Cleveland before being promoted to manager in 1991 to replace John McNamara, who was fired 77 games into the season. The Indians finished with 105 losses, most in team history while finishing in last place in the division. For the rest of Hargrove's tenure, they would finish above last place. The next two Cleveland teams finished with 76 wins each, but the talent would rise to cultivation soon enough. The 1994 team was 66-47 and fighting for a potential playoff spot before the August strike killed the season. He led his team to five consecutive AL Central Division titles in 1995–99 (being the first and so far only Cleveland manager to reach the postseason in five straight years), and World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. The 1995 Indians won 100 games in the 144 game season (shortened due to the late start by the 1994 strike), becoming the first American League team to win 100 games in fewer than 154 games, comprised by a confident team led by Albert Belle (2nd in MVP voting) Jose Mesa (1.13 ERA), Kenny Lofton (54 stolen bases), Manny Ramirez (.308), Jim Thome, among others. They made their first playoff appearance since 1954. They won the 1995 American League Division Series in a three game sweep of the Boston Red Sox for their first postseason series victory since 1948 and then won the 1995 American League Championship Series over the Seattle Mariners for their first pennant since 1954. They played the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series and lost in six games, as a team that hit .291 in the regular season hit .179 in the Series against Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. The 1996 team won 99 games, making it the first time Cleveland had back-to-back 90-win seasons since the 1950-1955 seasons. Despite having eleven more wins than the Wild Card Baltimore Orioles, they lost in four games in the 1996 American League Division Series. The 1997 team won 86 games, which was good enough to win the AL Central. They beat the defending world champion New York Yankees in a tight five game series before facing the Orioles, who had the best record in the AL. The series was a tight affair that saw five games be decided by one run (the biggest margin was three, in Game 1) while Cleveland won two of the games in extra innings.