Cleveland Vintage Blog — Sports

Since the Cleveland Cavaliers have been become the talk of not only our city but the entire NBA as they continue to thoroughly dominate teams night in and night out, we thought it might be fun to take a somewhat nostalgic look back at a not-so-good period of Cavaliers basketball, the Ted Stepien era of ownership. His initial $2 million investment secured Stepien around 38% ownership that quickly became 82% managing control over the next several months. The years 1980-83 were truly years that lifelong Cavalier fans and the NBA would like to forget. At the time, the Cavaliers were...

If you've been around since the 80s, you had the misfortune of living through Ted Stepien’s ownership of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1980-1983. You might be aware of the fact that Stepien was also the owner of a highly successful professional men's softball team, the Cleveland Competitors, which he had purchased in 1978 as the Cleveland Jaybirds of the APSPL (American Professional Slo-Pitch League). Cleveland and Milwaukee broke from this league to form the NASL (North American Softball League). Ironically, the new league lasted a single season and was absorbed back into the APSPL, forming yet another new league, the...

Ken Dryden, Bernie Parent, Gerry Cheevers, Roger Crozier, and Tony Esposito are just a few of the names that come to mind when discussing NHL goaltenders that shined during the 1970s. Not only did their distinct playing styles get showcased, but their personalities were reflected in their mask designs that really began to catch fans' attention throughout the league. There is one name, however, that rarely gets mentioned in this top-tier list of vintage netminders. It's a goalie that here in Cleveland we had an all-too-brief yet enduring relationship with to this day: Gilles Meloche. Gilles Meloche: A Bright Spot...

After watching a Cincinnati Reds fan recently rush the field and get in Cleveland left fielder Tyler Freeman's face before ultimately being tased in one of the best sports photos of all time, I'm reminded of the restraint players often show to people interrupting games like that. That being said, that restraint does sometimes go out the window, much like it did for Cleveland outfielder Jimmy Piersall on September 10, 1961 in Yankee Stadium. In the first game of a doubleheader that day, two fans descended from the stands during the seventh inning to attack Piersall. Immediately, Piersall knocked down...

Cleveland may not be the biggest market media-wise for professional sports, but what we have truly been blessed with over the years is ownership across all the major sports that not only gave us excitement on the field or court, but a commitment to the community as well. Whether it was investments in youth sports leagues, field/facility improvements, or players themselves involved with various charitable endeavors, fans have always felt a deep personal attachment to the teams and the players. It is probably why, despite the fact that athletes come and go more quickly these days in any sport, the...