1996 Cleveland Indians season

March 2026 November 2013 Cleveland Indians 1996 American League Central champions American League Central 99–62 (99 62) 1st Jacobs Field Cleveland, Ohio Richard Jacobs John Hart Mike Hargrove WUAB Jack Corrigan, Mike Hegan SportsChannel John Sanders, Rick Manning WKNR (1220 AM) Herb Score, Tom Hamilton, Matt Underwood The 1996 Cleveland Indians season was the 96th season for the franchise and the third season at Jacobs Field. For the second consecutive season, the Indians had the best record in Major League Baseball. This was the first time in franchise history that the Indians had accomplished that feat.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, 978-0-451-22363-0 Between May 30 and August 19, the Indians hit at least one double in each of 75 games, the longest such streak in MLB since 1901.https://stathead.com/tiny/qetMe Team Batting Streak Finder: Consecutive games with Doubles ≥ 1, In the Regular Season, since 1901. Stathead Baseball April 22, 2021 Offseason November 9, 1995: Rubén Amaro Jr. was released by the Cleveland Indians.Ruben Amaro Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 6, 1995: Casey Candaele was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/candaca01.shtml Casey Candaele Stats December 7, 1995: Julio Franco was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.Julio Franco Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 14, 1995: Jack McDowell signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.Jack McDowell Statistics Baseball-Reference.com January 4, 1996: Mario Díaz was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diazma01.shtml Mario Diaz Stats March 31, 1996: Mark Clark was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets for Reid Cornelius and Ryan Thompson.Mark Clark Statistics Baseball-Reference.com Regular season The Indians had a formidable offensive lineup. They led the Majors in hits (1,665), batting average (.293), on-base percentage (.369). They also struck out an MLB-low 844 times.https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1996.shtml 1996 Major League Baseball Season Summary Season standings Cleveland Indians Record vs. opponents CLE Game log Cleveland Indians 1996 Game Log: 99–62 (Home: 51–29; Away: 48–33) y Cleveland Indians April: 16–8 (Home: 8–3; Away: 8–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 2 || Yankees || 1–7 || Cone || Martinez (0–1) || — || 42,289 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || Yankees || 1–5 || Pettitte || McDowell (0–1) || Nelson || 41,843 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 5 || Blue Jays || 1–7 || Guzman || Hershiser (0–1) || — || 41,782 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 6 || Blue Jays || 5–3 || Nagy (1–0) || Hanson || Mesa (1) || 41,852 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 7 || Blue Jays || 8–3 || Martinez (1–1) || Quantrill || — || 41,689 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 10 || @ Orioles || 2–3 (10) || Orosco || Tavarez (0–1) || — || 45,097 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 11 || @ Orioles || 4–14 || Erickson || Hershiser (0–2) || Rhodes || 43,189 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 12 || @ Red Sox || 3–1 || Nagy (2–0) || Sele || Mesa (2) || 26,703 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 13 || @ Red Sox || 14–2 || Martinez (2–1) || Moyer || — || 31,827 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 14 || @ Red Sox || 7–6 (11) || Tavarez (1–1) || Stanton || Mesa (3) || 31,796 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 15 || @ Red Sox || 8–0 || McDowell (1–1) || Wakefield || — || 32,861 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 16 || @ Twins || 7–2 || Hershiser (1–2) || Radke || — || 13,103 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 17 || @ Twins || 8–9 || Hansell || Shuey (0–1) || Stevens || 11,276 || 7–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 19 || Red Sox || 9–4 || Martinez (3–1) || Gordon || — || 40,521 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 20 || Red Sox || 2–1 || McDowell (2–1) || Wakefield || Mesa (4) || 40,498 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 21 || Red Sox || 11–7 || Ogea (1–0) || Pennington || — || 42,256 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 22 || Orioles || 6–3 || Nagy (3–0) || Erickson || Mesa (5) || 42,236 || 11–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 23 || Orioles || 9–8 || Ogea (2–0) || Mussina || Mesa (6) || 40,770 || 12–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 24 || @ Yankees || 8–10 || Kamieniecki || Martinez (3–2) || — || 20,187 || 12–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 25 || @ Yankees || 4–3 || Poole (1–0) || Pettitte || Mesa (7) || 18,580 || 13–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || April 26 || @ Blue Jays || 6–3 || Hershiser (2–2) || Hanson || Mesa (8) || 30,227 || 14–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 27 || @ Blue Jays || 6–11 || Castillo || Nagy (3–1) || — || 40,140 || 14–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || April 28 || @ Blue Jays || 17–3 || Lopez (1–0) || Viola || — || 31,143 || 15–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 30 || White Sox || 5–3 || Martinez (4–2) || Tapani || Mesa (9) || 40,268 || 16–8 |- y Cleveland Indians May: 19–9 (Home: 8–2; Away: 11–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 1 || White Sox || 9–5 || McDowell (3–1) || McCaskill || Plunk (1) || 40,447 || 17–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 2 || @ Mariners || 6–4 || Hershiser (3–2) || Wolcott || Mesa (10) || 21,711 || 18–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 3 || @ Mariners || 5–2 || Nagy (4–1) || Hitchcock || Mesa (11) || 38,086 || 19–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 4 || @ Mariners || 1–5 || Menhart || Lopez (1–1) || — || 57,133 || 19–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 5 || @ Mariners || 2–0 || Martinez (5–2) || Bosio || Mesa (12) || 56,883 || 20–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 6 || @ Athletics || 3–5 || Taylor || Assenmacher (0–1) || Mohler || 47,313 || 20–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 7 || @ Athletics || 4–8 || Johns || Hershiser (3–3) || — || 10,126 || 20–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 8 || @ Athletics || 7–3 || Nagy (5–1) || Reyes || — || 9,288 || 21–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 10 || @ Angels || 8–13 || Boskie || Lopez (1–2) || — || 23,522 || 21–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 11 || @ Angels || 6–5 || McDowell (4–1) || Sanderson || Mesa (13) || 32,102 || 22–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 12 || @ Angels || 4–1 || Poole (2–0) || Percival || Mesa (14) || 22,768 || 23–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 14 || Tigers || 5–1 || Nagy (6–1) || Gohr || — || 40,765 || 24–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 15 || Tigers || 5–2 || Martinez (6–2) || Lima || Mesa (15) || 42,259 || 25–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 16 || Tigers || 8–3 || McDowell (5–1) || Williams || — || 42,330 || 26–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 17 || Rangers || 12–10 || Embree (1–0) || Heredia || Mesa (16) || 41,225 || 27–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 18 || Rangers || 3–6 || Oliver || Anderson (0–1) || Henneman || 40,973 || 27–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 19 || Rangers || 8–5 || Nagy (7–1) || Witt || Mesa (17) || 43,299 || 28–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 21 || Brewers || 6–5 || Tavarez (2–1) || Boze || — || 39,974 || 29–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 22 || Brewers || 8–10 || Karl || McDowell (5–2) || Fetters || 41,027 || 29–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 23 || Brewers || 5–1 || Hershiser (4–3) || Miranda || — || 42,395 || 30–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 24 || @ Tigers || 6–3 || Plunk (1–0) || Veres || Mesa (18) || 26,967 || 31–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 25 || @ Tigers || 7–6 || Nagy (8–1) || Lewis || Mesa (19) || 41,527 || 32–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 26 || @ Tigers || 5–0 || Martinez (7–2) || Williams || — || 39,056 || 33–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 27 || @ Rangers || 2–3 || Pavlik || McDowell (5–3) || — || 46,521 || 33–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 28 || @ Rangers || 3–11 || Oliver || Hershiser (4–4) || — || 35,727 || 33–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 29 || @ Rangers || 4–5 || Cook || Tavarez (2–2) || Henneman || 35,893 || 33–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 30 || @ Brewers || 2–0 || Nagy (9–1) || Bones || Mesa (20) || 11,543 || 34–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 31 || @ Brewers || 10–4 || Martinez (8–2) || McDonald || — || 24,050 || 35–17 |- y Cleveland Indians June: 14–14 (Home: 8–8; Away: 6–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 1 || @ Brewers || 1–2 || Garcia || McDowell (5–4) || Fetters || 22,004 || 35–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 2 || @ Brewers || 11–6 || Poole (3–0) || Karl || — || 21,150 || 36–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 4 || Mariners || 7–10 || Carmona || Mesa (0–1) || Charlton || 42,179 || 36–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 5 || Mariners || 13–5 || Plunk (2–0) || Milacki || — || 42,274 || 37–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 6 || Mariners || 2–5 || Wells || Martinez (8–3) || Charlton || 42,236 || 37–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 7 || Angels || 4–3 || McDowell (6–4) || Boskie || Mesa (21) || 42,260 || 38–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 8 || Angels || 5–0 || Hershiser (5–4) || Finley || — || 42,267 || 39–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 9 || Angels || 6–8 (13) || Hancock || Tavarez (2–3) || — || 42,237 || 39–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 10 || Athletics || 5–4 || Nagy (10–1) || Johns || Mesa (22) || 42,167 || 40–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 11 || Athletics || 6–5 (13) || Ogea (3–0) || Reyes || — || 42,249 || 41–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 12 || Athletics || 6–9 || Montgomery || McDowell (6–5) || Mohler || 40,673 || 41–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 13 || @ Yankees || 6–2 || Hershiser (6–4) || Rogers || Shuey (1) || 30,707 || 42–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 14 || @ Yankees || 3–4 || Gooden || Ogea (3–1) || Wetteland || 32,580 || 42–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 15 || @ Yankees || 10–3 || Nagy (11–1) || Boehringer || — || 42,032 || 43–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 16 || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Pettitte || Martinez (8–4) || Wetteland || 51,180 || 43–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 18 || Red Sox || 9–7 || Swindell (1–0) || Sele || Mesa (23) || 42,209 || 44–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 19 || Red Sox || 11–4 || Hershiser (7–4) || Gordon || — || 42,276 || 45–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 20 || Red Sox || 5–4 || Shuey (1–1) || Stanton || — || 42,306 || 46–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 21 || Yankees || 7–8 (10) || Nelson || Mesa (0–2) || Wetteland || 42,176 || 46–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 21 || Yankees || 3–9 || Mendoza || Tavarez (2–4) || — || 42,454 || 46–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 22 || Yankees || 9–11 || Brewer || Martinez (8–5) || Wetteland || 42,461 || 46–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 23 || Yankees || 5–6 || Gooden || McDowell (6–6) || Wetteland || 41,767 || 46–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 25 || @ Red Sox || 4–0 || Hershiser (8–4) || Gordon || — || 33,576 || 47–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 26 || @ Red Sox || 4–6 (15) || Garces || Embree (1–1) || — || 33,727 || 47–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 27 || @ White Sox || 10–15 || Fernandez || Swindell (1–1) || — || 27,782 || 47–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 28 || @ White Sox || 2–4 || Baldwin || Tavarez (2–5) || Hernandez || 33,136 || 47–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 29 || @ White Sox || 3–2 (10) || Shuey (2–1) || Karchner || — || 43,601 || 48–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || June 30 || @ White Sox || 4–2 || Hershiser (9–4) || Tapani || Mesa (24) || 30,351 || 49–31 |- y Cleveland Indians July: 16–11 (Home: 7–6; Away: 9–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 1 || Royals || 2–4 || Haney || Nagy (11–2) || — || 40,814 || 49–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 2 || Royals || 3–2 || Poole (4–0) || Belcher || — || 42,283 || 50–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 3 || Royals || 6–4 || Tavarez (3–5) || Magnante || Shuey (2) || 42,470 || 51–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 4 || White Sox || 5–6 (10) || Karchner || Mesa (0–3) || Hernandez || 42,355 || 51–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 5 || White Sox || 0–7 || Alvarez || Hershiser (9–5) || — || 42,536 || 51–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 6 || White Sox || 2–3 || Karchner || Shuey (2–2) || Hernandez || 42,454 || 51–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 7 || White Sox || 6–1 || Ogea (4–1) || Fernandez || Assenmacher (1) || 42,343 || 52–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 11 || @ Twins || 11–7 || McDowell (7–6) || Radke || — || 16,438 || 53–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 12 || @ Twins || 7–5 || Mesa (1–3) || Stevens || Shuey (3) || 18,246 || 54–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 13 || @ Twins || 19–11 || Ogea (5–1) || Aguilera || — || 31,552 || 55–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 14 || @ Twins || 4–5 || Guardado || Plunk (2–1) || — || 25,312 || 55–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 15 || @ Royals || 3–6 || Magnante || Tavarez (3–6) || Montgomery || 22,294 || 55–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 16 || @ Royals || 10–4 || McDowell (8–6) || Haney || — || 16,871 || 56–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 17 || @ Royals || 2–3 || Belcher || Hershiser (9–6) || Montgomery || 19,532 || 56–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 95 || July 18 || Twins || 5–4 || Graves (1–0) || Guardado || — || 40,934 || 57–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 19 || Twins || 2–3 || Rodriguez || Nagy (11–3) || Naulty || 42,373 || 57–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 20 || Twins || 6–5 (11) || Shuey (3–2) || Stevens || — || 43,433 || 58–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 21 || Twins || 7–5 || McDowell (9–6) || Radke || Shuey (4) || 42,341 || 59–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 22 || @ Blue Jays || 4–2 || Hershiser (10–6) || Hanson || Mesa (25) || 35,517 || 60–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 23 || @ Blue Jays || 1–3 || Hentgen || Ogea (5–2) || Timlin || 35,194 || 60–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || July 24 || @ Blue Jays || 10–0 || Martinez (9–5) || Janzen || — || 35,218 || 61–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 102 || July 25 || @ Orioles || 10–7 || Nagy (12–3) || Coppinger || — || 47,025 || 62–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 103 || July 26 || @ Orioles || 14–9 || Assenmacher (1–1) || Mussina || — || 46,751 || 63–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || July 27 || @ Orioles || 2–14 || Wells || Hershiser (10–7) || — || 47,360 || 63–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 105 || July 28 || @ Orioles || 6–3 (13) || Mesa (2–3) || Stephenson || — || 46,273 || 64–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 106 || July 30 || Blue Jays || 1–3 || Flener || Martinez (9–6) || Timlin || 42,355 || 64–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 107 || July 31 || Blue Jays || 4–2 || Assenmacher (2–1) || Timlin || — || 42,301 || 65–42 |- y Cleveland Indians August: 15–13 (Home: 7–7; Away: 8–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 108 || August 1 || Blue Jays || 3–5 || Hanson || Lopez (1–3) || Timlin || 42,249 || 65–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 109 || August 2 || Orioles || 11–1 || Hershiser (11–7) || Erickson || — || 42,465 || 66–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 110 || August 3 || Orioles || 4–9 || Orosco || Ogea (5–3) || — || 42,448 || 66–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 111 || August 4 || Orioles || 14–2 || Anderson (1–1) || Coppinger || — || 42,349 || 67–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 112 || August 5 || Orioles || 10–13 || Wells || Assenmacher (2–2) || — || 40,863 || 67–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 113 || August 6 || @ Mariners || 4–3 || Lopez (2–3) || Wells || Mesa (26) || 31,472 || 68–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 114 || August 7 || @ Mariners || 5–4 || Tavarez (4–6) || Charlton || Mesa (27) || 30,431 || 69–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 115 || August 8 || @ Mariners || 2–1 || Ogea (6–3) || Mulholland || Mesa (28) || 36,822 || 70–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 116 || August 9 || @ Athletics || 10–4 || McDowell (10–6) || Telgheder || — || 20,122 || 71–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 117 || August 10 || @ Athletics || 1–5 || Adams || Nagy (12–4) || — || 30,238 || 71–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 118 || August 11 || @ Athletics || 3–9 || Wasdin || Lopez (2–4) || — || 21,914 || 71–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 119 || August 12 || @ Angels || 5–4 || Hershiser (12–7) || Finley || Mesa (29) || 19,499 || 72–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 120 || August 13 || @ Angels || 2–4 || Boskie || Ogea (6–4) || Percival || 19,569 || 72–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 121 || August 14 || @ Angels || 7–8 || Gohr || McDowell (10–7) || Percival || 23,887 || 72–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 122 || August 16 || Tigers || 3–1 (12) || Assenmacher (3–2) || Lewis || — || 42,485 || 73–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 123 || August 17 || Tigers || 6–3 || Hershiser (13–7) || Thompson || Mesa (30) || 42,511 || 74–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 124 || August 18 || Tigers || 11–3 || Ogea (7–4) || Williams || — || 42,337 || 75–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 125 || August 19 || Rangers || 3–10 || Pavlik || McDowell (10–8) || — || 42,393 || 75–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 126 || August 20 || Rangers || 10–4 || Lopez (3–4) || Witt || — || 42,370 || 76–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 127 || August 21 || Rangers || 8–10 (10) || Vosberg || Tavarez (4–7) || — || 42,345 || 76–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 128 || August 23 || Brewers || 5–6 (11) || Jones || Mesa (2–4) || Fetters || 42,405 || 76–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 129 || August 24 || Brewers || 3–4 (10) || Wickman || Plunk (2–2) || Fetters || 42,437 || 76–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 130 || August 25 || Brewers || 8–5 || Shuey (4–2) || Miranda || Mesa (31) || 42,335 || 77–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 131 || August 26 || @ Tigers || 2–1 || Nagy (13–4) || Lira || — || 22,349 || 78–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 132 || August 27 || @ Tigers || 12–2 || Lopez (4–4) || Thompson || — || 19,602 || 79–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 133 || August 28 || @ Tigers || 9–3 || Hershiser (14–7) || Sager || — || 21,091 || 80–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 134 || August 30 || @ Rangers || 3–5 || Pavlik || Ogea (7–5) || Russell || 40,383 || 80–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 135 || August 31 || @ Rangers || 3–6 || Oliver || McDowell (10–9) || Vosberg || 46,319 || 80–55 |- y Cleveland Indians September: 19–7 (Home: 13–3; Away: 6–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 136 || September 1 || @ Rangers || 8–2 || Nagy (14–4) || Burkett || — || 46,084 || 81–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 137 || September 2 || @ Brewers || 6–7 || Jones || Mesa (2–5) || — || 18,015 || 81–56 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 138 || September 3 || @ Brewers || 2–8 || Karl || Hershiser (14–8) || — || 10,599 || 81–57 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 139 || September 4 || @ Brewers || 7–0 || Ogea (8–5) || D'Amico || — || 12,666 || 82–57 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 140 || September 8 || Mariners || 2–1 || Nagy (15–4) || Mulholland || — || 42,307 || 83–57 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 141 || September 8 || Mariners || 5–6 || Charlton || Mesa (2–6) || — || 42,217 || 83–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 142 || September 9 || Angels || 4–3 || Shuey (5–2) || Holtz || Mesa (32) || 42,208 || 84–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 143 || September 10 || Angels || 7–5 || Assenmacher (4–2) || Percival || — || 42,181 || 85–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 144 || September 11 || Angels || 2–0 || McDowell (11–9) || Finley || Mesa (33) || 42,264 || 86–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 145 || September 12 || Angels || 11–2 || Anderson (2–1) || Boskie || — || 42,244 || 87–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 146 || September 14 || Athletics || 9–2 || Nagy (16–4) || Wengert || — || — || 88–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 147 || September 14 || Athletics || 9–8 || Plunk (3–2) || Small || Mesa (34) || 42,233 || 89–58 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 148 || September 15 || Athletics || 9–10 (10) || Reyes || Mesa (2–7) || — || 42,226 || 89–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 149 || September 16 || @ White Sox || 4–3 || McDowell (12–9) || Alvarez || — || 25,392 || 90–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 150 || September 17 || @ White Sox || 9–4 || Anderson (3–1) || Fernandez || Plunk (2) || 18,763 || 91–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 151 || September 18 || @ White Sox || 4–3 || Lopez (5–4) || Baldwin || Mesa (35) || 20,289 || 92–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 152 || September 19 || Royals || 9–1 || Ogea (9–5) || Appier || — || 42,297 || 93–59 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 153 || September 20 || Royals || 4–6 || Bevil || Nagy (16–5) || Bluma || 42,358 || 93–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 154 || September 21 || Royals || 13–4 || Hershiser (15–8) || Rosado || — || 42,339 || 94–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 155 || September 22 || Royals || 6–5 || McDowell (13–9) || Jacome || Mesa (36) || 42,291 || 95–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 156 || September 23 || Twins || 7–6 || Graves (2–0) || Parra || Mesa (37) || 42,299 || 96–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 157 || September 24 || Twins || 7–5 || Ogea (10–5) || Rodriguez || Mesa (38) || 42,272 || 97–60 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 158 || September 25 || Twins || 6–3 || Nagy (17–5) || Robertson || — || 42,469 || 98–60 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 159 || September 27 || @ Royals || 6–11 || Rosado || Hershiser (15–9) || — || 15,939 || 98–61 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 160 || September 28 || @ Royals || 5–4 || Mercker (1–0) || Scanlan || Mesa (39) || 19,820 || 99–61 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 161 || September 29 || @ Royals || 1–4 || Belcher || Ogea (10–6) || Pichardo || 14,556 || 99–62 |- |- | Legend:      #cfc = Win      #fbb = LossBold = Indians team member Detailed records American League Opponent W L WP RS Runs scored RA Runs against AL East Baltimore Orioles 7 5 7 5 y 92 86 Boston Red Sox 11 1 11 1 y 87 42 Detroit Tigers 12 0 12 0 y 79 28 New York Yankees 3 9 3 9 y 61 73 Toronto Blue Jays 7 5 7 5 y 66 45 Total 40 20 40 20 y 385 274 AL Central Chicago White Sox 8 5 8 5 y 63 58 Cleveland Indians Kansas City Royals 7 6 7 6 y 70 58 Milwaukee Brewers 7 6 7 6 y 74 58 Minnesota Twins 10 3 10 3 y 96 70 Total 32 20 32 20 y 303 244 AL West California Angels 9 4 9 4 y 71 56 Oakland Athletics 6 6 6 6 y 72 72 Seattle Mariners 8 4 8 4 y 54 46 Texas Rangers 4 8 4 8 y 67 77 Total 27 22 27 22 y 264 251 Season Total 99 62 99 62 y 952 769 Month Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against April 24 16 8 16 8 y 152 118 May 28 19 9 19 9 y 154 126 June 28 14 14 14 14 y 165 149 July 27 16 11 16 11 y 152 128 August 28 15 13 15 13 y 167 135 September 26 19 7 19 7 y 162 113 Total 161 99 62 99 62 y 952 769 Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against Home 80 51 29 51 29 y 488 389 Away 81 48 33 48 33 y 464 380 Total 161 99 62 99 62 y 952 769 Notable transactions May 14, 1996: Greg Cadaret was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cadargr01.shtml Greg Cadaret Stats June 15, 1996: Greg Swindell signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.Greg Swindell Statistics Baseball-Reference.com Roster 1996 Cleveland Indians Roster Pitchers 34 Brian Anderson 45 Paul Assenmacher 56 Alan Embree 35 Danny Graves 55 Orel Hershiser 59 Albie Lopez 32 Dennis Martínez 29 Jack McDowell 39 Kent Mercker 49 José Mesa 41 Charles Nagy 37 Chad Ogea 38 Eric Plunk 62 Jim Poole 47 Joe Roa 53 Paul Shuey 12 Greg Swindell 50 Julián Tavárez Catchers 15 Sandy Alomar Jr.  2 Einar Díaz 17 Tony Peña Infielders  9 Carlos Baerga 26 Casey Candaele  4 Mark Carreon 10 Álvaro Espinoza 23 Julio Franco  9 Damian Jackson 12 Jeff Kent 30 Scott Leius 33 Eddie Murray 27 Gerónimo Peña 36 Herbert Perry 20 Kevin Seitzer 25 Jim Thome 10 José Vizcaíno 13 Omar Vizquel Outfielders  8 Albert Belle 20 Jeromy Burnitz 22 Brian Giles 35 Wayne Kirby  7 Kenny Lofton 24 Manny Ramírez 46 Ryan Thompson 48 Nigel Wilson Manager 21 Mike Hargrove Coaches 11 Toby Harrah (Bench)  6 Luis Isaac (Bullpen) 42 Charlie Manuel (Hitting)  1 Dave Nelson (First Base) 29 Jeff Newman (Third Base) 28 Mark Wiley (Pitching) 43 Dan Williams (Bullpen Catcher) Player stats = Indicates team leader = Indicates league leader Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Sandy Alomar Jr. 127 418 110 .263 11 50 1B Julio Franco 112 432 139 .322 14 76 2B Carlos Baerga 100 424 113 .267 10 55 SS Omar Vizquel 151 542 161 .297 9 64 3B Jim Thome 151 505 157 .311 38 116 LF Albert Belle 158 602 187 .311 48 148 CF Kenny Lofton 154 662 210 .317 14 67 RF Manny Ramirez 152 550 170 .309 33 112 DH Eddie Murray 88 336 88 .262 12 45 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI José Vizcaíno 48 179 51 .285 0 13 Tony Peña 67 174 34 .195 1 27 Mark Carreon 38 142 46 .324 2 14 Jeromy Burnitz 71 128 36 .281 7 26 Brian Giles 51 121 43 .355 5 27 Álvaro Espinoza 59 112 25 .223 4 11 Jeff Kent 39 102 27 .265 3 16 Kevin Seitzer 22 83 32 .386 1 16 Casey Candaele 24 44 11 .250 1 4 Scott Leius 27 43 6 .140 1 3 Ryan Thompson 8 22 7 .318 1 5 Wayne Kirby 27 16 4 .250 0 1 Nigel Wilson 10 12 3 .250 2 5 Herbert Perry 7 12 1 .083 0 0 Damian Jackson 5 10 3 .300 0 1 Gerónimo Peña 5 9 1 .111 1 2 Einar Díaz 4 1 0 .000 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Charles Nagy 32 222.0 17 5 3.41 167 Orel Hershiser 33 206.0 15 9 4.24 125 Jack McDowell 30 192.0 13 9 5.11 141 Chad Ogea 29 146.2 10 6 4.79 101 Dennis Martínez 20 112.0 9 6 4.50 48 Brian Anderson 10 51.1 3 1 4.91 21 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Albie Lopez 13 62.0 5 4 6.39 45 Greg Swindell 13 28.2 1 1 6.59 21 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO José Mesa 69 2 7 39 3.73 64 Paul Assenmacher 63 4 2 1 3.09 44 Eric Plunk 56 3 2 2 2.43 85 Julián Tavárez 51 4 7 0 5.36 46 Paul Shuey 42 5 2 4 2.85 44 Jim Poole 32 4 0 0 3.04 19 Alan Embree 24 1 1 0 6.39 33 Danny Graves 15 2 0 0 4.55 22 Kent Mercker 10 1 0 0 3.09 7 Joe Roa 1 0 0 0 10.80 0 Award winners Omar Vizquel, Hutch Awardhttp://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_hut.shtml Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac All-Star Game Postseason Game log background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023456 5px solid; border-bottom:#d81c3f 5px solid; 1996 Postseason Game Log y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023456 2px solid; border-bottom:#d81c3f 2px solid; American League Division Series # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 1 || October 1 || @ Orioles || 4–10 || Wells (1–0) || Nagy (0–1) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 47,644 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 2 || October 2 || @ Orioles || 4–7 || Benitez (1–0) || Plunk (0–1) || Myers (1) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 48,970 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 3 || October 4 || Orioles || 9–4 || Assenmacher (1–0) || Orosco (0–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 44,250 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 4 || October 5 || Orioles || 3–4 (12) || Benitez (2–0) || Mesa (0–1) || Myers (2) || Jacobs Field || 44,280 || 1–3 |- style="text-align:center;" | Legend:      #cfc darkgray = Win      #fbb darkgray = Loss      #bbb darkgray = PostponementBold = Indians team member Minor league affiliates Classification level Team League Season article AAA Buffalo Bisons International League 1996 Buffalo Bisons season AA Canton–Akron Indians Eastern League 1996 Canton–Akron Indians season Advanced A Kinston Indians Carolina League A Columbus RedStixx South Atlantic League Short Season A Watertown Indians New York–Penn League Rookie Burlington Indians Appalachian League References 1996 Cleveland Indians at Baseball Reference 1996 Cleveland Indians at Baseball Almanac 1996 WS at Baseball Reference Category:Cleveland Guardians seasons Cleveland Indians season Category:American League Central champion seasons Cleve