NEW YORK — On the morning of Game 5 of the ALDS, a coach for the Cleveland Guardians sat in the dugout, reflecting on the journey that led them here.
He considered the rookies who had joined the lineup and the starting pitchers who spent the summer far from Cleveland. While he had faith in the team’s potential during spring training, he wondered if that confidence would have faltered had he foreseen the challenges that lay ahead.
Even when convinced you have the answers, the journey of a baseball season remains unpredictable.
The Guardians have made a remarkable ascent to the ALCS, becoming one of the four teams still vying for the World Series trophy. This thrilling journey holds great significance for a fan base that has awaited a World Series title for 76 long years.
As Peter K. aptly expressed: “Some argue that sports and the teams we support are akin to matters of life and death, and I assure anyone who identifies with Cleveland that it is far more meaningful than that.”
In July, both of my grandfathers passed away within weeks of each other, and our family summer was shaped by those losses. Both men had distinct relationships with baseball: Grandpa Bob, a lifelong Cleveland boy, cherished the game from birth, while Lolo grew to love it after immigrating from the Philippines in 1980. I wish both could have witnessed a World Series, but fate had other intentions.
We buried Grandpa Bob wearing a Block C cap, placing a Louisville Slugger in his coffin. He adored baseball throughout his 96 years. Although Lolo wasn’t immersed in baseball in the Philippines, he embraced it once he settled in Cleveland, developing a passion for the local team.
Fast forward months later, the Guardians are participating in October baseball, reminding me that even through the fog of grief, joy can still emerge.
Before losing his ability to speak, Lolo would often inquire about the Guardians: “Did we win?” A yes would bring a smile; a no would elicit a simple, “Bah. Next time.” Lolo was a man of faith, his hope extending to Cleveland baseball as well. Next time. There’s always a next time. Although Lolo won’t be present to witness it, we are all hoping that the next time is now, for his sake and for Grandpa Bob’s.
— Katie A.
Last year, Jose Ramirez hit a grand slam that won me a Ford Bronco (during the Grand Slam Giveaway inning). Since then, I’ve attended three games.
then.
May 4, 2024: Bo Naylor hit a grand slam that secured victory over the Angels.
Oct. 10, 2024: In Game 4, I drove to Detroit in the luck-bringing Bronco. You know what happened next.
Oct. 12, 2024: The Bronco rolled back into Cleveland, and once again, the good luck charm worked.
A World Series victory would mean everything to me. My passion for the team originates from both sides of my family. My maternal grandfather was a dedicated season ticket holder for many years; despite his inability to attend games anymore, he has never missed a game in his lifetime. My paternal grandfather, who passed away just a few months ago, watched games right up until his last moments.
Not only would winning the Series bring immense joy to my life, but it would complete an indescribable cycle of fandom, knowing that the team my grandparents instilled in me to love has finally triumphed.
— Matt G.
I’ve been a devoted fan from the very beginning. I still have school projects from first grade featuring Jim Thome and Charles Nagy. In 2016, I attended every playoff game in Cleveland. My last-row, literal nosebleed-seat tickets from Game 7 are proudly framed. Before moving away, I got a Guardian of Transportation tattooed on my right arm, long before I knew it would represent my favorite team.
This team took on even more significance for me in 2022 when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Following six chemotherapy cycles, I’ve been cancer-free since August of that year. Throughout my treatment, I continued working as a surgery resident to maintain my sanity, often reflecting on how Carlos Carrasco persevered during his battle with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2019.
For Game 5 of the ALDS, I was post-call after a grueling 24-hour trauma shift, running on just three hours of sleep having been awake for the previous 28. When Lane Thomas hit his grand slam, I screamed so loudly that I feared a noise complaint. I cried tears of joy at their victory and eagerly anticipate watching them face off against New York. Surely, one of these years has to be ours.
— Alex M.
Fifteen years ago, I relocated from Cleveland to rural Chile with my husband. I didn’t know the language and had never lived in a rural community before, yet I decided to embrace the change—with one condition. If Cleveland made it to the World Series, I would return home for it.
In 2016, I stood outside our house, surrounded by hills, sheep, and not much else, waving my phone in an effort to maintain an internet connection, which permitted us to hear the end of the ALCS against Toronto. My husband and I jumped and shouted, with my 3-year-old asking, “Why are you guys screaming?!”
“I’m going to Cleveland!” I replied.
That journey was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, culminating in my standing in the plaza outside the ballpark for Game 7, listening to Tom Hamilton narrate Rajai Davis’ home run and feeling the ground literally shake beneath me as thousands jumped with joy—followed by enduring the painful (and dry) rain delay that led to familiar heartache.
This is undoubtedly the closest we’ve been to the World Series since 2016, and I’m exploring ways to return to Cleveland. I hold onto hope. My 3-year-old is now 11 (and has a little brother) and they are both thrilled about playoff baseball. Here we are, a literal world away, nurturing the next generation of Guards fans, hoping to bring all the World Series excitement to our little corner if we cannot bring our corner there.
— Stefanie P.
Supporting an underdog team from an underdog state, dealing with day games that should be night games, enduring countless doubleheaders, overlooked All-Stars, a meager payroll, Tommy John surgeries, untested rookies, and an unproven manager—Cleveland is often counted out far more than counted in.
In 1992, I attended my first game with my father at the old stadium. I have revered Herb Score and reveled in Tom Hamilton’s poetic commentary. I have been a Cleveland fan since birth, and I will remain a Cleveland fan until the end of my days.
Baseball means more to me now than it did as a child. After losing my father to COVID in 2022, I feel his presence profoundly during the final out of every game I watch.
It felt like flipping through a photo album.
Hope looms on the horizon. We remain steadfast. It will arrive soon.
— Angela P.
While the Guardians play their morning games here in Australia, I’ve developed a routine over the last several months: an early morning run accompanied by the broadcasts from Tom Hamilton. This past Saturday marked the Melbourne marathon I had been training for, and just as I was reaching the venue, Lane launched his grand slam. What a beautifully poetic moment.
— Matthew S.
Late in 2023, we received the devastating news that my mom had Stage 4 colon cancer and approximately six months left to live. We spent our last Christmas and New Year’s together, as well as my 40th birthday. On March 27, the day before Opening Day, she passed away. My mom introduced me to baseball in 1994 when I was just 10. After every game, we would call each other to share our love for the team and vent our frustrations. Ever since, I have been convinced that if we make it to the World Series, it’s her up there negotiating with the baseball gods, giving the Guardians a bit of luck. She never witnessed them win it during her lifetime, but I am certain she will make it happen for me.
— Jennifer B.
This weekend, a longtime friend traveled from out of state, and Saturday turned out to be the only chance we had to reignite our old Cedar Point tradition. Luckily, while waiting in a 2.5-hour line for Steel Vengeance, I found the perfect opportunity to catch Game 5 on my phone. At the Sandusky battleground, we heard some sporadic cheers for the Tigers, but they paled in comparison to our excitement during Lane’s unforgettable moment.
That turned out to be the fastest and most enjoyable 150-minute wait for a roller coaster imaginable.
— Adam B.
My father passed away unexpectedly in 1998 when I was just 10 and he was 45. He never got the chance to see a World Series title. I continue to watch every game I can and follow this team more passionately than anyone I know, including friends still living in Cleveland. I believe it helps me feel connected to my dad.
Now, I have a 6-year-old son who is a fan of both the Guardians and the Phillies. It reminds me of being 7 years old during that 1995 run with my dad. All I hope for is to witness one World Series title in my lifetime, ideally alongside my son. In 2017, we discovered my wife was pregnant during the 22-game winning streak. I saw that as a sign.
— Dan
I.
This season, I purchased two tickets with the hope of attending some games with my wife, while also taking my 13-year-old twins to others, and then my 10-year-old daughter whenever she felt like joining us. What I didn’t foresee was my 10-year-old daughter’s enthusiasm to attend every game and stay for each pitch, while her older siblings showed little interest. If you find yourself in left field near the foul pole, you’ll spot my daughter keeping score, munching on her M&M’s, and making me beam with pride as she simply wants to spend time with me. I now understand how my dad felt when he took me to the old Municipal Stadium at her age.
— Jon E.
My grandfather was an ardent Guardians fan, and he passed away in January. He witnessed their last World Series victory in 1948. I believe my grandma still tunes in to the games as a way to feel connected to him.
My dad, now in his mid-60s, has yet to experience a championship win. He persevered through the tough years, remaining loyal to his team, even in the most dire situations. I will always remember Game 7 in 1997. My dad woke me up, eager to watch what he believed would be the moment they finally triumphed. But, alas, our dreams were dashed.
I often tell my wife how much I yearn to see the Guardians secure a win — not just for myself, but especially for my dad. And now, with a young son of my own, I picture the three of us together as we watch them finally complete the task. My grandma will be there too, as we all honor my grandfather’s memory.
— Patrick P.
This season has been particularly meaningful as my wife and I welcomed our first child, Mattimeo, at the start of July. The first game we watched together on the couch resulted in a victory. We’ve been selecting Guardians gear for every playoff game, making it a dream come true (with hopes of a World Series title soon, of course).
— Carson M.
As the postseason approached, I envisioned attending a playoff game at a bustling Progressive Field with my dad, the man who introduced me to this team. However, a month ago, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma, marking his fourth battle with cancer. He is now concentrating on a far more significant struggle. We won’t be able to attend a game in person given his compromised immune system, but we’ve been watching every postseason game from home together. I’ll always remember the embrace we shared after Lane Thomas hit that grand slam. It has already been quite a journey. I often daydream about how wonderful it would be to witness them win the World Series, to have that experience together just once. A deep run in October would mean so much more this time around.
— Paul C.
I attended ten games with my mom during the regular season. We live next to each other in Tremont and have a tradition of arriving at the game thirty minutes before the first pitch, taking scooters from the lookout point near the Cleveland sign, and walking back across Hope Memorial Bridge.
The Lane Thomas grand slam brought back fond memories. Seven years ago, my mom and I were at Game 2 of the ALDS when Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam against the Yankees. Fast forward seven years, and my dad and I witnessed another grand slam, feeling that familiar thrill: the impossible had occurred, and we were destined to win.
Baseball is not only about the grand moments but also about the little ones, like savoring the experience of cheering for your favorite team with those you love. That’s why we keep coming back.
— Alex K.
We unexpectedly lost my dad in February. At times, I look back at our final texts, which captured my 2-year-old son, his grandson, hitting off a tee for the first time. The last game we attended together was Game 2 of the 2017 ALDS against the Yankees, when Francisco Lindor’s grand slam hit the right-field foul pole. During my grieving process, I couldn’t think of a better way to find solace than traveling from Florida to Cleveland for Opening Day. I wanted to scatter some of my father’s ashes at Progressive Field. My wife instructed me to check the scoreboard after the fourth inning, and I saw “THIS SEASON IS FOR YOU, BERT. IN MEMORY OF KENNY ‘BERT’ REED.” That moment has stayed with me every day throughout this incredible season. The outcome remains uncertain, but I can’t help…
It feels as though he has been part of our journey all along. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to witness them triumph over the Yankees, just as they did in our last game seven years ago?
— Mike R.
One of my father’s cherished memories dates back to 1966 when he attended a game at Cleveland Stadium, watching Rocky Colavito secure a 3-3 tie against the Yankees during a doubleheader. Although that was the last game he experienced live, the team remained forever in his heart.
My dad switched off the TV the instant Edgar Renteria’s line drive ricocheted off Charles Nagy’s glove in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7 in 1997. He insists to this day that he never witnessed the ball hit the ground.
It has been 58 years since my dad last saw a Cleveland game in person. That streak (fingers crossed) is set to end this Saturday when he, my brother, and I attend ALCS Game 5 together. While he still believes he hasn’t seen that ’97 ball touch the ground, I hope on Saturday he sees plenty of hits and home runs from Guardians players.
— A.J. K.
My father was born on September 16, 1948, just weeks prior to our last World Series victory. He passed away in 2022 without witnessing another. Ten months later, my younger brother, Tom Jr., tragically lost his life to a brain tumor at the age of 43.
During the ’80s, Dad would take us to games in Cleveland, thanks to a Marathon gas promotion offering free tickets with a fill-up. This season has been so remarkable that I made the 1,000-mile journey to attend my first game at Progressive Field in a decade.
Fast forward to Saturday. Just days earlier, I discovered from David Fry that Lane Thomas goes by the nickname “Tommy,” the name we affectionately called my brother, particularly after he left us. While at my mother’s house, I found myself on the edge of my seat as they loaded the bases. I glanced at the box containing his ashes and half-jokingly said, “Get us a hit, Tommy.” Lane Thomas stepped up to the plate, and the very next pitch resulted in a grand slam for the ages.
In my lifetime, I have never desired a team to win it all more than I do right now. If it’s at all possible, I am certain Tommy will be there to help us — both of them.
— Shelly M.
(Top photo of Stephen Vogt celebrating the Guardians’ ALDS Game 5 win: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
Overcoming Adversity: The Cleveland Guardians’ Remarkable Journey to the ALCS and Its Impact on a Grieving Fanbase
The Resilience of the Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians have demonstrated extraordinary resilience throughout the 2024 season, culminating in their remarkable run to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). This journey is not just a testament to their athletic prowess, but also a beacon of hope for a fanbase that has faced significant emotional challenges.
Facing Challenges Head-On
From injuries to unexpected losses, the Guardians faced a myriad of obstacles this season. Key players were sidelined, creating a sense of uncertainty. However, the team’s ability to adapt and regroup showcased their tenacity.
- Injury Management: The Guardians lost several star players early in the season, including their ace pitcher. The management’s strategic decisions in handling these injuries were crucial.
- Rookie Contributions: New players stepped up, showcasing the depth of the roster. This not only boosted team morale but also built a stronger connection with the fans.
- Strategic Gameplay: Manager Terry Francona’s leadership was pivotal. His ability to make quick adjustments during games kept the team competitive.
The Emotional Connection with Fans
The journey to the ALCS resonates deeply with the Guardians’ fanbase, many of whom are navigating personal grief and loss. The team’s achievements have provided a much-needed source of joy and distraction.
Community and Support
As the Guardians advanced in the playoffs, the community rallied around them. Local businesses offered promotions, and fans organized watch parties, fostering a sense of unity.
- Watch Parties: Many local bars and restaurants hosted gatherings, allowing fans to come together and share their love for the team.
- Memorial Events: The Guardians organized events to honor lost loved ones, creating a space for fans to grieve together while celebrating their team.
- Social Media Engagement: The team’s active engagement on social media allowed fans to share their stories, creating a deeper emotional bond.
A Season of Hope and Inspiration
Impact on Mental Health
The Guardians’ journey has had a significant impact on the mental health of their fans. Sports often serve as an outlet for emotions, and this season was no exception.
| Positive Effects | Ways to Engage |
|---|---|
| Increased Community Support | Join local fan clubs |
| Enhanced Emotional Well-being | Attend games together |
| Stronger Connections | Create online forums for discussion |
Case Study: The Guardians’ Effect on Local Mental Health
Several local mental health organizations reported an uptick in community engagement during the playoffs. They noted that many fans attributed their improved mood to the success of the Guardians, reinforcing the connection between sports and mental well-being.
The Guardians’ ALCS Journey
The road to the ALCS was marked by thrilling victories and unforgettable moments. Each game brought a mix of excitement and anxiety, capturing the hearts of fans across the region.
Key Playoff Highlights
- First Round Success: The Guardians swept their first-round opponent, demonstrating their strength and synergy as a team.
- Crucial Game Winning Moments: Late-inning heroics from players solidified their status as clutch performers.
- Fan Engagement: The stadium was a sea of blue and red, with fans creating an electrifying atmosphere during home games.
Lessons in Perseverance
Building a Winning Mindset
The Guardians’ journey teaches valuable lessons about perseverance and the importance of a positive mindset. By focusing on teamwork and resilience, they have not only inspired their fans but have also set an example for other teams.
- Focus on the Process: Rather than solely on outcomes, the team emphasized the importance of improving each day.
- Embrace Each Challenge: Every setback was viewed as an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Community Matters: Engaging with fans and being active in the community built a supportive environment.
Looking Ahead: Future Impact on the Fanbase
The Guardians’ success in the ALCS is likely to have long-lasting effects on their fanbase. As the team continues to grow and evolve, so too will the emotional ties that fans have built over this remarkable season.
Anticipating the Next Season
With the momentum gained this year, fans are excited about what lies ahead:
- Increased Attendance: Fans are more likely to attend games, fostering a stronger community.
- Merchandise Sales: Sales of Guardians gear have surged, as fans proudly display their support.
- Long-Term Engagement: The team’s outreach programs are expected to expand, further connecting with the community.
First-Hand Experience from a Passionate Fan
One dedicated fan shared their experience: “This season has been a rollercoaster. The Guardians not only brought us closer as a family but also gave us something to look forward to amidst our struggles. Every game felt like a celebration of hope.”
This sentiment echoes the feelings of many in the fanbase, highlighting the profound impact that sports can have during challenging times.
