161: Cleveland CryBabies - MLB

161: Cleveland CryBabies - MLB

From Sports' Forgotten Heroes by Warren Rogan

April 7, 2026 · 1h 26m · Episode 161

About this episode

This episode explores Ossie Vitt's tumultuous management of the Cleveland Indians and the resulting nickname 'Cleveland Crybabies'.

This episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes dives into the intriguing saga of Ossie Vitt, manager for the Cleveland Indians from 1938 to 1940, exploring his tumultuous tenure which ultimately led to the team's notorious nickname, the 'Cleveland Crybabies.' Vitt, who had a terrific record in the minor leagues, was brought in to elevate the Indians amidst a competitive landscape dominated by teams like the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Despite initial improvements in the team's performance under his leadership, tensions brewed as Vitt's management style clashed with the players' expectations. Key incidents, such as verbal altercations with star players Bob Feller and Mel Harder, culminated in a revolt that saw the players demand his dismissal from management. Cleveland Sports' Historian/author Gary Webster, who recently authored a book on this period of Cleveland's history called, "CRYBABY REBELLION," joins the podcast as we discuss the dynamics between Vitt and his players, shedding light on how his abrasive approach, while effective in some respects, ultimately alienated the very individuals he was tasked with leading. We explore his management style, how Ty Cobb…

People in this episode

Guest: Gary Webster

Topics covered

  • Cleveland Indians
  • Ossie Vitt
  • management style
  • player morale
  • Cleveland Crybabies

Keywords

  • baseball
  • Cleveland sports history
  • CRYBABY REBELLION
  • Bob Feller
  • Mel Harder

Mentioned in this episode

Products: CRYBABY REBELLION

Books & works: Forgotten Heroes, CRYBABY REBELLION

Places: Cleveland

More episodes of Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sports' Forgotten Heroes podcast page.