis respond with a run of its own in the bottom half to extend the game further. The visitors then claimed a 4-3 lead in the 14th, but Indy plated two in the home half to walk off. Delino DeShields homered and drove in a game-high three runs, and catcher Robbie Wine, who had just five hits in 11 regular-season games, went 3-for-5 with two runs scored from the ninth spot in the lineup.
Sept. 4, 1989: Following an 11-2 loss in Game 2 at Bush Stadium, Indy blanked Omaha 4-0 on the road to take a 2-1 series lead. Alonzo Powell hit a run-scoring single in the second, moments before Randy Braun cleared the bases with a three-run homer. Howard Farmer (7.2ip, 3h, 2bb, 4k) and Brett Gideon (1.1ip, 2h, 2k) paired together to complete the shutout.
Sept. 6, 1989: The Indians clinched their fourth consecutive American Association title with a 5-0 win in a winner-take-all Game 5 at Omaha. Mark Gardner, the league leader in strikeouts (175) and Indy's team leader in wins (12) that season, threw 8.0 two-hit frames with six punchouts to earn the victory. Darryl Motley went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Alonzo Powell ripped a three-run homer to cap a four-run third inning.
Triple-A Classic
Sept. 7, 1989: Indy overcame an early 2-0 deficit to take Game 1 of the Triple-A Classic vs. Richmond, 7-4. Razor Shines belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to turn the game in Indianapolis' favor. The Braves' lineup featured outfielder Ron Gant, who later became a two-time National League All-Star. Gant went just 3-for-16 with one home run in the series.
Sept. 9, 1989: Following a rainout on September 8, Indy and Richmond played a twin bill for Games 2 and 3 of the Triple-A Classic. The Indians won both games by 4-3 margins to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Jim Steels, who played in 103 games with Triple-A Phoenix before being acquired by Montreal and appearing in each of Indy's final two regular-season games, tallied five hits and two RBI in the doubleheader.
Sept. 10, 1989: A three-run double off the bat of Darryl Motley sparked a five-run fifth inning that turned a 3-0 deficit into an eventual 7-4 win and Triple-A Classic sweep for Indianapolis at Richmond. The Indians finished the 1980s with five division titles, five American Association postseason titles and back-to-back Triple-A Classic championships. Jim Steels went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the finale and finished 9-for-16 at the plate in the four-game sweep.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 7, 1994: The Indians entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed thanks to an 86-57 record in the regular season. Indy opened the playoffs at fourth-seeded Louisville with a 5-1 victory, led by pitcher Kevin Jarvis (8.0ip, 6h, 1r, 1er, 1bb, 7k) and leadoff hitter Will Pennyfeather, who went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Sept. 9, 1994: Indy returned to Bush Stadium with a 2-0 series lead behind a 10-inning, 9-5 win in Game 2 at Louisville. Indianapolis then eliminated the Cardinals-affiliated Redbirds with a 4-3 win in Game 3. Kurt Stillwell paced the offense with a home run and three RBI.
American Association Championship
Sept. 11, 1994: In the league championship series opener at Nashville, Indy's Willie Greene homered twice to carry the Indians to a 5-3 win. Catcher Barry Lyons also hit a solo home run for Indianapolis.
Sept. 14, 1994: Casey Candaele, Kevin Maas and Will Pennyfeather all hit home runs in a 7-5 victory over Nashville, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, at Bush Stadium that gave Indy its first American Association title since completing a four-peat in 1989. The postseason championship was also Indianapolis' first as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 6, 1995: Indy won its second straight regular-season title with an 88-56 record, but its run in the American Association playoffs was short as the Indians suffered a 3-0 sweep to fourth-seeded Louisville. The Indians lost Game 1, 4-3, after allowing three runs in the seventh inning. The seventh again spelled doom on Sept. 7, when the Redbirds scored twice to break a 3-3 tie. Indianapolis' offense was then silenced in Game 3, a 1-0 loss in which Alan Benes tossed a three-hitter.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 10, 1996: After finishing six games behind Buffalo in the Eastern Division behind first-year skipper Dave Miley, the Indians eliminated the Bisons 3 games to 2 in a best-of-five series to advance to the championship series vs. Oklahoma City. Indy put up three runs in the second inning, highlighted by a Mike Kelly two-run blast, and never looked back, winning Game 5 on the road, 4-1. The Indians won the first two games of the series at Victory Field, 5-2 and 5-3.
American Association Championship
Sept. 13, 1996: After dropping Game 1 and 2 in Oklahoma City, 4-3 and 3-2, the Indians stayed alive in the American Association finals with a come-from-behind 5-3 win in Game 3. Indy scored four runs in the eighth to stave off elimination. Frank Kremblas went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. The Rangers-affiliated 89ers clinched the series the following day, however, with a 4-2 win at Victory Field.
American Association Semifinals
Sept. 5, 1997: Indy finished the regular season with an 85-59 record, two games back of Buffalo in the American Association Eastern Division. With their series tied at one game apiece, the Indians erupted for 13 hits in an 11-7, Game 3 win on the road. Pat Watkins, Damian Jackson, Keith Mitchell and Aaron Boone all hit home runs. Buffalo came back to win the best-of-five series with 9-2 and 6-2 victories in Game 4 and 5.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 10, 2000: The Indians entered the International League postseason as Western Division champions with an 81-63 record but fell behind in their best-of-five series against Durham, 2 games to 1. Indy prevailed 3-2 in Game 4 on the road and used a six-run first to take the finale, 6-4. Catcher Creighton Gubanich launched a grand slam to cap the first-inning burst, pushing the Indians into the Governors' Cup against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Governors' Cup Championship
Sept. 13, 2000: After the Indians lost Game 1 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 6-4, and won the second contest, 6-3, the team returned to Victory Field, where it scored two runs in the seventh to win a pivotal Game 3, 4-3. Bob Scanlan pitched around two hits in the ninth for his fifth save of the postseason.
Sept. 15, 2000: With a 6-1 triumph over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a winner-take-all Game 5, the Indians were crowned as Governors' Cup champions for the first time since 1963. Damon Hollins drove in a pair of runs to lead the offense. The league championship was Indianapolis' first since 1994 when it defeated Louisville and Nashville to take home its last American Association title. With the win, Indy earned a berth to the Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas, where it topped Memphis in a best-of-five series, 3-1.
Triple-A World Series
Sept. 18, 2000: Lyle Mouton, Creigton Gubanich and Santiago Perez belted home runs to give Indianapolis an 8-3 win in Game 1 against Memphis in Las Vegas. Mouton finished with a game-high four RBI.
Sept. 19, 2000: In a tightly-contested Game 2, Memphis tied the game at 2-2 with one run off Bob Scanlan in the top of the ninth. Creighton Gubanich played hero in the bottom half with a walk-off home run, putting Indy one win away from a Triple-A World Series title.
Sept. 21, 2000: Just three years into joining the International League, the Indians fought their way to the top of Triple-A baseball with a 9-2 rout in Game 4 against Memphis. Horacio Estrada – the IL leader with 14 wins that season – tossed 8.0 two-run innings to clinch the series, 3 games to 1. Bob Scanlan closed out the clincher with two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 9, 2005: Facing a 2-0 deficit in their best-of-five series after losing Game 1, 5-1, and Game 2, 6-5, to Buffalo at Victory Field, the Indians lived to see another day with a 5-2 road win. J.J. Furmaniak ignited the offense with a double, triple, two RBI and two runs scored.
Sept. 10, 2005: In Game 4 at Buffalo, Graham Koonce broke a 1-1 tie with a solo shot in the top of the fourth. The score remained that way until the ninth, when Game 3 hero J.J. Furmaniak cracked a two-run homer for huge insurance runs. Mark Corey then retired the side in the bottom half on 12 pitches to force a winner-take-all Game 5.
Sept. 11, 2005: With a 6-4 victory in Game 5 at Buffalo, the Indians became the first International League team since 1984 to win a best-of-five series by winning three straight road games after falling behind, 2-0. Jose Bautista hit a three-run home run in the second inning to put Indy up early, and a clutch three-run shot by Ronny Paulino in the top of the eighth turned a 4-3 deficit into a two-run advantage. Mark Corey, who led the IL with 28 saves in the regular season, converted his third consecutive save of the series with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Governors' Cup Championship
Sept. 13, 2005: The Indians, who finished 11 games behind Toledo in the International League West, faced the Mud Hens in the league championship series. Game 1 at Fifth Third Field featured four lead changes, but Toledo prevailed, 10-8. Rich Thompson collected four hits from the leadoff spot for Indy, and a solo home run off the bat of Cesar Crespo tied the game at 7-7 in the sixth. Indianapolis had 22 total baserunners (14 hits, six walks, one hit-by-pitch, one error) and six stolen bases but left 12 runners on base and went just 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
Sept. 15, 2005: The Indians returned to Victory Field for Game 3 against Toledo but came up empty in an 8-3 loss that finished off a three-game sweep for the Mud Hens. Mike Hessman, who homered in the series opener and later became Minor League Baseball's home run king with 433 career homers, drilled a three-run shot in the eighth.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 6, 2012: Facing the International League South champion Charlotte Knights in a best-of-five series, the Indians and Knights went back and forth in a Game 2 slugfest at Victory Field. The Knights, who won Game 1 by an 8-1 margin, mounted a 9-0 lead midway through the third and led 14-8 after scoring two in the eighth. Indianapolis then scored five runs in the bottom half, three coming on a blast by Yamaico Navarro, but went quietly in the ninth to fall behind 2-0 in the series.
Sept. 7, 2012: Phil Irwin, who didn't join the Indians until a mid-August promotion, tossed 7.0 shutout innings while allowing just four baserunners with 11 strikeouts in an 8-0, Game 3 win at Charlotte. Irwin went 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA over four starts down the stretch before his dazzling postseason performance. Hector Luna went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI as the Indians raked 10 hits in the shutout. Indy lost Game 4 the following day, 6-4, to get bounced from the playoffs.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 6, 2013: After dropping Game 1 and 2, 2-0 and 6-5, at Durham, who finished with an International League-best 87-57 record in the regular season, the Indians returned to Victory Field for Game 3 and outhit the Bulls 10-4 in front of 11,327 fans. Merrill Kelly got the nod for Durham and scattered seven hits with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Jameson Taillon threw 5.0 shutout frames for Indy in relief. The Indians' comeback effort in the ninth, in which Ivan De Jesus Jr. recorded a pinch-hit RBI single, fell short in a 2-1 loss. Indianapolis went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 11, 2015: Indianapolis, who entered the postseason with an 83-61 record as the International League's Wild Card representative, held a 2-0 series lead in its best-of-five set against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but trailed Game 3, 2-0, through eight innings. Indy mounted a comeback with a four-run ninth inning to sweep the series. After a walk, two singles and a hit batter, Josh Bell tied the game with a sacrifice fly before John Bowker gave the Indians a lead they would not relinquish with a tiebreaking two-run single.
Governors' Cup Championship
Sept. 17, 2015: After squandering a 5-1 lead in a Game 1, 6-5 loss and dropping Game 2, 5-4, at Huntington Park to Columbus, the Indians returned the favor at Victory Field with a comeback win in Game 3. The Clippers led 4-0 midway through the fourth inning, but RBI doubles by Josh Bell and John Bowker sparked a three-run fourth before Gorkys Hernandez gave Indy the lead with a two-run single in the fifth. The teams traded single runs in the eighth to give the Indians a thrilling 6-5 win.
Sept. 18, 2015: Facing another must-win scenario in Game 4, Indy again used its comeback gene to force a winner-take-all Game 5. The Indians trailed 4-1 late but scored one run in the eighth and three in the ninth. Josh Bell began a 4-for-4 performance with a game-tying homer in the fourth inning and ended the game with a walk-off single. Keon Broxton doubled to start the ninth and scored on a one-out single by Tony Sanchez. Consecutive singles by Gustavo Nunez and Alen Hanson then tied the game before Bell's heroics. The following night, Columbus' Mike Clevinger tossed 7.2 shutout innings and Erik Gonzalez went yard in a 3-0 Clippers win.
Governors' Cup Semifinals
Sept. 8, 2017: After losing the first two games on the road in Durham, 10-3 and 2-0, Nick Kingham hurled 7.0 shutout frames in a 5-0, Game 3 win, Indy's lone victory in the best-of-five series. Kingham struck out four and allowed just seven baserunners (four hits, three walks). A two-run double by Joey Terdoslavich in the third put Indy in front for good, and the offense tacked on two more insurance runs in the eighth. The win was the first playoff shutout for the Indians at Victory Field and Indy's second since 1996, the other coming in Game 3 of the 2012 Governors' Cup semifinals at Charlotte. Durham knocked Indy out of the playoffs the following day, however, with a 4-3 comeback win.