With COVID-19 going on, I've been re-watching a lot of classic 90's Indians. There is no way for people outside of Cleveland to fully comprehend what the 90's Indians meant. We had just lost the Browns, and suddenly the Indians, perennial bottom-dwellers, were GREAT. The team had a solid mix of home grown talent and veteran leaders. The Indians sold out every game, and the fans would stay around till the end because those teams had such magical comebacks. I was at this game, and I remember thinking there is no one I would rather have up to bat in this situation. Albert Belle was the most feared hitter in baseball. As some people have pointed out in the comments, he is the only player to have a 50hr and 50 double season (1995). He may have been the best hitter the Indians ever had. He was also a mystery because he was very private, disliked the media, and gave the impression he hated everyone.This video encapsulates the 90's Indians so well: (1) sell out crowd, (2) Albert Belle, (3) never say die attitude, (4) magical ending. In a perfect world, Albert would have stayed in Cleveland, helped us win the '97 series, and never have a hip injury. Alas, it was not meant to be.
Dave S What a bizarre thought, dude. Why’s it so difficult for people like you to fathom that a guy like Belle was totally content with who he is as a person? Maybe it was all the poking and prodding that flipped his switch. Sometimes some people just need/want to be left alone. As long as they’re doing their job, there’s nothing wrong with that.
@@WillieDuitt1 He signed a baseball for me in Comiskey park, even though I had a Brewers hat on. They played the tigers that day. He looked at ~7 year old me with a menacing stare and asked "brewers fan?" as I handed him a ball with a sox logo that we bought that day. He signed it, I said "thank you!:)" and he said "hmph". He wasn't "nice" but he appreciated the game and the fanfare IMO.
@@WillieDuitt1 So true. Even some HOFs. But let me tell you about Rickey Henderson. Back in '15 he was a guest coach of a A minor league team that day & way after the game, in the parking lot no less w/no one else around but me, did he come over & respond to a fan's request for an autograph. (not me) You knew he was tired & his assistant had his dinner kept warm. Still, Mr. Henderson stopped, chatted a few, signed a ball & photo, & went on his way. A class act. Let the world know. ⚾
@@bernieudo4399 Cool Thanks for sharing that. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas wrote in his book Hollywood Animal of growing up in Cleveland and waiting to get autographs from some NY Yankees. Micky Mantle, Whitey Ford, and Billy Martin walked by him without acknowledging him until Yogi Berra came out and shamed the others to the point they got out of their taxi and all signed autographs, Yogi knew he wasn't to big to sign for some kid
This whole segment was just pure poetry. From the commentary in the beginning to the tension throughout the at bat. To the climactic bomb shot. Man those 90s Indians were amazing
He doesn't get mentioned because reporters didn't like him. He rarely talked to reporters, which I have no problem with. He never got anything close to the recognition he deserved.
Albert Belle, without a doubt, was the most feared guy in the American league, if not all of baseball in the 1990s. He had some spectacular offensive seasons and if he hadn't retired early, due to an injury is a slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer! He should stiil be a Hall of Famer. At his best, he was the most dominant RBI power hitter in baseball during the 1990s!
I remember him doing it a lot for the Giants when they had him. It was never a dull moment when he was on the mound. It was nerve racking more than anything, lol.
Ant Talks Sports they would have in ‘95 if not for Maddux and Glavine consistently getting balls 3” off the black and below the knee called strikes. The NL umpiring was so bad they soon changed the rules and brought the umpires under the control of the commissioner’s Office.
@@Hacksaw_HIM_Thuggin - They use to always play us tough in the playoffs, that 95 alcs was a dogfight. we just got a timely hit that made the difference. That Seattle team in the 90s was a tough team too, hats off to that squad.
Half the views are from my 10 year old daughter. She's a baseball/Cleveland fanatic She mimics Albert's stance at the plate on her softball team. Makes me smile every time.
I remember this game like it was yesterday. I was a HUGE Albert Belle fan and I was screaming at the television so loud and for so long, I couldn't talk for 2 days!! Fantastic childhood memory, even though they lost the series
#1- What a blast by Albert Belle! #2- What a great call of this moment by Jon Miller, who at the time was an Orioles radio play by play man. He calls the homer with great enthusiasm, but just stays quiet to let the fan at home hear the roar of the crowd and watch the fans and players. I think that has a great deal to do with why this clip is so great. It’s almost like you were there.
I know creators tend to favor footage from the last 15 years or so, but even so, this moment should be in every single 'Loudest Fan Reactions' vid ever made
When I first became a baseball fan in the mid-90s (I remember it being 1995), I was like 9 years old, and the team I rooted for was the Cleveland Indians. I loved so many of their players, like Omar Vizquel, Jose Mesa, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome, Albert Belle… the list seems endless. So these old Indians highlights definitely bring back memories for me and makes me miss 90’s baseball.
Coming from a life long reds fan I loved watching Belle during the tribe hey day. Make no mistakes about it he was a monster. Good trip down memory lane
Jesus, they were terrifying. It's astonishing they didn't bludgeon themselves to a title. I was a kid when they were at their peak, but their lineup in '95 had Alomar, Thome, Ramirez, Belle and Lofton. They just never found enough pitching to balance that kind of firepower. (They probably should have traded Manny while they could.)
I was kid in NE Ohio during this time. I watched the Indians religiously. I can still recite the entire starting lineup. They are what got me into baseball. These guys and The Sandlot.
Me too. I remember playing wiffle ball with my lil brother in the yard, mimicking the stances of each batter. I even got up to a game in 95 at the Jake. What august memories.
Expert commentator! Once the ball leaves the yard not another word. He allows the audiance to experience the roar of the crowd and the celebration. Full minute of crowd noise.
That was the year where his house was egged on Halloween and as a means of retaliation (this was three days after the Indians lost the WS in six games), he ran the trick-or-treaters down with his car.
He was an asshole, remember when he threw that ball at that guy for calling him joey? Or when he tried to run over those kids on Halloween? Good times, my favorite player by the way.
God I miss 90s baseball. There was just a different energy to it and you could follow team players for years. Stadiums were packed to the brim and all the sluggers were on the juice. Good times good times.
Having been born in 1981, I got to witness the dramatic Mets championship run, the Earthquake Series, the dominance of Toronto baseball, the horrible strike that kept Don Mattingly and the '94 Expos from seeing a World Series game, the reemergence of the love of the game courtesy of Cal Ripken, the heartache and heartbeat of NYC after 9/11, the slow downfall of drug users with the Mitchell Report.... my God! I've been blessed and fortunate enough to have seen some great times with my sport! 🇵🇷🇺🇸😊
He always looked pissed off - he probably was. He gave you the impression that he'd punch Mother Teresa in the face if she smiled at him. But having said that, compare this to any other relatively meaningless home run today - no bat flip, no showboating - he just put his head down and rounded the bases. Today, anybody who even hits it near the wall has to have something equating a touchdown dance. I'm pretty sure one of the old ESPN commercials mocked that - some guy making a copy and then spiking the paper. All this prima donna crap - just do it like Barry Sanders, as if it's just another day at work. For cripes sake - it IS your job. they act as if it's the only time they've done it. Amateur hour.
He corked his bat. A lighter weight bat has two advantages: 1) hitter can wait a fraction of a second longer to see the pitch, and 2) more bat speed imparts more energy to the struck ball. And you get to have the size and contour you prefer.
Man I miss the mid 90's Indians. I was a fan from being a kid growing up an hour east of Cleveland in the 70's & finally after all those terrible years we had an awesome team.
Life long Orioles fan here. Armando Benitez was such an under rated closer. Dude could bring the heat and alot of othe players DID NOTwant that smoke from Armando! Kinda funny too that a few years later Belle would play a season or two with the Orioles.
When Albert Belle used to come to the plate, you could feel the tension between him and whoever was pitching. One of the most dangerous hitters I've seen.
Set aside his personality, statistically, Albert Belle should have been the AL MVP in both '95 and '96. Indians won 100 and 99 games those seasons, and he was the centerpiece of some of the greatest offensive lineups in baseball history. Incredible, HOF worthy talent whose temperament and a career-ending injury will likely prevent his entry.
The Mid/Late 1990's era Cleveland is IMO was MLB version of the NFL's San Diego Chargers of the early 1980's. Led By Quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, those Bolts is still considered by many to having one of the best offenses in league history. Yet they only managed to reach 2 straight Conference Finals. In a nutshell, this Tribe team is baseball version of the 1980-1981 San Diego Chargers.
@Kurt Lamprecht Dude the mainstream talk shows on espn, Fox Sports etc cross reference sports all the time. If you don't like my comments no offense so what. Have a nice day.
I’m a Sox fan N there’s NO WAY Mo Vaughn deserved the mop over belle lol. He got robbed. He also ran down two kids with his car cuz they egged his house. Lol. He seems to have changed a lot now though.
Went to see Nolan Ryan's last game at Municipal Stadium in '93. They were all there. Lofton, Vizquel, Baerga, Belle, Whitten, Thome, S.Alomar and Sorrento. They chased Ryan in the 5th, but lost. Juan Gonzalez hit 2 hrs. I turned to my son and said, "These guys are going to the World Series in a couple/three years. They need pitching, though." Sure enough they did. Only to face 3 HOF starters in '95. Those 90s Indians teams were crazy good.
I was at that game. I’m afraid nothing will match the Indians of the 90s. Exciting baseball!Too bad they couldn’t bring us a WS victory. We’re a shadow of what we were, but I’ll always be a fan. GO TRIBE
One of the greatest homerun hitters in the history of the game. If it weren't for his back injury, Albert Belle would have likely been in the top 5 on the all-time homerun list. An absolute beast with incredible intensity and love for baseball.
He was an awesome hitter but his violent temper and his contempt of the media have tarnished his legacy hurting his chances of ever getting enshrined in Cooperstown.
He pissed off so many reporters and writers it wasn't ever happening,plus he retired at 33...Also in 1995 he hit .317 50 hr and 126 rbis and finished 2nd in mvp voting and 1996 he hit .311 48 hr and 148 rbis and finished 3rd in mvp voting..the writers hated him lol.
There is no better sound than the click of a perfectly hit baseball. I miss baseball - post coming from COVID 2020, is there still a world in the future?
Look at Albert's face a few seconds before he crushes this ball, he was like, I'm gonna rip this ball to shreds on this pitch......and he does. Incredible.
I know these 90s Tribe teams were known for they're power bats.... but they also had good defensive players! I loved Omar Vizquel he always made the tough plays look routine and I was a big fan of Kenny Lofton as well
I love watching that! The look of determination in his face! The crowd going nuts! & then the look of sheer disappointment on the Orioles coach! This was awesome baseball!
It's too bad he fell apart when he got to Baltimore. It seems the Orioles stink at signing big free agents. EDIT: Nevermind. Belle had solid numbers until the end of his career. I remembered (incorrectly obviously) that Belle was a hindrance on the Orioles, but I guess that was due to him having to be on the 40 man roster for 3 years after he retired so the Orioles could recoup their losses from his contract with their insurance. Also, I had no idea that Jason Grimsley played John Mcclane and crawled through the ceiling to swap out Belle's corked bat and got the police and almost the FBI involved. Crazy. 😂
Ballplayer! Belle whacks it out, drops the bat, rounds the bases kapow. Today there'd be bat tosses,chest thumps, and who knows what. Class act. Love that logo too
Just look at how incredibly nervous Benitez looks compared to Belle. Belle just stares him down like a cold-blooded killer, steps out and takes a few quick practice swings and never seems flustered. Every time Belle steps out of the box Benitez gets more and more rattled, and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Belle noticed that and was stepping out so much on purpose. Belle was an incredibly smart hitter and absolutely would have realized Benitez was getting more and more unsettled. Look at how much Benitez is fidgeting from 3:33 on. The guy is an absolute wreck and Belle was staring him down like a fucking lion stalking a wounded gazelle. It's awesome to watch.
Alex S I always felt bad for Armando Benitez. He was a highly emotional player which is great for TV and we need more of. But guys would mess with him and use his his emotions to their advantage like Belle did here. This is one of the biggest problems with sports today, they need divas to sell themselves but the sports are set up for grinders to succeed. Not that Albert Belle was not a diva, but he was a man, whereas Benitez was a child. I feel like sports need to be setup for more childish players to succeed because they generate more headlines. Really all business should operate this way, all publicity is good publicity. Case in point: Benitez’ epic fight with the Yankees that spilled into the dugout is one of MLB’s most watched YT vids despite being over 20 years old
Benitez at no time looks nervous here. Belle had the advantage of knowing he'd see nothing but heat. He irritated Benitez by stepping out, that's all. So bat corked and arms steroid laced, he took another mighty cut and creamed it.
Albert Belle had an awesome persona. I don't think I ever saw the guy smile until long after his career. Dude was a badass and an intense competitor. A guy I'd love to have played with.
Still can't believe that team never won the world series. There offense was right up there with murders row. Every position was an all-star and anyone could hit a homerun at anytime. That 90's to early 2000's Run was one of the best ever in MLB history. Wasn't fair they couldn't break the Colavito curse.
J Kazbone. It was their lack of having a closer was the main reason those Mid/late 90's offensive powerhouse Tribe clubs did not win the world series IMO. If the Tribe had a Mariano Rivera or even Trevor Hoffman type closer instead of descent but not great Jose Mesa, they might have won as many as 2-3 world series. The Mariners of that same era appx. 1995-2001 was a west coast of the Tribe. Great offense teams but lacking a closer costed those 2 clubs championships. Great example was losing Game 7 of the 1997 world series. Cleveland was slightly better overall (other than bullpen) against that also very good Miami Marlin team. However sorry to be blunt but Mesa blew a world title in '97 for the Tribe. Always been surprised Mr. Mesa has not been a permanent "goat" as say Mitch Williams was for the Phillies in losing the 1993 world series.
They had Jackson tho but thier dumb ass coach still had meza as the closer because at the end of the season meza was doing great but I still would not have trusted him..I would of used Meza in the 8th and Jackson in the 9th..or just use jackson in the 8th n 9th@@americangiant1003
I still often find myself wondering how the 94 season would have played out if the strike never happened. We could have seen the Indians at least get to the WS that year as well, And a 94 ALCS between Cleveland and Seattle would have been something to see as well. One can easily argue 1994 was the best season of Griffey's career, and the form he was in that year very well could have lead to him breaking Roger Maris' record.
I was at that game, and you knew at the 3:31 mark he was hitting a Grand Slam! Everybody just knew. That's the season and team the Indians had at that time! Jacob's Field was THE place to be, in the entire country, for ANYTHING! Those Indians were unlike anything with the sellouts and come from behind and extra inning wins! Benitez shaking in his boots at 3:35! 🤣
Belle preferred to have the clubhouse cold, below 60 degrees, and when one chilly teammate turned up the heat, Belle walked over, turned down the thermostat and smashed it with his bat. His nickname, thereafter, was "Mr. Freeze."[
Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar, Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Eddie Murray, Carlos Baerga, Omar Vizquel, Juliio Franco. My god, what a lineup.
Weak pitching did them in
@@JP-ur9zpThey led the American League in ERA.
Bummer that team never won a title. Shit pitching killed them.
Sandy Alomar. 😂
Yea But No Rings to Show For Wit All Dem Sluggers 😂
With COVID-19 going on, I've been re-watching a lot of classic 90's Indians. There is no way for people outside of Cleveland to fully comprehend what the 90's Indians meant. We had just lost the Browns, and suddenly the Indians, perennial bottom-dwellers, were GREAT. The team had a solid mix of home grown talent and veteran leaders. The Indians sold out every game, and the fans would stay around till the end because those teams had such magical comebacks. I was at this game, and I remember thinking there is no one I would rather have up to bat in this situation. Albert Belle was the most feared hitter in baseball. As some people have pointed out in the comments, he is the only player to have a 50hr and 50 double season (1995). He may have been the best hitter the Indians ever had. He was also a mystery because he was very private, disliked the media, and gave the impression he hated everyone.This video encapsulates the 90's Indians so well: (1) sell out crowd, (2) Albert Belle, (3) never say die attitude, (4) magical ending. In a perfect world, Albert would have stayed in Cleveland, helped us win the '97 series, and never have a hip injury. Alas, it was not meant to be.
Christopher Wincek Jr. buddy I couldn’t have said it better myself. Spot on. Can we be best friends?
And now you have the lame ass Guardians
@@eazye519i don’t support the name change by any means, but if you stop supporting the team over a name change you weren’t a fan to begin with
Albert Belle, only player ever to have more than 50 doubles and home runs in the same year. Unmatched. Ever.
Yeah, but did he love himself?
Yup and that’s unheard of
@@luvfreedom1470 Ohhhhh, goooood for you. And how was it? I hope it was ------- good, because it's useless now, isn't it?
Two words...corked bat lol
Dave S
What a bizarre thought, dude. Why’s it so difficult for people like you to fathom that a guy like Belle was totally content with who he is as a person? Maybe it was all the poking and prodding that flipped his switch. Sometimes some people just need/want to be left alone. As long as they’re doing their job, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Albert belle is one of the greatest that no one ever talks about
The Media didn't like him because he wouldn't bow down and pay servitude to those nerds....I believe he had a Bachelors Degree in Accounting as well.
@@WillieDuitt1 He signed a baseball for me in Comiskey park, even though I had a Brewers hat on. They played the tigers that day. He looked at ~7 year old me with a menacing stare and asked "brewers fan?" as I handed him a ball with a sox logo that we bought that day. He signed it, I said "thank you!:)" and he said "hmph". He wasn't "nice" but he appreciated the game and the fanfare IMO.
@@brtecson Thanks for the story....I have seen other ball players walk by with less acknowledgement than that.
@@WillieDuitt1 So true. Even some HOFs. But let me tell you about Rickey Henderson. Back in '15 he was a guest coach of a A minor league team that day & way after the game, in the parking lot no less w/no one else around but me, did he come over & respond to a fan's request for an autograph. (not me) You knew he was tired & his assistant had his dinner kept warm. Still, Mr. Henderson stopped, chatted a few, signed a ball & photo, & went on his way. A class act. Let the world know. ⚾
@@bernieudo4399 Cool Thanks for sharing that. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas wrote in his book Hollywood Animal of growing up in Cleveland and waiting to get autographs from some NY Yankees. Micky Mantle, Whitey Ford, and Billy Martin walked by him without acknowledging him until Yogi Berra came out and shamed the others to the point they got out of their taxi and all signed autographs, Yogi knew he wasn't to big to sign for some kid
This whole segment was just pure poetry. From the commentary in the beginning to the tension throughout the at bat. To the climactic bomb shot. Man those 90s Indians were amazing
Griffey was Griffey.
Belle fucking put fear in your heart.
@@cliffyhustle ON POINT!!! ...that stare could freeze the sun!!
Miller with the great call. Let the moment speak for itself.
Miller is the best! Morgan and him were the greatest duo on Sunday Night Baseball.
Tom Green Perfect call. Punctuated the excitement of the moment and let the moment do the rest. Miller is one of the greats!
Vin Scully also did this. Stayed quiet.
@@stevenfortney2752 Scully did it first.
The Big Kahuna
Notice after he hit it out how the announcers kept their mouths shut and let the T.V. audience just watch and listen. Excellent!
Thats because Bob Costas wasnt there!!! lol
@@bbtrainerfish7124 Dude, you must have never had to deal with Howard Cosell.
Jon Miller was the best.
What a great crowd!
Albert Belle is rarely mentioned as far as other power hitters of his era, but he was a dangerous dude to face.
He doesn't get mentioned because reporters didn't like him. He rarely talked to reporters, which I have no problem with. He never got anything close to the recognition he deserved.
Albert Belle was the Indians answer to the Reds' George Foster.
@@kevinkarg4464 how this man is not in the hall of fame is criminal and this is coming from a true Yankee Fan.
Concur 100%. As long as he was free from roids, he belongs in Cooperstown.
juice or no juice Mr. Albert "Joey" Belle was a beast at the plate.
Albert Belle was like the Ice Cube of MLB. No matter what he did, he always looked pissed off doing it 🤣🤣🤣
i like how the screen popped up his stats and he apparently had 98 HRs and 274 RBIs....and he DIDN'T win the MVP??? LOL !!!
That's because he generally was pissed off at everything and everyone. Great player. Total asshole.
Belle had very serious anger issues. Bad attitude.
@@SirManfly : that was over 2 full seasons. But he should've won the MVP I think it was the year before.
@@kramerica2k10 most of the greats are
Albert Belle, without a doubt, was the most feared guy in the American league, if not all of baseball in the 1990s. He had some spectacular offensive seasons and if he hadn't retired early, due to an injury is a slam dunk first ballot Hall of Famer! He should stiil be a Hall of Famer. At his best, he was the most dominant RBI power hitter in baseball during the 1990s!
Albert Belle should be a Hall of Famer already!!!!!
There are three sure things in life:
Death, taxes and Armando Benetiz giving up big home runs in key situations
I remember him doing it a lot for the Giants when they had him. It was never a dull moment when he was on the mound. It was nerve racking more than anything, lol.
That’s not nice. 😝
Davey Johnson was a damn fool for even having him walk out that bullpen in the 97 ALCS
You forgot Benitez headhunting the next batter after those home runs.
@@kmac3215 Its the truth. Ask Derek Jeter, Marquis Grissom and the late Tony Fernandez.
It’s crazy that those mid-late 90s Indians teams never won a World Series.
Ant Talks Sports they would have in ‘95 if not for Maddux and Glavine consistently getting balls 3” off the black and below the knee called strikes.
The NL umpiring was so bad they soon changed the rules and brought the umpires under the control of the commissioner’s Office.
I can’t believe not one mariners team did anything
@@Hacksaw_HIM_Thuggin - They use to always play us tough in the playoffs, that 95 alcs was a dogfight. we just got a timely hit that made the difference. That Seattle team in the 90s was a tough team too, hats off to that squad.
My Indians should have beaten the marlins in 1997. That still hurts, Mesa blew it.
You can put em in the category of "Best MLB Teams to NEVER win a World Series."
Half the views are from my 10 year old daughter. She's a baseball/Cleveland fanatic She mimics Albert's stance at the plate on her softball team. Makes me smile every time.
The other half are from me! Just today!
Tell her I was at every game during the 90’s. It was magical.
The worried look on Davey Johnson's face when Albert Belle came to the plate. Priceless.
He did look REAL scared. About to pee his pants scared! Hahaha
1:05 lol
Hahahaha yep ,Belle about to deliver colonel Sanders down to Davey Johnson's locker
To be fair, Davey always has that look on his face lol.
Same look after the homer. He knew it 100 percent before it happened
I remember this game like it was yesterday. I was a HUGE Albert Belle fan and I was screaming at the television so loud and for so long, I couldn't talk for 2 days!! Fantastic childhood memory, even though they lost the series
Man, I miss that mid 90's team. The entire order was a buzz saw for pitchers. What a great time for Cleveland Indians baseball.
And still we never won it all.
buzz saw... i like that;)
#1- What a blast by Albert Belle!
#2- What a great call of this moment by Jon Miller, who at the time was an Orioles radio play by play man. He calls the homer with great enthusiasm, but just stays quiet to let the fan at home hear the roar of the crowd and watch the fans and players. I think that has a great deal to do with why this clip is so great. It’s almost like you were there.
I WAS there. The loudest a stadium has ever been!
@@cardboardandplastic2613 That is awesome.
Jon is still the middle innings TV and early and late innings radio guy for the Giants, and is still amazing. One of the absolute best.
27 years later and I still get goosebumps
Corked bat 🦇
@@SSNESSlol
1994-97 were some of the best years for Tribe fans.
hell 98 and 99 too
There were THE best years for ANY fans, Tribe fans or otherwise! SO much fun!
I know creators tend to favor footage from the last 15 years or so, but even so, this moment should be in every single 'Loudest Fan Reactions' vid ever made
Talk about a moment - and what a call! They let it breathe just a great moment. No replay, no commentary after, just cheers
When I first became a baseball fan in the mid-90s (I remember it being 1995), I was like 9 years old, and the team I rooted for was the Cleveland Indians. I loved so many of their players, like Omar Vizquel, Jose Mesa, Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome, Albert Belle… the list seems endless. So these old Indians highlights definitely bring back memories for me and makes me miss 90’s baseball.
We were there, it was absolute pandemonium. It's a memory that I will never forget.
Same. Miss those days!
Coming from a life long reds fan I loved watching Belle during the tribe hey day. Make no mistakes about it he was a monster. Good trip down memory lane
I wish I could've been alive to watch the 90s indians. This team looks like it was incredible to watch.
Sway Rizzy They were.
Sway Rizzy ohhh they were!
I'm a Red Sox fan and I was ages 8-10 during that Indians run. But even I remember they were great. Offensively, their lineup was disgusting...
Jesus, they were terrifying. It's astonishing they didn't bludgeon themselves to a title. I was a kid when they were at their peak, but their lineup in '95 had Alomar, Thome, Ramirez, Belle and Lofton. They just never found enough pitching to balance that kind of firepower. (They probably should have traded Manny while they could.)
Jose Mesa cost this team its deserved title in 1997. They were better than the Marlins.
I was kid in NE Ohio during this time. I watched the Indians religiously. I can still recite the entire starting lineup. They are what got me into baseball. These guys and The Sandlot.
Me too. I remember playing wiffle ball with my lil brother in the yard, mimicking the stances of each batter. I even got up to a game in 95 at the Jake. What august memories.
It's still Jacobs Field to me, dammit!
What, you don't like Sprint Oscar Meyer Allstate Chevrolet Trojan 7-Up Field?
*SUPER DRAGON!!*
Always the Jake, Jacobs First forever.
The Jake
Yep Jacob's and Comiskey don't change to us O.Gs
Expert commentator! Once the ball leaves the yard not another word. He allows the audiance to experience the roar of the crowd and the celebration. Full minute of crowd noise.
Nowadays, the silence left by the play-by-play voice would be ruined by the colour commentator dissecting the play with multiple slow-mo angles.
I miss this team so damn bad. I love these guys.
Belle should've won the MVP in 1995, but, the media hated him.
I think the feeling was mutual
In 1998 he put up MVP numbers and finished 8th in voting and didn't even make the all star team. Pretty much everyone hated him,.
That was the year where his house was egged on Halloween and as a means of retaliation (this was three days after the Indians lost the WS in six games), he ran the trick-or-treaters down with his car.
He was an asshole, remember when he threw that ball at that guy for calling him joey? Or when he tried to run over those kids on Halloween? Good times, my favorite player by the way.
@@drewzuhosky6826 just saw this after i posted, lol, it was pretty memorable
Manny rameriz crushed a solo homerun 2 pitches later. Unbelievable and great times in Cleveland!
Albert was incredible. Say what you want about him he was big time. He had an amazing run.
God I miss 90s baseball. There was just a different energy to it and you could follow team players for years. Stadiums were packed to the brim and all the sluggers were on the juice. Good times good times.
Still get goosebumps watching this 24 years later. Go Tribe!
When baseball was crazy thank god I was born in the 80s to watch the 90s
Ray Mendez me too! Baseball was hot in those two eras! Love it!
Ray Scott yea we got to see the Yankees buy 3 in a row and nearly 4 sure was fun
I thank God for that too 😄😄😄🤘🏼
Me 2
Having been born in 1981, I got to witness the dramatic Mets championship run, the Earthquake Series, the dominance of Toronto baseball, the horrible strike that kept Don Mattingly and the '94 Expos from seeing a World Series game, the reemergence of the love of the game courtesy of Cal Ripken, the heartache and heartbeat of NYC after 9/11, the slow downfall of drug users with the Mitchell Report.... my God! I've been blessed and fortunate enough to have seen some great times with my sport! 🇵🇷🇺🇸😊
I loved that team. Esp Kenny Lofton
Crushed it. The most fearsome cleanup hitter in the most fearsome lineup in baseball.
I always admired the Cleveland Indians ... that 90s team was awesome 👌🏻
Elaborate
NEVER have I seen a guy hit a grand slam and still look so pissed off😬😬😬😬
He always looked pissed off - he probably was. He gave you the impression that he'd punch Mother Teresa in the face if she smiled at him. But having said that, compare this to any other relatively meaningless home run today - no bat flip, no showboating - he just put his head down and rounded the bases. Today, anybody who even hits it near the wall has to have something equating a touchdown dance. I'm pretty sure one of the old ESPN commercials mocked that - some guy making a copy and then spiking the paper. All this prima donna crap - just do it like Barry Sanders, as if it's just another day at work. For cripes sake - it IS your job. they act as if it's the only time they've done it. Amateur hour.
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Lol that was definitely Albert 😂
Btw, this was my old account. Still one of favorite moments!!!!!
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I love watching those old espn days watching Albert belle and Frank Thomas smacking home runs
I will never understand how his swing was so quick with that awkward stance. Simply incredible.
Very well said Marvin!
Steroids....lots and lots of steroids
As Lou Pinella used to say about Reggie Jackson, “Superior Athletic Ability.”
He corked his bat. A lighter weight bat has two advantages: 1) hitter can wait a fraction of a second longer to see the pitch, and 2) more bat speed imparts more energy to the struck ball. And you get to have the size and contour you prefer.
Incredibly strong
This was during the era when baseball was fun and the players had swag and personality!
This was a year removed from The Strike.
I know what you're saying, but ...
Why is not funny to watch anymore? I'm from Venezuela and i have been reading this kind of statement recently.
I don't watch baseball anymore, used to in the 90s; how are players different now?
Man I miss the mid 90's Indians. I was a fan from being a kid growing up an hour east of Cleveland in the 70's & finally after all those terrible years we had an awesome team.
How about now???
One of the most intimidating batters ever!
Best lineup of all time. Number 2...99 Indians.
Jon Miller is the best. His voice was baseball.
Wow, so true! Especially playoff baseball, he set the mood, and game 1 felt as meaningful as game 7.
Then he got paired with Joe Morgan and he really took Jon Miller down. They were unwatchable the final few seasons on the air.
@@DavidBrielmaier yeah unfortunately Joe Morgan was not a good broadcaster at all
Vin Scully is the voice of baseball
Nah mate ... matt Underwood
Getting the chills in 2018 over here... Albert was a f'in BOSSSS
Remember it like it was yesterday. Still get chills watching it.
The roar when he hits it...unforgettable!
Life long Orioles fan here. Armando Benitez was such an under rated closer. Dude could bring the heat and alot of othe players DID NOTwant that smoke from Armando! Kinda funny too that a few years later Belle would play a season or two with the Orioles.
When Albert Belle used to come to the plate, you could feel the tension between him and whoever was pitching. One of the most dangerous hitters I've seen.
Ha. That 'tension' was... the pitcher being scared shitless, and Belle KNOWING he was going to hit a home run! 💯
Armando Benitez blowing the game in a big spot. A common theme in the 90s
Man I miss that team... almost the entire starting lineup were all-stars. Should have won at least one World Series...
Set aside his personality, statistically, Albert Belle should have been the AL MVP in both '95 and '96. Indians won 100 and 99 games those seasons, and he was the centerpiece of some of the greatest offensive lineups in baseball history. Incredible, HOF worthy talent whose temperament and a career-ending injury will likely prevent his entry.
The Mid/Late 1990's era Cleveland is IMO was MLB version of the NFL's San Diego Chargers of the early 1980's. Led By Quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, those Bolts is still considered by many to having one of the best offenses in league history. Yet they only managed to reach 2 straight Conference Finals. In a nutshell, this Tribe team is baseball version of the 1980-1981 San Diego Chargers.
The only reason why Belle isn’t in the HOF it’s cause of his attitude that’s it
His numbers are ungodly
@Kurt Lamprecht Dude the mainstream talk shows on espn, Fox Sports etc cross reference sports all the time. If you don't like my comments no offense so what. Have a nice day.
I’m a Sox fan N there’s NO WAY Mo Vaughn deserved the mop over belle lol. He got robbed. He also ran down two kids with his car cuz they egged his house. Lol. He seems to have changed a lot now though.
Exactly...
Went to see Nolan Ryan's last game at Municipal Stadium in '93. They were all there. Lofton, Vizquel, Baerga, Belle, Whitten, Thome, S.Alomar and Sorrento. They chased Ryan in the 5th, but lost. Juan Gonzalez hit 2 hrs. I turned to my son and said, "These guys are going to the World Series in a couple/three years. They need pitching, though." Sure enough they did. Only to face 3 HOF starters in '95. Those 90s Indians teams were crazy good.
Indians baseball during the 90's will never be duplicated. The lineup was murder on opposing pitching.
Still couldn't get it done when it matter the most.
Same with Orioles teams from 90's
Needed another starting pitcher
@@waynewalton8798 you mean like Jim Harbaugh can’t?
I was at that game. I’m afraid nothing will match the Indians of the 90s. Exciting baseball!Too bad they couldn’t bring us a WS victory. We’re a shadow of what we were, but I’ll always be a fan. GO TRIBE
Only player ever with 50 HR's and 50 doubles in same season
And Moe Vaughn won MVP not Belle. What?
It was also a strike shortened season!
Ya let see mike trout fuckin do that. NEVER!
@t- milt thanks
@t- milt against the people who overhype him.
Amazing video. Fantastic broadcast. Jon Miller is an exceptional broadcaster.
One of the greatest homerun hitters in the history of the game. If it weren't for his back injury, Albert Belle would have likely been in the top 5 on the all-time homerun list. An absolute beast with incredible intensity and love for baseball.
You can tell this is an old video because we don’t get to see it 3-4 times in slo mo and from different angles.
Ahh the memories. I miss the 90s
You're telling me.
I feel like everytime I browse youtube I end up going down nostalgia lane.
Nice to have the entire at-bat...it really captures the feel of the moment..❤😊
The best of the best in the 90's, Cleveland Indians own Albert Belle. This guy should be in the hall of fame.
I agree. I am still waiting for Albert Belle to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame. he deserves it. he was the best!
He was an awesome hitter but his violent temper and his contempt of the media have tarnished his legacy hurting his chances of ever getting enshrined in Cooperstown.
Nestor Medina he’s a sack of shit cheater. He’ll never be in
He pissed off so many reporters and writers it wasn't ever happening,plus he retired at 33...Also in 1995 he hit .317 50 hr and 126 rbis and finished 2nd in mvp voting and 1996 he hit .311 48 hr and 148 rbis and finished 3rd in mvp voting..the writers hated him lol.
@@telephonic Still pissed Milkdud Vaughn beat him out in '95, then went on to go 0-20 alongside Canseco vs Cleveland in the playoffs.
Extremely under rated call by this announcer. Exceptional job. Gave me goose bumbs
No stadium in baseball was ever as loud as the jake in 95 96 and 97
Best childhood memories and that sticks out as one of them
That was until Rajai Davis hit that game tying HR. You would have thought there was an earthquake at Cleveland.
Talking B.S. Show What about the old Yankee Stadium?
3:58 the most beautiful sound in sports. Shit gets me emotional.
Yankee Stadium from 96-03
I love Albert Belle. A no-nonsense baseball player. He let his bat do the talking.
@Kurt Lamprecht you don't have the career he had, by simply corking the bat.
@@UberKrispy helps to hit grand slams though
My baseball card said "Joey Belle".
There is no better sound than the click of a perfectly hit baseball. I miss baseball - post coming from COVID 2020, is there still a world in the future?
Albert Bell an unapologetic beast
Star they can say the same about yo momma you racist pig!!
What did he need to apologize for? The media never gave him credit because he wouldn't kiss their asses.
RUclips recommended this video in 2020. DAmn that ball still traveling till this day
I miss 90's baseball. I used to love going to Winter Haven Fl. to see them during Spring training.
When the Indians saved baseball.. As an A’s fan, I’ll never forget that team.
The Indians saved baseball? They couldn’t beat the Braves and they should have beaten the Marlins.
@@marksolomon4248But they had not previously even been in the post-season since the 50's...that was the save!
A sports moment in time I will never forget.
Look at Albert's face a few seconds before he crushes this ball, he was like, I'm gonna rip this ball to shreds on this pitch......and he does. Incredible.
That Albert Bell stare!! God I miss that look.
@@JW-dy8ru eieee
I know these 90s Tribe teams were known for they're power bats.... but they also had good defensive players! I loved Omar Vizquel he always made the tough plays look routine and I was a big fan of Kenny Lofton as well
They had no pitching
@@JP-ur9zp Lead the AL in ERA in 1995.
Thats absurd. They led the AL in ERA and their closer saved like 46 games in a row. What are you talking about?@@JP-ur9zp
That stadium was electric in the 90s. Everytime you went to a game you knew anything was possible greatest lineup next to murderers row.
Are you talking about Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Jose Conseco, Mark Mcgwire, Dave Parker, and Don Baylor, murderers in a row
@@alphabeta4028 1929 Yankees
Best video all time. Reaction of pitcher and Baltimore's coach is priceless.
I remember this like it was yesterday, Amazing.
The Jake was rock'in back in those days
it was great. a cathedral to baseball
Alberto Belle has a tremendous amount of strength for a short quick swing
I love watching that! The look of determination in his face! The crowd going nuts! & then the look of sheer disappointment on the Orioles coach! This was awesome baseball!
What a wonderful time to be a Cleveland Indians’ fan! Craig
It’s a shame that Belle is remember more for his volatility than his bat. He was a fearsome hitter.
He was like Richie Allen of the Phillies in the 60's a monster bat but cancer in the dugout or locker room
The build up and situation was intense and Albert unloads and hits a missile for a grand slam. Gotta love baseball. Great video
this dude was one hell of a hitter...
Darkkefka And mean as a junkyard dog
It's too bad he fell apart when he got to Baltimore.
It seems the Orioles stink at signing big free agents.
EDIT: Nevermind. Belle had solid numbers until the end of his career. I remembered (incorrectly obviously) that Belle was a hindrance on the Orioles, but I guess that was due to him having to be on the 40 man roster for 3 years after he retired so the Orioles could recoup their losses from his contract with their insurance.
Also, I had no idea that Jason Grimsley played John Mcclane and crawled through the ceiling to swap out Belle's corked bat and got the police and almost the FBI involved. Crazy. 😂
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This guy was incredible in his prime. Definitely my favorite player as a kid on those amazing teams. Broke my heart when he went to the Chicago
Hitting almost 100 HR in two seasons is just insane
Ballplayer! Belle whacks it out, drops the bat, rounds the bases kapow. Today there'd be bat tosses,chest thumps, and who knows what. Class act. Love that logo too
Just look at how incredibly nervous Benitez looks compared to Belle. Belle just stares him down like a cold-blooded killer, steps out and takes a few quick practice swings and never seems flustered. Every time Belle steps out of the box Benitez gets more and more rattled, and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Belle noticed that and was stepping out so much on purpose. Belle was an incredibly smart hitter and absolutely would have realized Benitez was getting more and more unsettled. Look at how much Benitez is fidgeting from 3:33 on. The guy is an absolute wreck and Belle was staring him down like a fucking lion stalking a wounded gazelle. It's awesome to watch.
Alex S The Indians still lost this series
Joeys Bestfriend--How... in the fuck.. does that have anything to do with this scenario? How? Does it?
Alex S I always felt bad for Armando Benitez. He was a highly emotional player which is great for TV and we need more of. But guys would mess with him and use his his emotions to their advantage like Belle did here. This is one of the biggest problems with sports today, they need divas to sell themselves but the sports are set up for grinders to succeed. Not that Albert Belle was not a diva, but he was a man, whereas Benitez was a child. I feel like sports need to be setup for more childish players to succeed because they generate more headlines. Really all business should operate this way, all publicity is good publicity. Case in point: Benitez’ epic fight with the Yankees that spilled into the dugout is one of MLB’s most watched YT vids despite being over 20 years old
Benitez at no time looks nervous here. Belle had the advantage of knowing he'd see nothing but heat. He irritated Benitez by stepping out, that's all. So bat corked and arms steroid laced, he took another mighty cut and creamed it.
Benitez would get rattled when anything was on the line, he is the Anti-Mariano.
albert had crazy numbers in his 12 years. if he got to play 19-20 years he might have ended up the all time leader in a few categories
Clutch Belle!!! Wow what a powerful hit!!
He and Thome were a lethal back to back combo, like Ruth and Gehrig or Aaron and Mathews.
This was an unforgettable home run ever by that man, Albert Belle!
Albert Belle had an awesome persona. I don't think I ever saw the guy smile until long after his career. Dude was a badass and an intense competitor. A guy I'd love to have played with.
Still can't believe that team never won the world series. There offense was right up there with murders row. Every position was an all-star and anyone could hit a homerun at anytime. That 90's to early 2000's Run was one of the best ever in MLB history. Wasn't fair they couldn't break the Colavito curse.
J Kazbone. It was their lack of having a closer was the main reason those Mid/late 90's offensive powerhouse Tribe clubs did not win the world series IMO. If the Tribe had a Mariano Rivera or even Trevor Hoffman type closer instead of descent but not great Jose Mesa, they might have won as many as 2-3 world series. The Mariners of that same era appx. 1995-2001 was a west coast of the Tribe. Great offense teams but lacking a closer costed those 2 clubs championships.
Great example was losing Game 7 of the 1997 world series. Cleveland was slightly better overall (other than bullpen) against that also very good Miami Marlin team. However sorry to be blunt but Mesa blew a world title in '97 for the Tribe. Always been surprised Mr. Mesa has not been a permanent "goat" as say Mitch Williams was for the Phillies in losing the 1993 world series.
They had Jackson tho but thier dumb ass coach still had meza as the closer because at the end of the season meza was doing great but I still would not have trusted him..I would of used Meza in the 8th and Jackson in the 9th..or just use jackson in the 8th n 9th@@americangiant1003
I still often find myself wondering how the 94 season would have played out if the strike never happened. We could have seen the Indians at least get to the WS that year as well, And a 94 ALCS between Cleveland and Seattle would have been something to see as well. One can easily argue 1994 was the best season of Griffey's career, and the form he was in that year very well could have lead to him breaking Roger Maris' record.
I blame Omar as much as Mesa for the WS loss in ‘97. If Vizquel lays down the sac bunt we get an insurance run. Still Mesa could have not folded
I was at that game, and you knew at the 3:31 mark he was hitting a Grand Slam! Everybody just knew. That's the season and team the Indians had at that time! Jacob's Field was THE place to be, in the entire country, for ANYTHING! Those Indians were unlike anything with the sellouts and come from behind and extra inning wins!
Benitez shaking in his boots at 3:35! 🤣
Belle was a bad ass
Joey Belle always look stone cold face, no expression at all, hit for an average and power.
Tyler Pallotta Jim Tome’ wasn’t playing for the Indians yet as their first baseman was Paul Sorrento. Even Lofton home run pop from the lead off spot.
He was a jackass.
@@Pwnzistor An insult to "jackasses" everywhere...
He just missed a few, and unloaded. What a blast. Great video
Belle preferred to have the clubhouse cold, below 60 degrees, and when one chilly teammate turned up the heat, Belle walked over, turned down the thermostat and smashed it with his bat. His nickname, thereafter, was "Mr. Freeze."[