MARCH 22, 1993

Six years ago today, three members of the Cleveland Indians went for a boat ride on a little lake near Clermont, Fla.

Just the memory of what happened that evening still chills all who knew Tim Crews and Steve Olin, and the only one who survived, Bob Ojeda.

Crews was driving his 18-foot, open-air bass boat toward a dock to pick up some friends who also wanted to ride in the warm night air.

But the boat rammed into the dock, which stretched 220 feet onto the lake. The impact killed Olin, 27, instantly. Crews, 31, died the next day. Ojeda suffered major head wounds but survived.

When paramedics arrived, they found all three unconscious.

Nine days later, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission said Crews was legally drunk at the time of the accident.

Ojeda told investigators they had made several passes around the lake and were returning, in the dark, to pick up two friends when the boat rammed the dock. All three were struck by the dock’s crossbeams.

The Indians were shocked, and so were the Dodgers, for whom Crews and Ojeda once played.

There was a memorial service two days later at nearby Chain O’ Lakes Park before a large crowd, including two busloads of Dodgers and the entire Cleveland team.

Said Tom Lasorda, Crews’ former manager with the Dodgers: “They say you can tell the character of a man by who attends his funeral. I don’t think there is any doubt as to the character of either Tim or Steve.”

Also on this date: In 1953, Boston guard Bob Cousy, known more for his assists, scored 50 points to lead the Celtics to a 111-105 victory--in four overtimes--over Syracuse.