1996 Cleveland Indians season explained

Cleveland Indians
Season:	1996
Misc:	American League Central Champions
League:	American League
Division:	Central
Record:	99–62
Divisional Place:	1st
Ballpark:	Jacobs Field
City:	Cleveland, Ohio
Owners:	Richard Jacobs
General Managers:	John Hart
Managers:	Mike Hargrove
Television:	WUAB Jack Corrigan, Mike Hegan SportsChannel John Sanders, Rick Manning
Radio:	WKNR (1220 AM) Herb Score, Tom Hamilton, Matt Underwood

The 1996 Major League Baseball season was the Cleveland Indians' 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

Offseason

• November 9, 1995: Rubén Amaro Jr. was released by the Cleveland Indians.^[3]
• December 6, 1995: Casey Candaele was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.^[4]
• December 7, 1995: Julio Franco was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.^[5]
• December 14, 1995: Jack McDowell signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.^[6]
• January 4, 1996: Mario Díaz was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.^[7]
• March 31, 1996: Mark Clark was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets for Reid Cornelius and Ryan Thompson.^[8]

Regular season

Once again, 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.^[9]

Game log

|- 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|-|- 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|-|- 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|-|- 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|-|- 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|-|- 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:      = Win      = Loss
Bold = Indians team member

Detailed records

American League
Opponent	W	L	WP
AL East
	7	5		92	86
	11	1		87	42
	12	0		79	28
	3	9		61	73
	7	5		66	45
Total	40	20		385	274
AL Central
	8	5		63	58
Cleveland Indians
	7	6		70	58
	7	6		74	58
	10	3		96	70
Total	32	20		303	244
AL West
	9	4		71	56
	6	6		72	72
	8	4		54	46
	4	8		67	77
Total	27	22		264	251
Season Total	99	62		952	769

Month	Games	Won	Lost	Win %
April	24	16	8		152	118
May	28	19	9		154	126
June	28	14	14		165	149
July	27	16	11		152	128
August	28	15	13		167	135
September	26	19	7		162	113
Total	161	99	62		952	769

	Games	Won	Lost	Win %
Home	80	51	29		488	389
Away	81	48	33		464	380
Total	161	99	62		952	769

Notable transactions

• May 14, 1996: Greg Cadaret was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.^[10]
• June 15, 1996: Greg Swindell signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.^[11]

Roster

1996 Cleveland Indians
Roster
Pitchers		Catchers Infielders		Outfielders		Manager Coaches

Player stats

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		127	418	110	.263	11	50
1B		112	432	139	.322	14	76
2B		100	424	113	.267	10	55
SS		151	542	161	.297	9	64
3B		151	505	157	.311	38	116
LF		158	602	187	.311	48	148
CF		154	662	210	.317	14	67
RF		152	550	170	.309	33	112
DH		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
	48	179	51	.285	0	13
	67	174	34	.195	1	27
	38	142	46	.324	2	14
	71	128	36	.281	7	26
	51	121	43	.355	5	27
	59	112	25	.223	4	11
	39	102	27	.265	3	16
	22	83	32	.386	1	16
	24	44	11	.250	1	4
	27	43	6	.140	1	3
	8	22	7	.318	1	5
	27	16	4	.250	0	1
	10	12	3	.250	2	5
	7	12	1	.083	0	0
	5	10	3	.300	0	1
	5	9	1	.111	1	2
	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
	32	222.0	17	5	3.41	167
	33	206.0	15	9	4.24	125
	30	192.0	13	9	5.11	141
	29	146.2	10	6	4.79	101
	20	112.0	9	6	4.50	48
	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
	13	62.0	5	4	6.39	45
	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
	69	2	7	39	3.73	64
	63	4	2	1	3.09	44
	56	3	2	2	2.43	85
	51	4	7	0	5.36	46
	42	5	2	4	2.85	44
	32	4	0	0	3.04	19
	24	1	1	0	6.39	33
	15	2	0	0	4.55	22
	10	1	0	0	3.09	7
	1	0	0	0	10.80	0

Award winners

• Omar Vizquel, Hutch Award^[12]

All-Star Game

Postseason

Game log

|- 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 || Benitez (2–0) || Mesa (0–1) || Myers (2) || Jacobs Field || 44,280 || 1–3|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Postponement
Bold = Indians team member

Minor league affiliates

Classification level	Team	League	Season article
AAA		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

1. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,
2. Web site: Team Batting Streak Finder: Consecutive games with Doubles >= 1, In the Regular Season, since 1901.. Stathead Baseball. April 22, 2021.
3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/a/amaroru02.shtml Ruben Amaro Statistics
4. Web site: Casey Candaele Stats.
5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/francju01.shtml Julio Franco Statistics
6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcdowja01.shtml Jack McDowell Statistics
7. Web site: Mario Diaz Stats.
8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clarkma01.shtml Mark Clark Statistics
9. Web site: 1996 Major League Baseball Season Summary.
10. Web site: Greg Cadaret Stats.
11. https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/swindgr01.shtml Greg Swindell Statistics
12. Web site: Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac.

• 1996 Cleveland Indians at Baseball Reference
• 1996 Cleveland Indians at Baseball Almanac
• 1996 WS at Baseball Reference