| Jose Mesa presents an imposing figure on the mound. Brought up as a starter with the Baltimore Orioles, who had acquired him in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays a few days before he made his Major League debut in September 1987, he was converted into a set-up man for the Cleveland Indians in 1994, then served as their closer until 1998, when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants. He had an off-year for the 1997 AL pennant-winning team, saving only 16 games, but is most remembered for blowing a crucial save opportunity in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series, on October 26. With the Indians leading the Florida Marlins 2-1 in the top of the ninth inning, he gave up two singles and a sacrifice fly to allow the Marlins to tie the game, which they eventually won in the bottom of the 11th inning. It was his fifth appearance of the Series, and he had earned a save the previous day to force a Game 7, but Indians fans blame him to this day for their team's failure to earn the World Championship.
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