And we go to the bottom of the 9th in game 7 of the World Series, Cleveland 2 Florida 1 and manager Mike Hargrove has brought in his closer Steve Olin to try to end the Indians’ championship drought.

I know what you’re thinking. It was Jose Mesa who was brought in that October 26, 1997 night in South Florida for Cleveland and we all know how that turned out. But what if? What if on March 22, 1993 the tragic boating accident that killed pitchers Tim Crews and Steve Olin never happened?

It was the Indians day off and pitchers Tim Crews, Bob Ojeda, and Steve Olin along with a few others were enjoying the Florida sun in Clermont when that evening they decided to go boating to catch bass.

There was some drinking involved and Tim Crews who was driving the boat hit a 185-foot-long wooden dock changing lives forever.

Steve Olin up until that point had been a relief pitcher for 4 seasons with Cleveland and in 1992 posted 29 saves with a 2.34 earned run average. He was the closer of the Tribe’s future and there were talks that spring training of a long-term contract extension. Unfortunately, we will never know.

What we do know is that fateful night Steve left behind his wife Patti and his three children, Alexa, who was 3 and twins, Garrett and Kaylee who were only 7 months old. We also know that Cleveland was building something really special as they would dominate the AL Central and win two AL pennants.

Steve Olin might have been the difference in the Tribe winning a championship, Cleveland only needed a scoreless 9th.

-Ed In Columbus

@Ed_In_Columbus

*photo courtesy of Cleveland.com*