Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 revision of our top 50 Cleveland Guardians.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the American League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Please note that our algorithm has changed, which yielded minor changes throughout the baseball lists.

Last year, the Guardians entered the season as a World Series contender, and competed in the American League Championship Series, losing to the New York Yankees in five.  There was one new entry, though that was based on the new algorithm.   There were also changes on the list, based on 2024.

As always, we present our top five, which had a major change based on the algorithm.

1. Nap Lajoie

2. Bob Feller

3. Tris Speaker

4. Lou Boudreau

5. Bob Lemon

You can find the entire list here.

On the top five, we have a brand new number one, based on our adjustments.  Nap Lajoie takes over the pole position.

Jose Ramirez made a significant jump from #13 to #7.   

Pitcher Shane Bieber remained at #47.

With the new algorithm, Catcher Steve O’Neill enters at #48.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

In the bruising, bare-knuckle world of early 20th-century catching, Steve O’Neill was the ultimate ironman of the Cleveland infield. Arriving in 1911, he didn't just occupy the space behind the plate; he anchored the franchise through its most transformative decade. Known for a defensive resilience that bordered on the supernatural.

O’Neill’s stay in Cleveland was defined by a steady evolution from a defensive specialist into a complete, high-frequency offensive contributor. While his reputation was built on being a wizard with the glove, smothering wild pitches and neutralizing the era's aggressive baserunners, his bat caught up to his elite fielding as the league moved into the 1920s. He reached a professional high-water mark in consistency starting in 1919, beginning a four-year run in which he recorded at least 100 hits annually. He was a model of specialized efficiency during the 1920 championship season, providing the veteran poise and steady-state production required to help the Indians secure their first World Series title.

The most profound aspect of his game was a late-career offensive surge that saw him bat over .300 for three consecutive summers from 1920 to 1922. His approach reached statistical outlier status in 1922, a season in which he hit .311 and drove in 65 runs while maintaining his legendary defensive standards. This performance earned him a sixth-place finish in the MVP voting, a rare and prestigious recognition for a catcher in that era. He possessed a specialized durability that allowed him to catch over 100 games in eight different seasons for Cleveland, serving as the primary engine for a pitching staff that relied on his tactical mind and physical toughness.

In 1924, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox, marking the end of a thirteen-year tenure that redefined the catching position for the franchise.  With Cleveland, O’Neill compiled 1,071 hits and 467 RBIs while serving as the defensive anchor for the 1920 World Series title.

The organization provided the final punctuation to his legacy in 1951, inducting him into the franchise's Hall of Fame as part of the very first class.

Hall of Fame season continues as the College Football Hall of Fame has announced the Class of 2025.

The Class of 2025 consists of:

Players:

Montee Ball, Wisconsin, Running Back, 2009-12.  A two-time All-American, Ball won the Jim Brown Award twice and was named the Big Ten MVP and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2011.  He rushed for 5,140 Yards and 77 Touchdowns for the Badgers.  Ball is the only player to rush for over 100 yards in three straight Rose Bowls.

Gregg Carr, Auburn, Linebacker, 1981-84. Carr was a three-time All-SEC player, a 1984 Scholar-Athlete, and helped the Tigers win three straight Bowl Games.

Blake Elliott, Saint John’s (MN), Wide Receiver, 2000-03.  Elliot was a two-time All-American and two-time MIAC Player of the Year and set a record with 47 consecutive games with a reception. 

Greg Eslinger, Minnesota, Center, 2002-05.  Eslinger was a three-time All-Big Ten player, the 2005 Big Ten Lineman of the Year, and the Outland Trophy, Rimington Trophy and Jim Parker Trophy recipient.

Terry Hanratty, Notre Dame, Quarterback, 1966-68.  Hanratty guided the Irish to a 1966 National Championship, and was an All-American two years later.  Professionally, he won two Super Bowls as a backup to Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Graham Harrell, Texas Tech, Quarterback 2005-08.  Harrell was fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2008, where he was also a National Scholar-Athlete.  He also won the Sammy Baugh Trophy in 2007 and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2008.

John Henderson, Tennessee, Defensive Tackle, 1998-2001.  Henderson helped the Vols win the BCS Championship as a freshman and the two-time All-American was unanimous in 2001.  A two-time All-SEC Selection, Henderson won the Outland Trophy in 2000.

Michael Huff, Texas, Defensive Back, 2001-05.  Huff was a unanimous All-American in 2005 when he helped the Longhorns win the BCS National Championship.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Big 12 player and 2005 Jim Thorpe recipient.

Jim Kleinsasser, North Dakota, Tight End, 1995-98.  Kleinsasser helped North Dakota win the 1995 NCC Title, and would later be a two-time All-American and three-time All-Conference Selection.

Alex Mack, California, Offensive Lineman, 2006-09.  Mack was a three-time All-Pac 10 Selection, a two-time Morris Trophy recipient and won the Draddy Trophy in 2008.

Terence Metcalf, Mississippi, Offensive Lineman, 1998-2001.  A two-time All-SEC Selection, Metcalf’s O-Line allowed the fewest sacks in his last two seasons with the Rebels.

Haloti Ngata, Oregon, Defensive Tackle, 2002-05.  In 2005, Ngata became Oregon’s first Consensus All-American since 1962.  A two-time All-Pac 10 Selection, Ngata was the 2005 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophies, but did win the Morris Trophy.

Steve Slaton, West Virginia, Running Back, 2005-07.  Slaton is the all-time Mountaineers rushing TDs (50) and was a Unanimous All-American in 2006.  He was fourth in Heisman voting and was a three-time Big East Selection that year.

Darrin Smith, Miami, Linebacker, 1989-92.  Smith was a two-time All-American and was named a 1992 Scholar-Athlete.  In 1991, he was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Michael Strahan, Texas Southern, Defensive Lineman, 1989-92.  The eventual Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee was the 1992 Division I-AA Player of the Year, Black College Defensive Player of the Year and also a two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Dennis Thurman, USC, Defensive Back, 1974-77.  A two-time All-American and two-time All-Pacific 8 Selection, Thurman took the Trojans to four bowl wins, including a National Championship with their 1974 Rose Bowl title.  He had 13 Interceptions for USC.

Michael Vick, Virginia Tech, Quarterback, 1999-2000.  Vick was twice named an All-Big East player, and in his debut year, he quarterbacked the Hokies to their first-ever Championship Game in 1999.  He was third in Heisman voting in 1999 and sixth in 2000.

Ryan Yarborough, Wyoming, Wide Receiver, 1990-93.  Yarborough was a two-time All-American and All-WAC Selection who at one time held the record for games with a Touchdown Reception (27).  He had 42 overall with 4,357 Yards.

Coaches:

Larry Blakeney, Troy, 1991-2014 179-113-1, 2-3 in Bowls.  Blakeney holds the current record for all-time wins in the Sun Belt and took Troy to eight Conference Titles.  He has two bowl wins and is a four-time conference Coach of the Year.

Larry Korver, Northwestern College (IA) 1967-94, 212-77-6.  Korver won two NAIA Division II National Championships and 10 consecutive Tri-State Titles.  He was also the NAIA Coach of the Year in 1973 and the NAIA Division II Coach of the Year in 1985.

Urban Meyer, Bowling Green 2001-02, Utah 2003-04, Florida 2005-10, Ohio State 2012-18, 187-32, 12-3 in Bowls.  With a spectacular winning percentage of 85.4, Meyer led the Florida Gators to two BCS Championships and the Ohio State Buckeyes to a National Championship.  Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News also named him the Coach of the Decade.  He holds wins in the Fiesta, Cotton, Orange, Sugar and Rose Bowls.

Nick Saban, Toledo 1990, Michigan State 1995-99, LSU 2000-04, Alabama 2007-23, 292-71-1, 19-12 in Bowls.  Saban has a staggering seven National Championships (one with LSU and six with Alabama) and also boasts 11 SEC Titles.  He also won two Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, two Walter Camp Awards, and five SEC Coach of the Year Awards, and he is in conversation as the NCAA Goat.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 revision of our top 50 Cincinnati Reds.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball, we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Please note that our algorithm has changed, which yielded minor changes throughout the baseball lists.

Last year, the Reds had a losing record and was unable to make the playoffs.  There were no new active players.

As always, we present our top five, which saw a change in the top five based on the new algorithm.

1. Pete Rose

2. Johnny Bench

3. Frank Robinson

4. Barry Larkin

5. Joey Votto

You can find the entire list here.

With the new algorithm, Larkin jumped into the top five.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.