Baerga will always be an Indians star

You could see the mid-1990s Cleveland Indians coming even before they really arrived — along with Jacobs Field — in 1994.

Even in 1991, when the Tribe finished 57-105, up-and-coming position players like Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle and Jim Thome were already in Cleveland. It wouldn’t be long until Kenny Lofton and Manny Ramirez joined them.

Right-hander Charles Nagy — a top pitching prospect — was already in the rotation.

The 1991 season wasn’t much to speak of for the Indians, but in between the lines and all those losses, Baerga and Belle and Nagy were on their way to becoming American League stars.

And Indians Hall of Famers.

“We knew we were going to be a good team,” the 48-year-old Baerga told an intimate gathering Friday night during a meet-and-greet at Michael Alberini’s Restaurant and Wine Shop.

Baerga was just 16 when he signed with the San Diego Padres in 1985. He said he had to beg his father for permission.

“He didn’t want me to sign,” Baerga said. “I had a scholarship offer to Florida State and he wanted me to go to school.”

But Baerga eventually got his dad’s blessing, signed with the Padres and four years later was dealt to the Indians .

By 1992, Baerga was an All-Star. The first of his three straight All-Star appearances was in San Diego. He called it one of the most memorable moments of his 14-year career.

“When I walked into that clubhouse, I saw Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens. Joe Carter and Kirby Puckett,” Baerga said. “I said to myself, ‘Are you serious?’ I was watching those guys just a couple years ago when I was in the minor leagues.”

But Baerga belonged. The switch-hitter produced striking numbers from 1992-94. He became the first second baseman since Rogers Hornsby in 1922 to hit .300 in back-to-back 200-hit, 20-home run, 100-RBI seasons when he accomplished the feat in 1992 and ’93.

Early in ’93, Baerga did something no other MLB hitter had ever done when he homered from both sides of the plate in the same inning against the New York Yankees.

“April 8, 1993,” Baerga said quickly, as if he was sitting on the question like a belt-high fastball. “That was a game I’ll never forget.”

He batted .314 in the strike-shortened 1994 season and duplicated the feat in 1995, when the Indians finished 100-44, won the AL pennant and lost the World Series in six games to the Atlanta Braves.

But less than a year later, he was gone — traded to the New York Mets.

“I didn’t want to be traded,” Baerga said. “I never wanted to play for any other team.”

Two decades later, Baerga’s loyalty is obvious. The career.291 hitter works works as an ambassador for the Indians and splits time between northeastern Ohio and his native Puerto Rico.

Other topics at the meet-and-greet included:

Craziest Indians teammate — “Everyone on that team was crazy, but I’d say Charles Nagy,” Baerga said.

The quiet and served Nagy? Not the answer you expected, I’m sure. And speaking of teammates ...

Albert Belle — “No one cared more,” Baerga said. “If he went 0-for-4 and we were on the road, we had to wait for Albert because he’d grab someone to throw him balls in the cage. He wouldn’t wait until the next day. We had to wait until he was finished.”

Baerga said Belle deserves Hall of Fame consideration.

“He would be in there if he hadn’t hurt his hip [and had to retire early],” Baerga said.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.