A father surprised his two sons with tickets to their first major league game. It was August of 1961, and it was a return trip from Bellevue, Ohio, to their home in Buffalo, NY. The father left Bellevue later than usual, dismaying the 8 & 12 year old boys because in those days there was not a great interstate system like we have now. This meant a long journey, ending well after dark. Instead, the trip was halted, to the boys' delight, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, where the Yankees were visiting. Cleveland won, leaving a lasting impression on the younger boy (named Jeff, had you guessed).

40 years have passed and I now live in Oklahoma, but in a few weeks I will see my first game at the Jake. I have seen the tribe play in CA, TX, NY, OKC (a preseason game vs the White Sox in 1992), and several times at Municipal Stadium.

Code (De Queen, Arkansas):

When I was a baby in the 50's, my Mom would hang out clothes and listen to baseball on the radio. That was before we had a TV. The first sports I remember were the Indians. I just took to them. I've been with them through thick and thin. (Mostly thin). Early Wynn was the first of many favorite players of mine. Sam McDowell, Gaylord Perry, Buddy Bell, etc.

Art (Pleasanton, CA):

As a kid I remember the Tribe being the 'doormat' of the AL--it's nice to see their resurgence coincide with the rebuilding of a great city. My wife and I first visited there in 1993 and saw them beat the NY Yankees in a game at Municipal Stadium along with 40,000 people dressed as empty seats. We've since had the pleasure to visit Jacob's Field. WOW. Great Stadium, Great Fans, Great City. … I told several friends that I have NEVER, EVER seen a more devoted group of fans anywhere. As I walked around the Jake, I was chagrined to notice that I was one of only FIVE people who was wearing a hat that wasn't Cleveland's. (I was wearing a Baseball Hall of Fame hat.) I counted! I was amazed! Typically, in any other baseball town you will see an opposing team's or another team's baseball team's cap--but NOT in Cleveland!!

My Dad let me skip school to go to the makeup game of the Chicago White Sox vs. the Cleveland Indians. We had upper deck seats that my Dad's friend gave him. They were sitting by us, and every time Manny Ramirez was up to bat one of my Dad's friends would yell, "Hey, you bum, hit the ball." Then, in the 3rd or 4th inning, Manny stepped up to the plate...he hit the ball and the guy who called Manny a bum caught it and then yelled, "Manny, I love you!" over and over again. At the end of the game I asked my Dad if we could go to the dugout. When we got there someone asked, "Do you have any balls down there?" so Manny threw up one ball. So now I will always remember Manny Ramirez.