Fans all over: Tribe’s reach wider than you might think

CLEVELAND — This is no major market, and because of that, the Indians’ fountain of fandom might not overflow quite as it does for their World Series-rival Cubs.

But if rooting for an oft-overlooked underdog with a puny payroll that advanced to this point despite losing two stud starters and an elite outfielder to injury is not enough to woo you into pulling for the American League champs in this Fall Classic, which begins Tuesday night at Progressive Field, perhaps there are other connections you ought to consider. The reach of this team is wider than you might initially think.

• Shop for Indians World Series and AL champs gear

Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 2 Oct. 26 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 3 Oct. 28 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX Gm 4 Oct. 29 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 5 Oct. 30 8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians

Buckeye brethren: It’s not just the city of Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs that ought to be behind the Indians, but the entire northern half of Ohio. After all, many of these guys came up in an organization with a broad base in the Buckeye State.

• World Series Game 1: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET air time | 8 ET game time on FOX

When they call Ohio a “swing” state, it doesn’t have to only apply to the presidential election. It can also be a reference to all the bat-swinging going on in the Minor League outposts that the Tribe stocks with talent.

Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Tyler Naquin, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jose Ramirez, Roberto Perez, Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin, Cody Allen — all of these guys were original acquisitions by the Indians, which means they paid their developmental dues at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. Many of them also made stops at Class A Short-Season Mahoning Valley, near Youngstown, Ohio, and Class A Lake County, on Cleveland’s east side.

• ‘This is our year’: Tribe fans confident vs. Cubs

Just deserts: Speaking of Tribe terminals, let’s get the west side of Phoenix in on the action, eh?

The Cubs can lay claim to points east in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and we all know what a tourist destination Sloan Park has quickly become. But nearly eight years ago, the Indians set up shop …

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