Cleveland Guardians Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio began his story about Carlos Baerga – who became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same inning – by setting the scene.
“It was the seventh inning. April 8, 19-”
He paused, trying to recall the year. Before he had more than a moment to think, Baerga quickly chimed in, “1993.”
Baerga didn’t need to search his mind long for dates or certain memories. Practically everything from his time as a hot-hitting second baseman for the team then called Indians flowed out of him effortlessly as he and DiBiasio spoke to about 100 people at the Temple Emanu El’s 35th annual Sports Night on July 17 at the synagogue in Orange.
“It’s very important to be out at events like this,” Baerga told the Cleveland Jewish News. “We are blessed by these fans. Every time we stepped on the field, we did it for them. For them to show up to an event like this says a lot. It’s beautiful that people still remember and love us.”
DiBiasio served as an MC of sorts as the two spoke for about an hour in the temple’s sanctuary following a dinner and raffle prize giveaways like bobbleheads and jerseys donated by the Guardians, Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns. DiBiasio has been with the team since 1979, so he had plenty of stories to tell of characters he encountered over the decades. And while he shared a few anecdotes, he often let Baerga do the talking.
“The Guardians have always treated us great and have sent some great speakers to us,” Len Gold, vice president of programming for Temple Emanu El Brotherhood told the CJN. “Bobby D. has some great stories, and to add Carlos to the program was incredible. We could probably be here for another two hours talking. We had almost 100 people here. To do this in the middle of summer and get this kind of response is awesome.”
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Carlos Baerga, who played for the then-Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 1996 and again in 1999, tells a tale from his playing days.
Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio looks out at a crowd of baseball fanatics attending the Temple Emanu El’s Sports Night in Orange.
Carlos Baerga and Bob DiBiasio are introduced by Len Gold, the vice president of programming for Temple Emanu El Brotherhood, for the temple’s Sports Night in Orange.
Stan Wendzicki and Archie Doud
Michelle and Seth Bailin, 8
Carlos Baerga, who played for the then-Cleveland Indians from 1990 to 1996 and again in 1999, tells a tale from his playing days.
Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio looks out at a crowd of baseball fanatics attending the Temple Emanu El’s Sports Night in Orange.
Carlos Baerga and Bob DiBiasio are introduced by Len Gold, the vice president of programming for Temple Emanu El Brotherhood, for the temple’s Sports Night in Orange.
Stan Wendzicki and Archie Doud
Michelle and Seth Bailin, 8
DiBiasio and Baerga reminisced as the Guardians celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1995 team that went 100-44 in a season shortened by 18 games due to a work stoppage, won the American League Central Division by 30 games and won an AL title before falling in six games to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.
Baerga, a two-time Silver Slugger winner, was an all-star that year, the third time he received the honor, as he hit .314 with 28 doubles and 15 homer runs.
“It was unbelievable the way we believed in ourselves (that season),” Baerga told the attendees. “Every time we stepped on the field, we let everybody know who we were. Every time we went on a road trip, they knew the Cleveland Indians were coming in so they needed to be prepared. It wasn’t cockiness, it was a confidence we had, and it was special.”
The second baseman regaled the audience with tales of teammates like left fielder Albert Belle, who led the league with 50 home runs in 1995 and who Baerga said, “didn’t like to fail. I’ve never seen anybody work harder.”
He recalled 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez as someone who one could tell was special from day one but who was also a bit wild. “Every time we came back from a road trip, he would have a different car,” Baerga said with a laugh.
Baerga expanded on moments almost all Cleveland baseball fans fondly remember like how his milestone of hitting a home run from both sides of the plate in one frame almost didn’t happen after New York Yankees pitcher Steve Farr threw at his head, not happy that he had given up a grand slam in the at-bat before, and Baerga had to be stopped from charging the mound.
But most of all, Baerga, who is now an analyst for the Guardians’ Spanish-language radio broadcasts on WARF 1350 AM, expressed the love he still holds to this day for the city.
“Being here brought back a lot of memories,” Baerga told the CJN. “My time here was a blessing, so when I have the time, I come to events like this.”