CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians have moved on from "What If?" and "Unfinished Business." They want fans to forget the handy, popular "Only In Cleveland" mantra.
The team has selected "Only Here" for its 2016 branding campaign, a phrase intended to celebrate Progressive Field's memorable moments. For that reason, Kenny Lofton, Travis Hafner and
Bill Selby will appear at the ballpark for Opening Day festivities on April 4.
Akron native Patrick Carney, drummer for the band The Black Keys, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. William Clarence Marshall, an operatic singer who has made appearances with The Cleveland Orchestra, will sing the national anthem. Members of each branch of the military will present the colors and an American flag will span much of the outfield grass.
Before Corey Kluber tosses the first pitch of the season against the Boston Red Sox, the Indians will recognize the achievements of Lofton, Hafner and Selby. The club will honor Lofton for his Spiderman impression on the center field wall to rob Baltimore's B.J. Surhoff of a home run on Aug. 4, 1996. Lofton will also be recognized for scoring the game-winning run in the Tribe's comeback from a 14-2 deficit against Seattle on Aug. 5, 2001.
The Indians will acknowledge Hafner for his walk-off single in the "Bug Game" in Game 2 of the 2007 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.
Selby, a diminutive utility player with five big league home runs to his name at the time, will be recognized for his walk-off grand slam off of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera on July 14, 2002. The Indians scored six in the ninth to cap Joel Skinner's first series as manager
The Indians' home opener is sold out for the 24th consecutive year.