Could Graveyard Across the Street from Progressive Field Play a Role in World Series?

CLEVELAND, OH — The end of October is usually an appropriate time to discuss graveyards, and fortunately for Cleveland this year, we are also discussing October baseball. The Indians are facing off against the Chicago Cubs in the World Series this week, with the Tribe having home field advantage, meaning Games One and Two will be played in Cleveland at Progressive Field.

Most sports fans in Cleveland have heard of the Cleveland sports curse and its variations, the Curse of Rocky Colavito and the curse of Chief Wahoo being the most well-known curses regarding our baseball team. There is also another curse involving the historic graveyard right across the street from the ballpark where the Indians play.

On East 9th Street, across from Progressive Field, lies the Erie Street Cemetery. Established in 1824, it is Cleveland's oldest existing cemetery and the final resting place for early politicians, pioneer families and Indian chiefs.

Joc-O-Sot, the Sauk Indian chief, is buried in the Erie Street Cemetery and is also the cemetery's most famous ghost. Joc-O-Sot died in Cleveland in 1844, probably of tuberculosis. However, Joc-O-Sot's home was in what is now Minnesota, and upon his deathbed, he requested that his body be returned home for burial. His final request was not honored, and he was buried at the Erie Street Cemetery.

According to the website deadohio.com, not being returned for burial with his ancestors made Joc-O-Sot very unhappy.

Legend states that Joc-O-Sot knew he was dying and tried to return to his native land in Minnesota so to that he could die and be buried next to his ancestors.

He never made it out of Cleveland, and died within the Warehouse District. He is buried at this grave in Erie Street Cemetery.

Joc-O-Sot's spirit never rested, they say. He still wanders the cemetery, bitter over having been buried here instead of his native land.

In anger, Joc-O-Sot's spirit shattered his original tombstone.

If he is having a particularly bad day, Joc-O-Sot also haunts the nearby Cleveland Indians Baseball Stadium.

Some say that Joc-O-Sot has actually interfered with the games at Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field), causing the Indians to lose games.

It has been reported that superstitious fans will sometimes leave peace offerings such as feathers and shot glasses at Joc-O-Sot's grave before Indians games.

Hopefully Joc-O-Sot can find peace this week.

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• Cleveland Indians Announce Kenny Lofton Throwing First Pitch at World Series Game 1
• World Series Ticket Prices: Cleveland Indians vs Chicago Cubs
• This Cleveland Indians Fan Predicted A 2016 World Series Win In 2012 — The Story Behind It Is Even Better

Photos by Rick Uldricks/Patch