2002 – Six-time All-Star Kenny Lofton agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 34-year center fielder, who has played with the Indians, Braves and Astros, has a .302 lifetime batting average in an 11-season career.
At Jacobs Field, the Indians, who trailed in the game 14-2 after six innings, tally twelve runs to tie the score and will beat the Mariners, 15-14, thanks to Jolbert Cabrera’s 11th inning broken bat single scoring Kenny Lofton to complete the unbelievable comeback. The Tribe joins the 1911 Tigers and 1925 A’s to become the third team in major league history to have won after being down by a dozen runs.
Kenny Lofton’s 1st-inning run ties a 1939 major league record set by the Yankees’ Red Rolfe for scoring in 18 consecutive games. The speedy Indians outfielder, besides hitting the game-winning homer in the 13th, also steals five bases tying Cleveland’s single-game record set by Alex Cole.
Indians OF Jacob Cruz, filling in for the hobbled Kenny Lofton, tears ligaments in his right thumb and is out for the season. Tampa Bay beats the Tribe, 4 – 2.
The Indians sign free agent OF Kenny Lofton to a three-year contract, and free agent P Dwight Gooden to a two-year pact. They also trade OF Marquis Grissom and P Jeff Juden to the Brewers in exchange for P Ben McDonald, Ron Villone, and Mike Fetters. Fetters is then sent to the Athletics in exchange for P Steve Karsay.
The Atlanta Braves have no trouble getting used to their new stadium or their two new outfielders, Kenny Lofton and Michael Tucker, as they become the first team to ever finish April with 19 wins. Atlanta ends the month with a .760 winning percentage overall and a gaudy 12-2 record at Turner Field. Lofton ends with a .395 batting average and Tucker at .418, following a 12 – 3 pounding of the Cincinnati Reds to round out the month.
In a trade reflecting current baseball economics, the Atlanta Braves send right fielder David Justice and center fielder Marquis Grissom to the Cleveland Indians for center fielder Kenny Lofton and relief pitcher Alan Embree. Atlanta and Cleveland faced each other in the 1995 World Series. The swap of the two Gold Glove center fielders and the three-time All-Star Justice reduces the Braves’ payroll by an estimated $6.8 million. Both players have several years left on their contracts, while Lofton, considered the best leadoff hitter in major league baseball, is in the last year of his.
The Indians defeat the Twins, 6 – 5, on Alvaro Espinoza’s 11th-inning homer. OF Kenny Lofton leads the way for the Tribe with five hits. Albert Belle rings his 226th homer as an Indian to tie Earl Averill’s club mark.
On June 20, 1996 – The Indians win their 13th straight over the Red Sox, 5 – 4, on Kenny Lofton’s bloop single in the 9th off Mike Stanton. Jim Thome hits a game-tying home run in the 8th, off Roger Clemens, the 17th straight game in which the Indians have gone deep, a team record. Clemens leaves after 157 pitches with no decision.
1995 – Atlanta beats Cleveland, 3 – 2, in Game 1 of the World Series behind star pitcher Greg Maddux. Fred McGriff homers for Atlanta, while Kenny Lofton of Cleveland becomes the first player since 1921 to steal two bases in one inning of a Series game. The two teams combine for only five hits, tying a World Series record for fewest hits by both clubs.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!