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Top 50 Cleveland Guardians

 

The origin of the Cleveland Indians begins in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1894, where they played in the Western League.  The franchise relocated in 1900, becoming the Cleveland Lake Shores, and eventually were an inaugural team of the American League, going through multiple name changes (Bluebirds, Broncos, Naps) before becoming the Indians for over a decade.

Cleveland would become a great sports town, but the baseball team has not given them very much to cheer for over the years.  The Indians have only won the World Series twice (1920 and 1948), with three other appearances.  

Following the 2021 Season, Cleveland changed its controversial team name to the Guardians, and this is likely how it will remain as long as the team remains on the North Shore.

This list is up to the end of the 2024 regular season.

Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.

39. Carlos Santana

39. Carlos Santana
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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Whenever we hear a nickname we love, we have to open with that.  “Slamtana."  How awesome is that?
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40. Grady Sizemore

40. Grady Sizemore
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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A throw-in as part of a 2002 trade with Montreal that sent also sent Cliff Lee to the Indians when he was still in the Minors, Grady Sizemore would be the Indians' best position player for a brief spell in the late 2000s.
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41. Ray Chapman

41. Ray Chapman
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Ray Chapman made his Major League debut in 1912 with Cleveland, and a year later, he was a fixture in the Indians' infield.
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42. Francisco Lindor

42. Francisco Lindor
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As of this writing, Puerto Rican Shortstop Francisco Lindor has played six seasons with the Cleveland Indians, which is the only team he has ever played for at the Major League level.
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43. Jeff Heath

43. Jeff Heath
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Jeff Heath made his way to the Major Leagues in 1936, where two years later, he was a starting Outfielder with Cleveland.
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44. Luis Tiant

44. Luis Tiant
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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Luis Tiant is far more known as a member of the Boston Red Sox, but his early work in Baseball with the Cleveland Indians should not be slept on.
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45. Michael Brantley

45. Michael Brantley
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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The “Player to be Named Later” doesn’t often amount to much.  Michael Brantley was that player, as he was an eventual throw-in to deal C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee.  It was one hell of an add-on.
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46. Travis Hafner

46. Travis Hafner
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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After a brief time with the Texas Rangers, Travis Hafner was traded to the Cleveland Indians, where he brought a solid power game to the Tribe.
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47. Shane Bieber

47. Shane Bieber
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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As of this writing, Shane Bieber is the top arm for the Guardians, and the second most famous Bieber. Debuting for Cleveland in 2018, two years after he was drafted (4th Round), Bieber was 11-5 as a rookie, though his ERA was 4.55.  He shaved more than a run off his ERA as a sophomore (3.28), and added a first All-Star while going 15-8 and fanning 259 batters.  Bieber’s best year to date was in the COVID-shortened 2020, where he won the Cy Young, and won the Pitcher’s Triple Crown (8 Wins, 1.63 ERA & 122 SO) and was also…
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48. Steve O'Neill

48. Steve O'Neill
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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Durable and defensively sound, Steve O’Neill played for Cleveland Indians for over a decade, debuting in 1911, and settling in shortly after as one of the top defensive catchers in the American League.  O’Neill was a wizard behind the plate, but it was not until 1919 that he had his first season with at least 100 Hits, and he kept that up over the next three seasons, with Batting Averages over .3000 from 1920 to 1922.  A member of the 1920 World Series Championship Team, O’Neill finished sixth in MVP voting in 1922, a testament to his overall play.  He…
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49. Bert Blyleven

49. Bert Blyleven
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The most successful baseball player to be born in The Netherlands (although he was raised in California), Bert Blyleven played five of his 22 seasons in the Majors with the Cleveland Indians.
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50. Sonny Siebert

50. Sonny Siebert
Top 50 Cleveland Guardians
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Sonny Siebert was a multi-sport athlete as he was not just a coveted baseball player but was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks of the NBA.  Siebert focused on baseball, which proved to be the right move.
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