Cleveland Indians Record Win Streak Comes to an End

On September 15, the Cleveland Indians ended their record-breaking 22 game win streak, beating out the 1935 Cubs for the longest win streak in eight decades. 4th Grade teacher Miriam Pickus is very excited about the streak. “This would be a big accomplishment,” Pickus said, “even if they were seen as the biggest team in baseball.”

Indians manager Terry Francona used to coach under Cubs general manager Theo Epstein when the two of them worked in the Boston Red Sox organization. So maybe there’s a little irony in the Cubs beating the Indians last year in the World Series–but now the Indians are flourishing and the Cubs are the ones struggling to stay in the playoff race.

But maybe the most interesting fact about this streak is that in July, the Indians were projected to barely edge out the “upstart” Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals in their division. Yet the Indians have managed to make everyone forget about those odds–they are currently leading the Twins, who are struggling to keep the AL’s final wild-card spot, by a total of 14 games.

Among those leading the team is Jose Ramirez, who has a batting average of .388 with a .910 slugging percentage, as well as eight home runs, nine doubles, and 16 RBIs. Francisco Lindor has managed to hit .370 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs. Throughout the 22 games, neither made a single error, and the Indians outscored their opponents by over 100 runs.  

While the 23rd game, against the Kansas City Royals, brought an end to an incredibly rare streak, it doesn’t discredit their amazing achievement–one which may stand for years to come.