Kenny Lofton has been elected to the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame! Cleveland’s favorite leadoff hitter is “ecstatic” to have this honor. “I was ecstatic,” Lofton told reporters Wednesday. “I didn’t know what to say at first. I was just overwhelmed.”
Lofton spend much of his 17 year long career in Cleveland, being on the team for 10 seasons. He was a five-time all-star in three different stints with the Indians from 1991-2007. In 1995, he hit leadoff in a powerful Cleveland lineup that featured Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Albert Belle. Lofton won four Gold Gloves with the Indians.
“I couldn’t be any happier for Kenny,” said Indians first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. “Everyone talks about home runs, but Kenny was the igniter for this organization for many years.
“What really impressed me about Kenny is that every time Randy Johnson threw a ball behind his head, Kenny would bounce back and get a single or a double. He was not afraid or intimidated.
“In 1995 when we beat Seattle to go to the World Series, Kenny won (Game 6) basically by himself. Kenny was a winner. Kenny was a postseason guy. The bigger the stage, the better he got.”
Known for his speed, Lofton is the Indians franchise leader in steals (452) and ranks third in runs (975). He led the AL in steals from 1992-1996 before being traded to Atlanta in 1997, missing the trip to the World Series.
For his career Lofton hit .299 (2428-for-8120) with 1,528 runs, 383 doubles, 116 triples, 130 homers, 781 RBI and 622 steals in his career. He made three tours with the Indians — 1992-1996, 1998-2001, & 2007. 
Lofton was always a fan favorite, and one of my all time favorite Cleveland Indians. He always played the game the right way, hard and with a smile. Lofton was part of the core that “rebuilt” the Cleveland Indians, and was a huge part of their success through the 90’s. He was the “Willie Maze Haze” of the team. (Reference the movie Major League).
In an era of steroid use and abuse, Lofton was clean and did it right, perhaps adding to his likeability as a player.
“I was a guy who never did it,” said Lofton about steroids. “Never tried to do it. Never wanted to do it.” “I played against guys who were obviously doing it, so my competition level had to be at a certain level to be able to compete with those guys who were, what you call, cheating.
“I was not a cheater. I hope they take a look at that and see what I did during that period and take it into account” speaking about his chances to make it into Cooperstown, home of the MBL H.O.F.
Lofton will be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in August along with Cy Slapnicka, Cleveland’s general manager from 1935-40.
Congratulations Mr. Kenny Lofton!
