The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Former Tribe player spends day with fans
They didn’t call it “Carlos Baerga Day” at Classic Park on July 2, but they may as well have.
The enduringly popular former Cleveland Indians player from the 1990s spent much of the day at the Eastlake ballpark.
In the morning, Baerga was the celebrity guest at the Captains Charities 5K road race coordinated by Second Sole of Mentor.
The 48-year-old native of Puerto Rico returned a few hours after the final runner crossed the finish line to sign autographs and throw a ceremonial first pitch before the Lake County Captains hosted the Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods in a Midwest League game.
From beginning to end of both engagements, Baerga radiated the
charisma that made him such a fan favorite as an Indians player from 1990 to 1998.
“I was so blessed to be in Cleveland, and thank God for the opportunity to get to the big leagues in a city where the people liked me and the way I played the game,” Baerga said during a break in his programmed activities during the game.
This is the second straight year Baerga has doubled up in Eastlake for the 5K road race and a Captains game. As was the case last year, Baerga could scarcely move at either event without fans coming up to introduce themselves or ask for an autograph. He also agreed to be the smiling subject in hundreds of cell phone “selfie” photos.
“I don’t mind at all when people want to talk about the great Indians teams of the 90s with all those star players. It brings up some sweet memories for me, too,” Baerga said.
Throughout the day, Baerga got rock-star treatment from the fans. Many of the race contestants and fans attending the late-afternoon games wore Indians replica uniform tops and t-shirts emblazoned with Baerga’s name and uniform number, 9.
“It’s awesome to see that, and I really enjoy meeting the fans,” Baerga said.
Runners and race officials seconded that emotion as Baerga, stationed just past the finish line inside Classic Park, handed medals to and personally congratulated each of the estimated 800 contestants.
That same engaging personality was evident later in the day as Baerga held forth at a VIP reception before the game. He then went down to the field to throw the ceremonial first pitch. He also visited the Captains dugout to speak with some of the players, many of whom eagerly left the dugout to pose for a group photo with Baerga.
Before he returned to the main concourse to sign autographs for hundreds of fans waiting patiently in a line, Baerga met with reporters and was the featured guest on a podcast.
Baerga’s playing career began in 1985, when he was signed by the San Diego Padres as a non-drafted free agent. He was a rising star in the Padres’ minor-league system when he was traded to the Indians in December 1989 along with fellow prospect Sandy Alomar and journeyman big leaguer Chris James.
That trade and other deft personnel moves by the Indians’ front office enabled the team’s gradual rise to prominence after a series of 100-loss seasons in the early 1990s. By that time, what then was called Jacobs Field opened in April 1994. Baerga and a team that also featured Alomar, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Omar Vizguel emerged as a powerhouse in the American League.
After the players strike wiped out the last two months of the 1994 season and the first three weeks of the 1995 season, the Indians dominated the AL Central Division in 1995 with a 10044 record. They beat Boston and Seattle in the playoffs before losing to the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series.
After a first-round loss to Baltimore in the 1996 playoffs, the Indians returned to the World Series in 1997 and lost to the Florida Marlins in seven games.
When he was traded to the New York Mets in late July 1998, Baerga in seven-plus seasons with the Indians had averaged .299 with 104 home runs, 565 RBI and All-Star Game appearances in 1992, 1993 and 1995.
He played for five other teams and retired after the 2005 season. He now works for the Indians as a goodwill ambassador and minorleague player consultant.
“I’ll always be a big Indians fan and was so proud of the way they played last season getting to the World Series,” Baerga said.
He’s optimistic about the Indians’ chances to get to the playoffs again this season.
“What we need is to settle the starting pitching and get Frankie (All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor) hitting again,” Baerga said, smiling.