Chad Ogea Inducted Into Kinston HOF

Former World Series Star to Headline Kinston Hot Stove

Ex-Indian Chad Ogea earns a spot in the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame

KINSTON – The Kinston Indians announced today that former Kinston and Cleveland Indian pitcher Chad Ogea (O-jay) will be inducted into the Kinston Professional Baseball Hall of Fame at the 2008 Kinston Indians Hot Stove banquet. The banquet will be held on Friday, February 8th at the Hampton Inn in Kinston. A silent auction and social hour will begin at 6pm, with dinner to follow at 7:30pm. Tickets for the Hot Stove Banquet are $25.

Ogea is best known for his amazing performance for Cleveland in the 1997 World Series. Ogea won two games in the series on the mound, but also had a couple of key hits at the plate. In a 4-1 Game Six victory over Florida, Ogea went 2-for-3 with a double, run and two RBI’s. Both hits came off of Florida Marlins ace Kevin Brown, who he out dueled in route to both wins. The two RBI’s were the most by a pitcher in a World Series since 1968. Ogea gave up just two earned runs in 11.2 innings pitched in his two World Series starts.

Ogea pitched five seasons for Cleveland (1994-1998), going 31-23 with a 4.61 ERA. He ended his Major League career in 1999 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Ogea was a third round pick by the Cleveland Indians in the 1991 amateur draft. The LSU product was the starter in the final game of the College World Series when the Tigers won the 1991 NCAA Championship. Ogea was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1970, where he won two Louisiana State High School Baseball titles on his way to being named the Louisiana player of the year.

A Carolina League All Star and Cleveland’s Minor League Player of the year in 1992, Ogea posted a 13-3 record for the Kinston Indians, leading the K-Tribe in wins, ERA (3.49), strikeouts (123), complete games (5) and shutouts (2). Ogea’s amazing season placed him firmly in the K-Tribe single season record books as he is tied for 4th all time in wins, 3rd in complete games and 2nd in shutouts. Although the 1992 Kinston Indians failed to make the playoffs with a 65-71 record, the team was not short on talent as Ogea was joined on the diamond by future major leaguers Manny Ramirez and David Bell.

New Kinston Manager Chris Tremie, Carolina League Commissioner John Hopkins and Cleveland Indians development personnel will also speak at the banquet.

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