Classic Guards

A countdown of the greatest games in Cleveland baseball history

Classic Guards counts down the 50 greatest Cleveland baseball games, from wild ninth-inning comebacks to dazzling pitching performances to spellbinding playoff encounters. The storied history of Cleveland’s endearing baseball franchise is sprinkled throughout these tales, from weekday matinees at cozy League Park at the dawn of the 20th century to unforgettable autumn nights at Progressive Field. This updated, revised edition of Classic Tribe highlights the team’s achievements over the past 17 years and discusses their bold name change and rebranding.

Jonathan Knight ranks World Series masterpieces alongside incredible individual performances and historic achievements: two perfect games 73 years apart, the most memorable of the 1954 team’s record 111 victories, and the greatest comeback in baseball history. Included in these pages are the heroics of Cleveland legends like Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, Rocky Colavito, Omar Vizquel, and José Ramírez, to name just a few. Whether played on a balmy summer night on the lakefront or on a golden October afternoon at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, each game included in Classic Guards is worth remembering and revisiting.