This Saturday the Cleveland Guardians will begin their quest to end the longest current drought between World Series titles. In fact, the last time Cleveland won the World Series, Satchel Paige pitched 2/3 of an inning of relief for them in Game 5 of the 1948 Fall Classic against the Boston Braves.

The Boston Red Sox had the Curse of the Bambino, and the Chicago Cubs had the Curse of the Billy Goat. But what curse has befallen the Cleveland Guardians? According to Terry Pluto, author of the 1994 book The Curse of Rocky Colavito: A Loving Look at a Thirty-Year Slump, Cleveland’s troubles trace directly back to the trade that sent Colavito to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn.

As bad as that trade was, I believe the Guardians are suffering from the Curse of The Catch, and it began on September 29, 1954, at the Polo Grounds in Game One of the World Series against the New York Giants.

Cleveland went into the Series having won a then-record 111 games during the regular season, and they jumped on the Giants and starter Sal Maglie for two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-out, two-run triple by first baseman Vic Wertz. The Giants tied it up with two runs in the bottom of the third, and then the pitchers settled in.

In the top of the eighth inning, Larry Doby drew a leadoff walk, and Al Rosen followed with an infield single. Giants’ manager Leo Durocher then brought in a left-hander to face the left-handed hitting Wertz, who was 3-3. Wertz hit a tremendous drive to right-center field that looked like it would be Wertz’s second two-run triple of the game, but Willie Mays somehow made “The Catch,” a terrific over-the-shoulder grab that many consider the greatest defensive play in World Series history. Doby advanced to third, but he advanced no further as the Giants eventually shutdown the Cleveland threat.

Despite losing at least two runs to The Catch, Cleveland had another great opportunity to take the lead in the top of the 10th as the managerial wheels began to turn. Wertz led off with a double, his fourth hit of the game; manager Al López then sent in a pinch-runner for Wertz and moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt.  Durocher then called for an intentional walk to the next batter. Lopez sent Bill Glynn up to pinch-hit for catcher Jim Hegan, but he struck out. That brought the pitcher’s spot to the plate, and Lopez still had Wally Westlake available on the bench. Westlake was a power threat, having hit 11 home runs in limited playing time during the regular season. Yet after all his previous maneuvering, Lopez let pitcher Bob Lemon hit for himself, and he lined out to first base, ending the threat.

After squandering their opportunity in the top of the 10th, Lemon gave up three-run homer to pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes that ended the game. The ball traveled only around 270 feet, but due to the odd dimensions of the Polo Grounds, it went far enough for a homer.

Cleveland never recovered from The Catch and the short home run, as the Giants went on to win the Series in four games. Cleveland did not return to the World Series until 1995, and they also made it in 1997 and 2016.

Maybe it’s the Curse of The Catch, or the Curse of Bob Lemon, or even the Curse of Al López. Whatever the cause or curse, beginning Saturday, the Guardians will be trying to break the streak.

(All game accounts are from Retrosheet and the Cleveland Plain Dealer through Newspapers.com.)