Heritage Park to add new members to Hall of Fame
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published March 28, 2007

The Cleveland Indians established a Hall of Fame in 1951 to recognize individuals who made a significant impact during their career with the team. 

The criteria for induction includes having been active in an Indians uniform for at least three seasons and retired for one full year. Thus far there are only 31 Tribe greats who are members of that Hall of Fame, including Cy Young, Bob Lemon, Rocky Colavito and Tris Speaker.

In 2007, those members of the Hall of Fame will be forever recognized in the brand new Heritage Park, which will debut on Opening Day, vs. Seattle on April 6.

“The main reason we decided to create Heritage Park was first to preserve history,” said Fairview Park resident and Manager of Communications and Creative Services Curtis Danburg. “We also wanted to honor excellence and connect generations, and before the park, there was nothing in the ballpark along that element.”

This week, the Indians announced that the organization will induct four more former Tribe greats into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 11 prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the hated  New York Yankees at Jacobs Field, which will be the highlight of the club’s Hall of Fame Heritage Weekend August 10-12. 

The Class of 2007 consists of Andre Thornton, who still resides in the Cleveland area, Charles Nagy, along with Jim Bagby Sr. and Mike Garcia, both of whom are deceased. 

Nagy was a fan favorite of the Indians from 1990 to 2002, when he helped the team to six Central Division titles and two trips to the World Series.

 “Having played the majority of my career in an Indians uniform I’m very aware of the organization’s rich history, which makes this honor so very special to me and my family,” said Nagy, now a pitching coach for the Angels AAA team. “Upon hearing the news, I immediately thought of how fortunate I was to play alongside great teammates and in front of such passionate baseball fans.  I am truly honored.”

A member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team and first-round draft pick, “Charlie” became a three-time American League All-Star. He was Cleveland’s most consistent starter, posting a 129-103 record,  along with 1,242 strikeouts.

Thornton, one of the Indians’ great sluggers, “Thunder” provided consistent offense for a decade. The two-time All-Star totaled 214 homers, 419 extra-base hits, 1,954 total bases and 749 RBIs in a Tribe uniform. He is best remembered for hitting for the cycle at Boston’s Fenway Park on April 22, 1978. A man of deep faith, Andre was the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award for playing excellence and exemplary community service in 1979.

“Being named to the Indians Hall of Fame means a great deal to me,” said the former Tribe 1B/DH Thornton. “It is an incredible honor to be a player that performed well enough to be selected as a member to join such an elite group.”

Jim Bagby Sr. and Mike Garcia will both be inducted posthumously during the pregame ceremony on Aug. 11.

Bagby, or “Sarge” as he was fondly referred to, went 122-85 with 131 complete games for Cleveland, including 23-13 with a 1.96 ERA in 1917. His “fadeaway pitch” found fame with  an astounding 31-12 record to help the Indians win their first World Series. He was the first pitcher to hit a World Series homer — a three-run shot to the centerfield  bleachers at League Park that helped beat Brooklyn, 8-1, in Game 5.

Garcia, “The Big Bear,” had a 142-96 record for Cleveland as he joined Hall of Famers Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn in the Indians’ famed “Big Four” rotation. 

A three-time All-Star (1952-54), he twice led the American League in ERA (2.36 as a rookie in 1949 and 2.64 in 1954 as Cleveland won 111 games and  the AL pennant). From 1951 through 1954, he was 79-41 with a 2.84 ERA. 

The Indians Hall of Fame are picked by a group of baseball historians, according to Danburg.