W. Ross ClitesYour City Sports-Cleveland
Cleveland--In 1972 and again in 1974, Cleveland handed the New York Yankees a reliable corner infielder for them to build a decade-long dynasty. The moves dealt perennial All-Stars Craig Nettles and Cris Chambliss, respectively. In return, the Tribe accumulated five players that never really panned out. Despite the eventual value inequality of these 1970s transactions, neither comes close to Rocky Colavito for Harvey Kuenn in 1960. That deal was so big that it carries its own Cleveland curse, book about said curse, and a Wikipedia site devoted solely to it. Even the youngest Tribe fans cite this as the worst trade in franchise history. By Cleveland management's account, it was "trading hamburger for steak." To Indians historians, the "steak" (reigning batting champion, Keunn) was overcooked and the "hamburger" (reigning home run champion, Colavito) was gourmet.
It is time for Cleveland to forget that deal, as the reevaluation of a 1997 deal has emerged a legitimate contender. On the verge of his Indians Hall of Fame induction, it is finally becoming apparent that Kenny Lofton should have never left the Tribe. His trade to Atlanta was the most devastating transaction in Indians history.
Trading "The Rock" may not have been a fan favorite, a la Victor Martinez in 2009, but it was an on-paper even agreement. It is hard to pick an immediate winner of the deal because neither Detroit nor Cleveland made the playoffs with Colavito or Kuenn on their rosters. The Indians finished the 1961 season with a 76-78 record, while the Tigers finished even worse at 71-78. Colavito was even traded back to the Indians in 1965, returning to All-Star form and finishing fifth in the AL MVP voting. Yet, it was the Tigers that won the World Series three years later. If there is any curse surrounding Rocky Colavito, it may be having him on your team, not trading him away.
This is why the Lofton deal was more detrimental. The combination of timing and quality of the team entering the season could not have been botched any worse. Leave it to Cleveland to bring two new egos into the clubhouse 8 days before the first game of the season.
A season after stealing an American League high 75 bases, the Indians felt Lofton was on the downswing of his career. After a poor Spring Training, General Manager, John Hart, pulled off a "blockbuster" deal. He shipped the five-time reigning AL stolen base leader and three-time reigning Gold Glove Award winner to the Braves. Scouts that said he could no longer get the job done in 1997 sure ate their words when Kenny Lofton was back in an Indians uniform stealing bases, ten years later.
With Lofton, the Cleveland Indians would have won the 1997 World Series. Period.
The proof is the same reason why he is going into the Indians Hall of Fame this year. He was the leader in the clubhouse and the staple at the top of the lineup. His departure may have added gaudy stats to the heart of the order, but it left Mike Hargrove scrambling to pencil the first name into the lineup card everyday.
Along with relief pitcher Alan Embree, Lofton, was exchanged for two-time All-Star and 1990 Rookie of the Year, David Justice, as well as his replacement in center field, Marquis Grissom.
Cleveland--In 1972 and again in 1974, Cleveland handed the New York Yankees a reliable corner infielder for them to build a decade-long dynasty. The moves dealt perennial All-Stars Craig Nettles and Cris Chambliss, respectively. In return, the Tribe accumulated five players that never really panned out. Despite the eventual value inequality of these 1970s transactions, neither comes close to Rocky Colavito for Harvey Kuenn in 1960. That deal was so big that it carries its own Cleveland curse, book about said curse, and a Wikipedia site devoted solely to it. Even the youngest Tribe fans cite this as the worst trade in franchise history. By Cleveland management's account, it was "trading hamburger for steak." To Indians historians, the "steak" (reigning batting champion, Keunn) was overcooked and the "hamburger" (reigning home run champion, Colavito) was gourmet.
It is time for Cleveland to forget that deal, as the reevaluation of a 1997 deal has emerged a legitimate contender. On the verge of his Indians Hall of Fame induction, it is finally becoming apparent that Kenny Lofton should have never left the Tribe. His trade to Atlanta was the most devastating transaction in Indians history.
Trading "The Rock" may not have been a fan favorite, a la Victor Martinez in 2009, but it was an on-paper even agreement. It is hard to pick an immediate winner of the deal because neither Detroit nor Cleveland made the playoffs with Colavito or Kuenn on their rosters. The Indians finished the 1961 season with a 76-78 record, while the Tigers finished even worse at 71-78. Colavito was even traded back to the Indians in 1965, returning to All-Star form and finishing fifth in the AL MVP voting. Yet, it was the Tigers that won the World Series three years later. If there is any curse surrounding Rocky Colavito, it may be having him on your team, not trading him away.
This is why the Lofton deal was more detrimental. The combination of timing and quality of the team entering the season could not have been botched any worse. Leave it to Cleveland to bring two new egos into the clubhouse 8 days before the first game of the season.
A season after stealing an American League high 75 bases, the Indians felt Lofton was on the downswing of his career. After a poor Spring Training, General Manager, John Hart, pulled off a "blockbuster" deal. He shipped the five-time reigning AL stolen base leader and three-time reigning Gold Glove Award winner to the Braves. Scouts that said he could no longer get the job done in 1997 sure ate their words when Kenny Lofton was back in an Indians uniform stealing bases, ten years later.
With Lofton, the Cleveland Indians would have won the 1997 World Series. Period.
The proof is the same reason why he is going into the Indians Hall of Fame this year. He was the leader in the clubhouse and the staple at the top of the lineup. His departure may have added gaudy stats to the heart of the order, but it left Mike Hargrove scrambling to pencil the first name into the lineup card everyday.
Along with relief pitcher Alan Embree, Lofton, was exchanged for two-time All-Star and 1990 Rookie of the Year, David Justice, as well as his replacement in center field, Marquis Grissom.