CLEVELAND Matt Loede stores an orange paper credential on a shelf in his home office. Even after 25 years, its mostly free of smudges and creases.

It includes Loedes name, his media affiliation and the date of the first Indians game he was assigned to cover: July 21, 1994. In the bottom right corner, team employee Susie Giuliano planted her initials to grant Loede access to the interview room. Dennis Martinez tossed a complete game that night but relinquished the Indians late lead in a 6-5 loss to the White Sox.

The credential reminds Loede of the thousands of hours he has spent milling around the Indians clubhouse and tracking jump shots at Cavaliers shootaround. He has reported on three World Series. He has placed his recorder within inches of LeBron James beard. He has attended countless Browns introductory news conferences in Berea.

Nearly 25 years to the day of his initiation to the media, Loede covered the MLB All-Star Game in...

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