Friday Flashback: 1994


2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the Indians terrific ballpark. Opened as Jacobs Field -- and named for the club's then-owners -- the stadium was a variation on the Camden Yards formula. Not as retro, but similarly fan-friendly and snug.

Good sightlines and plenty of amenities in a baseball-only setting. The only thing wrong was the weather. Between Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, we went to three "openings" and saw two full games. June 24-26th in Cleveland is still the rainy season and not yet summer.

The stadium was certainly the draw -- coinciding with Indians becoming a contender. With young stars like Manny Ramirez, the Indians went 66 - 47 in the AL Central. The following year, Cleveland would be back in the World Series for the first time since 1948.

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