The 1988 Cleveland Indians season was the 88th season for the franchise. The team, managed by Doc Edwards, finished sixth in the American League East.
Despite its mediocre season, the team had a significant legacy in Major League Baseball in the 21st century. Twenty-five years later, five of the 30 MLB managers at the start of the 2013 season were alumni of the 1988 Indians:
Bud Black, pitcher – San Diego PadresTerry Francona, first baseman/outfielder – Cleveland IndiansJohn Farrell, pitcher – Boston Red SoxCharlie Manuel, hitting coach – Philadelphia PhilliesRon Washington, utility infielder – Texas RangersThe team also had players who became MLB Broadcasters, coaches, and front office executives:
Scott Bailes, pitcher- fill-in broadcaster for the Cleveland IndiansTom Candiotti, pitcher- radio color analyst for the Arizona DiamondbacksRod Nichols, pitcher- former Philadelphia Phillies bullpen coach, current Iowa Cubs pitching coachRick Rodriguez, pitcher- former Oakland Athletics bullpen coach, current Sacramento River CatsGreg Swindell, pitcher- former Arizona Diamondbacks pregame and postgame analyst. In 2011, Swindell served as the Color commentator for the Little League Southwest Region tournamentChris Bando, catcher- former Milwaukee Brewers bench and 3rd base coach from 1996–1998Jay Bell, infielder- former Arizona Diamondbacks bench and hitting coach, former Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach, former Cincinnati Reds bench coachBrook Jacoby, infielder- former Cincinnati Reds hitting coach and current Toronto Blue Jays hitting coachWillie Upshaw, infielder- former San Francisco Giants 1st base coachJoe Carter, outfielder- former Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs TV analystDave Clark, outfielder- former Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach, former Houston Astros interim manager, 3rd base coach, and 1st base coach, and currently the Detroit Tigers third base coachCory Snyder, outfielder- hitting coach for the Jackson Generals, a Double-A affiliate of the Seattle MarinersPat Tabler, outfielder- Toronto Blue Jays TV color analystRod Allen, outfielder- former Arizona Diamondbacks broadcaster, current Detroit Tigers television analystDan Firova, catcher- current Washington Nationals bullpen coachDoug Jones, closer- current pitching coach of the Boise Hawks, the short-season A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies