Other Tributes LARRY DOBY HERB SCORE BOB FELLER AL ROSEN
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* B8 | Sunday, August 16, 2015 The Plain Dealer | cleveland.com Sunday, August 16, 2015 | B9 INDIANS Stitched into our memories During the 2015 season, the Indians have paid tribute to Al Rosen — the 1953 Most Valuable Player and four-time All-Star who died in March — with a patch featuring the third baseman’s No. 7. According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it’s the eighth time the team has honored a deceased member of the organization with a commemorative uniform patch. • 1993 • • 2001 • • 2002 • • 2003 • STEVE OLIN AND TIM CREWS LOU BOUDREAU JIMMY WARFIELD MEL HARDER On March 22, 1993, relief pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews were killed in a boating accident Few players have had the all-around impact on a franchise like Lou Boudreau had with the Never a player or front-offi ce playmaker, Jimmy Warfield still made a memorable impression Arguably the best pitcher not in the Hall of Fame and an outstanding All-Star Game pitcher, during spring training on Little Lake Nellie in Clermont, Florida. They were the fi rst active ma- Indians from 1938 to 1950. The shortstop was a seven-time All-Star, the 1944 batting cham- on the Indians for 32 years. So when the affable, earnest and beloved trainer died of a brain Mel Harder wore an Indians uniform longer than any other person before getting honored on jor-leaguers to die since Yankees All-Star catcher and Akron native Thurman Munson in 1979. pion, the 1948 Most Valuable Player, a member of the 1970 Hall of Fame class and, starting at hemorrhage on July 16, 2002, at age 60, many felt the loss of something special. “Jimmy was the one. The right-hander renowned for his curveball played for the Indians from 1928 to 1947. Olin, 27, who was drafted by the Indians in 1987, was 16-19 with a 3.10 ERA and 48 saves from age 24, the Indians’ manager from 1942-50. His masterful 1948 season still resonates as one heart and soul of the Indians organization,” Kenny Lofton told The Plain Dealer “He kept the He started the Indians’ fi rst game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1932. He appeared in 1989 to ’92. Crews, 31, had just signed with the Indians as a free agent after six seasons with the of the fi nest in the history of the game. He batted .355, drove in 106 runs and hit 18 homers guys together.” When asked about the mood of the team, third baseman Travis Fryman replied a record 582 games with 223 wins, a 3.80 ERA and played in four All-Star Games, in which Dodgers. The team — which according to the Baseball Hall of Fame had not honored a member — including two in a one-game playoff against the Red Sox to claim the American League “Heartbroken. Jimmy was as loved as anyone you’ll ever meet in baseball.” On July 19, three he did not allow an earned run in 13 innings. Afterwards, he spent 16 seasons as the team’s of the organization since wearing a black armband for owner Jim Dunn in 1922 — was quick to pennant — on the way to the World Series victory over the Boston Braves. “He was a great days after Warfield’s death, the Indians opened a series at Kansas City wearing a patch with the pitching coach, helping develop Hall of Famers Bob Lemon and Early Wynn, among others. seek a way to remember Olin and Crews. Just days after the accident, the team’s request to wear shortstop, a great leader and a great friend,” Bob Feller told The Plain Dealer the day of his initials “J.W.” According the Baseball Hall of Fame, it’s the only time the Indians have honored But the modest Harder always defl ected credit. “I didn’t do it,” he said. “It was easy to spot a commemorative patch was approved by the American League. The patch was worn on the right former teammate’s death. “He was afraid of nobody. He did it all in 1948. Nobody ever had a member of the organization who was not a player or an owner in such a way, a testament to the men who had the good arms and determination.” Harder was honored by the Indians in sleeve. Pitcher Kevin Wickander, one of Olin’s closest friends, explained the details to The Plain a greater season under pressure.” When Boudreau died at age 84 on Aug. 10, 2001, Indians Warfield’s genuine influence and sincerity. “If you never met him, you missed out,” interim manager 1990 when the club retired his jersey. In 1992, he threw out the fi rst pitch when construction Dealer: The arrow above Olin’s number is a symbol the submarining right-hander drew underneath owner Larry Dolan was eager to show appreciation for the man who guided the franchise to Joel Skinner told the Plain Dealer’s Bill Livingston. “You really did.” began on Jacobs Field. And following his death on Oct. 20, 2002 in Chardon at the age of the bill of his cap to help him throw strikes early in his career. A star was positioned above Crew’s 728 victories, which still stands as a team record. “I am truly saddened at losing this true 93, the team wore a patch with his No. 18 on the right sleeve of their jerseys. “It’s a sad day,” No. 52 “because he was a star in the game.” The Dodgers also honored Crews during the 1993 hero of Cleveland Indians baseball,” Dolan told The Plain Dealer. On Aug. 14 against the said Indians publicist Bob DiBiasio told The Plain Dealer the day Harder died. “Anytime we season with a patch. “We should remember the happiness he brought us,” Wickander said at Olin’s Minnesota Twins, the Indians wore Boudreau’s No. 5 (retired by the team in 1970) on their ever needed anything, Mel never said no. He was very gracious.” funeral in Beaverton, Oregon. “We’re going to miss him.” left sleeves and for the rest of the season, which included the American League Central title. • 2003 • • 2009 • • 2011 • • 2015 • LARRY DOBY HERB SCORE BOB FELLER AL ROSEN Shortly after the Indians began their season-long commemoration of Mel Harder, Larry Doby — “Hi again everybody.” Herb Score’s familiar words to open the broadcast of every Indians game When Bob Feller died on Dec. 15, 2010 at the age of 92, there was little left to be said. This season, the Indians have been wearing a patch to commemorate third baseman Al Rosen, who became the fi rst blacK player in the American League with the Indians in 1947 — died June for 34 years served as a comforting prologue akin to watching a game with your favorite uncle. First-ballot Hall of Famer. Eight-time All-Star. World Series champion. Winningest pitcher who died March 13 at age 91. Rosen spent his entire career with the franchise from 1947- 18, 2003, at age 79. Team owner Larry Dolan told The Plain Dealer that Doby “was a keystone “For me, broadcasting the game is like sitting in the stands talking to the fellow sitting next to in team history. The Greatest Indians Player Ever. Period. “Bob has been such an integral 56, and was named MVP in 1953. A four-time All-Star, Rosen was a career .285 hitter with to the history of this franchise.” And all of baseball, too. While players like Boudreau, Feller and me,” Score once told The Plain Dealer. He would occasionally fl ub the names, the ballparks, the part of our fabric, so much more than an ex-ballplayer, so much more than any Cleveland 192 homers and 717 RBI. In 1953, he led the majors in WAR (10.1) and RBI (145) and was Harder built long-reaching legacies that echo in Indians lore, it was Doby and Brooklyn’s Jackie scores, the plays — “It’s a long drive. Is it fair? Is it foul? It is!” — and fans seemed to love him Indians player,” Indians owner Larry Dolan said in 2010. “He is Cleveland, Ohio. His statue tops in the American League with a .336 average and 43 home runs. A season later, he bat- Robinson, who in the face of racially-charged assaults, ushered the game into a new era in 1947 for it. After all, there wasn’t much entertaining about the Indians throughout his tenure as a at Progressive Field is an icon. No more, no less than Moses Cleaveland in Public Square.” ted .300 with 24 homers on a team that won a record 111 games on the way to the AL with restraint, dignity and class. “Life is too short for that,” Doby once said. “People who judge broadcaster. “For 30 years, he was the best thing about Indians baseball,” said Tom Hamilton Feller joined the Indians in 1936 at age 17, never spent a day in the minors, and played his pennant. In the 1954 All-Star Game at Municipal Stadium, Rosen fought through injury to others based on the color of their skin have more problems than I do.” In 13 big-league seasons of his friend and former broadcast partner. Before venturing into broadcasting in 1964, Score entire career with the franchise, interrupted only by his years of service to the Navy from hit two homers and drive in fi ve runs to lead the AL to victory. It was that kind of tough- — 10 with the Indians — Doby batted .283 with 253 home runs and 970 RBI.