Colavito's connection with Cleveland fans went beyond his play

Rocky Colavito was a generation of Cleveland Indians' fans favorite player. Colavito had a wonderful – some would argue Hall of Fame worthy – career, with the Indians and a few other teams. He was a nine-time All-Star, blasted 374 lifetime home runs, and received MVP votes in six seasons. But Colavito meant so much more to Cleveland than numbers. He was the city's baseball hope and hero in the late 1950s. He was handsome, modest and strong. People believed in him and related to him. Colavito died Tuesday at 91. He was mourned by members of the team, and his fans, who remained devoted years after his career ended. My mother was a child growing up in the Cleveland area when Colavito was starring with the Tribe. She had two pet turtles. One was named "Tito," for then-Indians star Tito Francona. The other was named "Rocky" for Colavito. Nearly six decades later, I was with my mom when she had a chance to meet the Rock at his 80th birthday party, thrown by the Cleveland franchise for Colavito and his fans. My mom told him – while he autographed her Tribe jacket – that she once had a turtle named after him. "I have heard," Colavito said, "about dogs being named after me, and cats. "But never a turtle." Colavito once hit four home runs in a single game in Baltimore in 1959. But it was what happened a year later that changed everything. For Colavito and the Cleveland Indians. Despite hitting 42 homers, driving in 111 runs and nearly leading the Tribe to the American League pennant in 1959, Colavito was traded to the Tigers right before the 1960 season. The Tribe's wheeling and dealing general manager, Frank Lane, sent Colavito to the Tigers for Harvey Kuenn. Kuenn was a great hitter – he batted a career .302 over 15 big league seasons – but Cleveland fans were devastated. I wasn't born for another two decades, but growing up in the Cleveland area, I talked to so many family members, friends, coaches and strangers who still hurt over the deal. Sometimes I think the only thing that could compare to it in my time as a fan was when the Browns released Bernie Kosar in 1993, or, perhaps, when LeBron James made his "Decision" in 2010. The Colavito trade was something Cleveland fans discussed – or more accurately, lamented – for decades. Lane wasn't moved by the fans' dismay. He famously quipped that he had swapped "a hamburger for a steak." But three things happened: Kuenn only spent one season with the Indians. Colavito continued to slam home runs over four seasons with Detroit. And the Tribe started to lose. The 1959 Indians won 89 games. They would not win that many in a season again for 36 years. Colavito was eventually traded back to Cleveland (the Indians famously gave up Tommy John and Tommie Agee in that deal, which might have made it worse than the first Rocky swap), but the Tribe continued to struggle, fielding poor teams in front of fewer and fewer fans. In 1993, sports writer Terry Pluto wrote "The Curse of Rocky Colavito," which is one of the best books – on sports or otherwise – that I've ever read. It was a history, and a loving look, at a franchise that lost its way after trading away the town's favorite ballplayer. Colavito never cursed Cleveland. On the contrary, he remained as popular as ever as the years went on. A statue of him was even constructed in the Little Italy area of Cleveland a few years ago. At his 80th birthday party, Colavito was asked if he thought he should be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Colavito didn't advocate for his induction. He did, however, note that there were players who were in the Hall with similar numbers to him. I don't know if Colavito will ever be inducted to Cooperstown. But I know he was beloved by Cleveland fans. They cheered him, admired him and never forgot him. And never will. Zach Baker is the sports editor for The Courier and Review Times