Legendary Baseball All-Star Passed Away At 91

Cleveland baseball legend Rocky Colavito, a nine-time All-Star, has passed away at the age of 91. Colavito died on December 10 at his home in Bernville, Pennsylvania. His passing was announced on X by the Cleveland Guardians.

“The Cleveland Guardians are deeply saddened by the loss of Rocky Colavito. Beloved by fans, Rocky spent eight of his fourteen MLB seasons with Cleveland. He represented the club in three All-Star Games while finishing top-5 in MVP voting on three occasions. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this time.” Born Rocco Domenico Colavito on August 10, 1933, in New York City, he quickly rose to superstardom with his power at the plate and his cannon-like throwing arm. He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1955, and his impact was immediate. Known for his charismatic personality, on-field flair, and slugging prowess, Colavito became a fan favorite and one of baseball’s premier sluggers of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Colavito’s breakout year came in 1958 when he blasted 41 home runs, drove in 113 runs, and led the American League in slugging percentage. In 1959, he cemented his place in baseball history by hitting four consecutive home runs in a single game against the Baltimore Orioles. He finished that season with 42 homers and 111 RBIs.

His trade to the Detroit Tigers in 1960 for Harvey Kuenn, who had won the batting title the previous year, sparked outrage among Cleveland fans, many of whom saw the deal as a blow to the team’s heart and soul. This controversial move became known as “The Curse of Rocky Colavito,” as the Indians struggled for decades afterward. The Curse is a long-standing superstition believed by many fans of the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians).  The “curse” is said to have started on April 17, 1960, when the Cleveland team controversially traded Colavito to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn. Many fans were upset by the trade, believing it was a grave mistake to let go of such a popular and talented player.

The alleged curse implies that the Cleveland team was doomed to suffer a long period of misfortune and poor performance due to this trade. Over the next several decades, the team endured a long stretch of mediocrity, failed seasons, and heartbreak, including:

  • No World Series Championships since 1948.
  • Numerous losing seasons throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
  • Painful losses in key games, such as in the 1997 World Series when they lost to the Florida Marlins in Game 7 in extra innings.
  • The 2016 World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs after blowing a 3-1 series lead.

Despite playing for several other teams, including the Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees, Colavito’s bond with Cleveland remained unbreakable. He retired in 1968 with 374 career home runs and 1,159 RBIs.

Rest In Peace.