Cleveland Guardians Travis Bazzana flies out in the top of the second to the Tampa Bay Rays in game 6 of the ALCS at Tropicana Field in St Petersburgh FL on Mon Oct 19, 2026
Cleveland missed a Chance to make History
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
They were the Cleveland Indians for most of their history; they last won a World Series in 1948. Harry S. Truman (who ended WWII) was president of the US. Changed their name from Indians to Guardians in 2021, a politically correct move; many still call them the Indians. How big of a baseball town is Cleveland? They rank toward the bottom among all 30 teams in media markets; they rank #21 among all 30 teams in the Major Leagues. In 1982, when Milwaukee was in the American League, they reached the World Series but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
This 2026 season, Cleveland won the weakest division in baseball, the American League Central, with 85 wins, then beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 in a best-of-five American League Division Series. After defeating the White Sox 3-2 in the ALDS (which concluded on Saturday, October 10), the Guardians advanced to the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who won the East Division by beating the Yankees. They needed to beat Tampa Bay to reach the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who won the National League pennant. The Tampa Bay Rays dominated the Guardians, winning the series 4-2.
With everything on the line, Cleveland had a shot at reaching this year’s World Series for the first time in 45 years, but it wasn’t meant to be.
I have traveled to Cleveland many times to broadcast baseball and basketball while working for the Golden State Warriors as their Spanish announcer. It is a great city, but it still falls short in baseball. A very famous franchise was once owned by Hall of Fame comedian Bob Hope; he made a living making jokes about how bad the team was.
He was a great friend and movie partner. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby made seven films together, including the famous “Road” films, and Crosby owned the Pittsburgh Pirates from the 1940’s to the late 1970s. Crosby was a very popular singer, unlike Hope, who was a Comedian and a dancer. Every time they met, they would talk about the teams they owned. Historians say it was all in good fun. The Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA were the last professional team to win a League Title for the city..
As for the World Series coming up in a few days, I believe the Milwaukee Brewers will win. The National League outperformed the American League in most categories this season. How about this two small market teams; Milwaukee vs Tampa Bay. Two teams who had great seasons in their respective leagues and two teams that have never won a World Series and he two teams that were the best all season long.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
