Cleveland Guardians Share Secrets to Success

The Cleveland Guardians are one of Major League Baseball’s most successful franchises.

Year after year they finish close to the top, making the playoffs and giving fans plenty of thrills.

Competing in a so-called “small market” against teams with massive payrolls (think Yankees and Dodgers, who have a $200 million tab), the Guardians pull it off year after year.

What is the secret?

No secret, really – just a recipe for success. That recipe was shared by Bob DiBiasio, senior vice president of public affairs for the Cleveland Guardians, with the West Shore Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday at a luncheon hosted at the Westlake Elks Club.

DiBiasio is a Lakewood High grad (1973) who has 46 years in the big leagues. He started with the Indians in 1979 and then moved on to Atlanta for a stint before returning to his hometown.

“Opening day last year – the day of the eclipse – what a day. How many of you in this room thought we would be in the American League championship series at the end of the year on that day? 92 wins for the season!” he said at the beginning of his address. “We’ve had some fun, haven’t we?”

Did you know that the Guardians have the third-most wins in all of baseball the past 12 years? How do they do it?

“By taking care of your people,” said DiBiasio. “That’s what we do at our organization – we take care of our own people. We help them to become good, solid young men.”

The goal? “To give our kids every opportunity to be the best they can be.” With that motivation, the Guardians rise to the top of the standings.

It’s now year 26 of the Dolan family ownership. They are the longest tenured owners in the history of the organization. “They care about the community and they have spread this culture throughout everything they do,” said DiBiasio.

One of the goals they have done to raise talent was to create a $17 million training center in the Dominican Republic, a hotbed of baseball talent. Kids there don’t have much, but for those who make it to the training center, they get a shot at pro ball and also a high school diploma. “Which they never would have earned without this being available to them,” said Dibiasio. “They have to do their school work before they ever take the field each day. These young players become better men when they leave us.”

One of those young men, one who never left us, is Jose Rameriz, signed at the age of 17 in 2009 in the Dominican. He ascended to the big leagues in 2013. He is the prototypical Guardians player.

It’s called a sustained winning culture that consists of three parts – acquisition, development and opportunity.

Yes, there is no Salary cap in the big leagues. There is a $200 million salary difference between big market and small market teams. “And yet the Yankees have just 21 more wins than us in the last 12 years,” reports DiBiasio. “A $1.2 billion difference!”

What does this combo of nurtured talent and an uneven professional playing field mean for someone like Jose Ramieriz, the Guardians best player? “A statue, someday,” said DiBiasio. “A retired uniform number. And serious contention for Coooperstown.”

What does that mean to the Guardians, who take raw talent and guide him to the big leagues, through a plan that sees him navigate position changes (second base, shortstop and third,) to become a family man and hometown hero in Cleveland? It means they have one of those “good, solid young men” DiBiasio speaks of. A family man, A man of character. The kind of man who can lead the Guardians to greatness through perseverance, hard work and loyalty.

“Your highest paid player better be your best person,” said DiBiasio.

Notes Off the Cuff

– Progressive Field is now the eighth oldest ballpark in the county. It opened in 1994. By contrast, the Texas Rangers are now in their third ballpark. “Our fans are 5 years old to 95 years old and we have to take care of them all,” said Dibiasio. That is why you see so many restaurants and gathering spots catering to so many groups, from kids to beer drinkers to gourmet diners.

– 2024 Season by the Numbers: 2nd best record in the American League. 168 days in first place, 50-30 record at Progressive Field (1st in AL). 5 American League All-Stars.

– Since Progressive Field opened in 1994: 12 AL Central titles. (Min -9, Det & Chi -4, KC -1), 14 postseason appearances (5th most MLB).

– Last 12 seasons (2013-2024): 3rd most wins in MLB (LAD #1, NYY #2), 10 winning seasons, 7 postseason appearances.

– Dolan ownership (25 seasons): 15 winning seasons, 9 division titles, 32-31 postseason record.

– Cleveland has a 7 campus player development system. Progressive Field, Goodyear, Az., Dominican Republic Complex, 4 Minor League teams. 165 professional athletes, more than 250 staff and state of the art equipment/technology.

– Manager Stephan Voght: 2024 American League Manager of the Year. “Learn the Lesson, Forget the Event.” 5th Cleveland manager to win 9-plus games in his first full season (Tito, Charlie Manuel, Al Lopez, Tris Speaker).

– Jose Ramirez: Just missed 40-40-40 season (last game was rained out). Just the 2nd player in MLB history with 39 HRs, 39 Doubles and 39-plus stolen bases (41). All time club rankings: #2 HRs 255 (Jim Thoke 337), #3 extra base hits, #4 stolen bases and total bases, #7 RBI and runs scored. Signed through 2028.

– New spaces at Progressive Field: Echo Victory Club, Lexus Carnegie Club, Key Bank North Coast Social, Paul Davis Pennant District.