Imagine a world where the Cleveland Spiders, a team with a rich yet tumultuous history, were still a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball. It's a thought that might have crossed your mind this year as the Cleveland Guardians made a thrilling late-season rally, reminiscent of the team's dominance in the 1990s. But let's delve deeper into the past, to a time when the Spiders represented Cleveland in professional baseball, leaving an indelible mark on the city's sporting heritage.
The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Spiders: A Tale of Baseball's Past
As the Cleveland Guardians geared up for potential postseason glory, it evoked memories of a time when the city's baseball team was a fixture in MLB's postseason competition. It also sparked recollections of the Cleveland Spiders, a National League team that called the North Coast home in the late 1800s.
When Cleveland's team underwent a name change earlier in this decade, it sparked a debate over potential new nicknames. Among the contenders were the Cleveland Rockers, a nod to the city's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Buckeyes, a reference to Ohio State University. However, these names were already well-represented, leaving room for other, equally intriguing options.
Proposed names included the Forest Citys, a throwback to the team's early days, and the Lake Shores, a nod to the city's location. Other suggestions were the Blues, the Naps, the Municipals, the Broncos, and even the Wild Things, a playful reference to the movie "Major League." Someone even suggested the straightforward Cleveland Baseball Club, a name that, while bland, was accurate.
But it was the Spiders that caught the public's attention. The moniker had a certain allure, harkening back to the team's history. And yet, not all of that history was glorious.
In 1899, the Spiders endured a season to forget, finishing with a paltry 20 wins against 134 losses. It remains the worst regular-season record in Major League Baseball history.
However, the Spiders weren't always mired in mediocrity. Founded in 1887, the team initially competed in the American Association, where they won a total of 89 games in their first two seasons, while losing 174. It was a tough start, but the team showed promise.
"The team, known first as the Forest Citys and later as the Spiders, struggled in its early years in the AA," reads a team history on the Case Western Reserve University website. "But at the end of the 1888 season, the team was chosen to replace Detroit in the NL, adopting the nickname Spiders due to the slender appearance of many of the players."
The Spiders continued to struggle for three seasons, never managing to win more games than they lost. But then, in 1891, Oliver 'Patsy' Tebeau became player/manager, and the team moved to a new ballpark at Lexington and E. 66th St. It was a turning point.
In the 1892 season, the Spiders thrived at their new wooden League Park, winning at a .624 clip and finishing second in the 12-team league. They even made it to the World Series, a nine-game competition, where they lost five games to one, with one tie.
The team's improvement was largely attributed to the presence of star player Cy Young, who had previously played for the Canton Nadjys. Young was joined by two other Hall of Famers, outfielder Jesse Burkett and third baseman Bobby Wallace.
But the Spiders' success was short-lived. Although they managed to stay above .500 for the next six seasons, finishing second twice in 1895 and 1896, their demise was imminent.
"The team seemed destined for greatness, building on a reputation for colorful, scrappy play," reads a history on the Society for American Baseball Research website. "But owner Frank Robison had other plans."
Robison purchased the National League team in St. Louis early in 1899, and he proceeded to switch most of the Spiders to St. Louis for that season. The new Cleveland Spiders players performed just as poorly as their St. Louis counterparts, finishing at .130 in the standings.
The following winter, the National League decided to reduce its teams to eight, and Cleveland was one of the casualties. A year later, the city found representation in the new American League, where it has remained ever since. The Cleveland Spiders passed into history, leaving behind a legacy that, while negative, is an important part of baseball's rich tapestry.
And this is the part most people miss: the Cleveland Spiders' story is a reminder that even the most successful teams can face challenges, and that sometimes, the past is worth remembering, even if it's not always glorious.
What do you think? Should we celebrate the Spiders' brief moment of glory, or focus on their overall legacy? Let's discuss in the comments!
