Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

1961 Cleveland Indians season

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Owner(s)
  
William R. Daley

Manager(s)
  
Jimmy Dykes

Local radio
  
WERE (1300)

General manager(s)
  
Frank Lane, Gabe Paul

Local television
  
WJW-TV

The 1961 Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the newly expanded 10-team American League with a record of 78–83, 30½ games behind the New York Yankees. Although the 1961 season ended up being a disappointment, the Indians had a brief flurry of pennant fever early in the 1961 season. After starting 12-13, the Indians started to streak, going 22-4 over their next 26 games to reach a record of 34-17 (were 38-20 after 58 games). However the Indians cooled off afterwards and were quickly knocked out of first place (out of contention by July 4) as they went 44-66 the rest of the year. For the 2nd year in a row, the Indians had held first place in June, only to slump to a losing record. This would happen again in 1962 as well (47-34 start in early July).

Contents

Offseason

  • December 14, 1960: 1960 MLB expansion draft
  • Marty Keough was drafted from the Indians by the Washington Senators.
  • Jim King was drafted from the Indians by the Washington Senators.
  • December 27, 1960: Paul Casanova was signed as a free agent by the Indians.

    • Notable transactions

  • April 23, 1961: Paul Casanova was released by the Indians.
  • May 10, 1961: Joe Morgan, a player to be named later and cash were traded by the Indians to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bob Nieman. The Indians completed the deal by sending Mike Lee to the Cardinals on June 1.
  • June 12, 1961: Tommy John was signed as an amateur free agent by the Indians.
  • October 5, 1961: Jimmy Piersall was traded by the Indians to the Washington Senators for Dick Donovan, Gene Green, and Jim Mahoney.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Selma

    References

    1961 Cleveland Indians season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA