Now that the Cleveland Guardians are long out of the playoffs, I have to admit that I had a bad feeling about their wildcard series matchup against the Detroit Tigers.

Sure, the Guardians’ epic comeback from a 15½-game deficit to win the division was historic and called to mind the New York Yankees’ rally from way back to catch and pass the Boston Red Sox in 1978.

But the Yankees went on to win their second World Series in a row that year, while the 2025 Guardians couldn’t duplicate their late-season mastery of the Tigers that helped Cleveland win the American League Central. The Guardians just didn’t have enough hitting to get it done and their overtaxed bullpen faded in the decisive Game 3.

But back to 1978 for a bit.

Cleveland played a role in that drama, too. The Indians beat the Yankees, 9-2, on Oct. 1, 1978, in New York behind a complete-game effort from left-hander Rick Waits. (Yes, back in the day, pitchers routinely finished what they started.)

The Indians’ victory left the Yankees and Red Sox tied atop the American League East and forced a one-game playoff at Boston’s Fenway Park. Light-hitting New York shortstop Bucky Dent broke Boston’s heart with a three-run home run as New York won, 5-4, to win the division.

I knew Waits — one of my favorite Indians at the time — had forced the playoff, but the details were a little fuzzy until I took to the interwebs.

Andre Thornton and Gary Alexander hit home runs that day and Rick Manning, Tom Veryzer and Jim Norris had key hits in the game as the Indians beat future Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter.

Back then, 11-year-old me was in the second year of what became a nearly 50-year love affair with baseball that continues today.

For the record, the Indians finished 69-90 that year, which should have given me an idea of what was to come. But eventually, my faith paid off when the Indians became one of the best teams in baseball in the 1990s — appearing in the 1995 and 1997 World Series — and making multiple playoff appearances over the years, including a return to the Fall Classic in 2016.

Unfortunately, Cleveland came up short in all three of those World Series — including seven-game losses to the Florida Marlins (’97) and Chicago Cubs (2016).

Life, work and being a Cleveland fan have combined to diminish my interest in the World Series. I was once glued to the TV for every game, even if my favorite team wasn’t there. But those days are gone. I still love baseball, but my interest in the postseason is now contingent on the Guardians being part of it.

As you’re reading this, barring something unforeseen, we should be a game into another World Series that I have little interest in watching. The Los Angeles Dodgers — a franchise swimming in money and talent — are taking on the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto beat the overpaid Yankees (I’m always on board with a New York loss) and the Seattle Mariners in the playoffs, but I was hoping Seattle would get to its first World Series.

The Blue Jays feature several former Guardians, including ex-Cleveland ace Shane Bieber, reliever Nick Sandlin, infielders Andres Gimenez Ernie Clement and outfielder Myles Straw, so I guess I’d prefer a Toronto victory.

But remember what legendary Chicago columnist Mike Royko wrote about more than once: The Ex-Cub Factor. His theory was that heartbreak was assured for the team with the most former Cubs on its roster.

More than a few Cleveland fans believe the Indians — and now the Guardians — suffer from the Curse of Rocky Colavito. Will the Ex-Guardian Factor shoot down the Blue Jays?

I doubt it. I’m not quite that superstitious.

But watch out for Shohei Otani. His arm and bat might be enough to carry the Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series victory.

Even if I’m not completely invested — again.

After all, who needs the World Series when the Browns are so dawg-gone entertaining?

Ed Puskas is editor of the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator. Reach him at 330-841-1786 or epuskas@triboday.com.