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.

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 remained with the Indians until he was dealt to the Red Sox in 1924.

O’Neill was inducted into the Guardians Hall of Fame in their first class in 1951.

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.