Joe Carter was a five time All-Star (all after leaving the Tribe) that got his start in Cleveland. He played his first six full seasons for the Indians and quickly smashed more than 150 home runs, the 12th most in Indians history. This was done in fewer games than every other player in the top 16. Carter is especially famous for accumulating huge RBI totals on poor offensive teams, leading the league in 1986 with 121. He was also incredibly durable, playing 162 games four times in his career, setting two top ten highs in games played for the Tribe and grabbing the record for most at bats in a season in 1986.

Carter came to the Indians in a trade along with Mel Hall (and two others) for George Frazier, Rick Sutcliffe and Ron Hassey in 1984. After a few great seasons with the Tribe, he was then traded again, this time to the Padres for Carlos Baerga, Chris James and Sandy Alomar, Jr. This was one of the few times where both the team trading the player and the player getting traded had happy outcomes. Carter ended up with the Blue Jays, bringing the first (and second) World Series championships to Canada, while Baerga and Alomar helped the Indians get to the World series a few years later in 1995. Had he stayed in Cleveland the team would not have been ready for the Playoffs while he was in his prime and they would still have been missing their All-Star catcher and second baseman. Carter did stick around long enough to rank among the best Indians centerfielders.

Carter was considered for the MLB Hall of Fame, but didn't receive enough votes during his first year. He is, however, a proud member of the Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame after winning the 1993 World Series with a walk off home run.

The Top 10 Cleveland Indians Thirdbasemen of all time. For more information on any player click on the link on their name for their All-Time Indians Bio. Players will be linked as more bios are added.

10. Buddy Bell - Years Starting 3B, 1973-1978

Bell started his career with the Tribe before moving on to better things in Texas, but his time in Cleveland was long enough to allow him to break into this top 10 list. He played in almost 1,000 games in his seven seasons, allowing him to build up some decent numbers, but they really aren't that impressive when compared to a few other third basemen who had shorter careers.

9. Graig Nettles -1970-1972

Nettles is mostly famous as the 5 time All-Star, MVP candidate and Gold Glover that played for New York, but before that, he was with Cleveland. Between being traded to the Tribe for Luis Tiant and Stan Williams and being sent to the Yankees, Nettles put up some impressive numbers for the Indians. While he didn't play long enough to add up a lot of counting stats, he still is among the leaders with a .750 OPS.

8. Larry Gardner - 1919-1922

Gardner was the starting third baseman on Tris Speaker's 1920 World Series championship team. He didn't have a particularly long career, but still hit 128 doubles and 36 triples.

7. Bill Bradley - 1901-1910

Bradley was the Indians first third baseman and the only one over the next 100+ years that could be considered speedy. He leads every player on this list in triples and steals. He is still the second longest tenured 3B in Indians history, starting 10 years for the Blues and Naps.

6. Casey Blake - 2003-2004, 2007-2008

Blake was one of the more versatile players in recent Indians history, switching to right field full time in 2005, but moving back to third at the end of his time in Cleveland. 

5. Brook Jacoby - 1984-1990, 1992

Jacoby started eight seasons for the Tribe, missing just 1991 when Carlos Baerga was used primarily at third. His consistancy over this long period allowed him to become third all-time in home runs, doubles and RBI among third basemen.

4. Travis Fryman - 1998-2000, 2002

Fryman took over for Matt Williams after they were traded for each other from the expansion Diamondbacks in 1997. Fryman then won a Gold Glove and made the All-Star team in 2000.

3. Toby Harrah - 1979-1983

Harrah was certainly an underrated player during his time with the Tribe. His time at third occured during a particularly down part of Indians history, but he still managed a decent combination of good productivity and longevity. 

2. Ken Keltner - 1938-1944, 1946-1949

Keltner was the longest tenured third baseman in Indians history, starting for 11 of his 12 seasons with the team. He was an above average hitter and helped the Indians win their last World Series in 1948 as the starting third baseman. He leads all Indians third basemen in career games, runs scored, hits, doubles and RBI and is second in home runs. In 1950 he was released to make room for #1 on the list.

1. Al Rosen - 1950-1956

Rosen was the Indians last MVP in 1953 and was part of both the 1948 and 1954 Indians World Series teams. He hit more home runs than any other Indians third baseman ever (if you consider Thome a first baseman) and is second in RBI despite playing in 500 less games than the leader (Keltner). His .285 career average is second behind just Gardner while his slugging percent remains number one among third basemen.

Borderline: Max Alvis, Willie Kamm, Ray Boone, Matt Williams, Russell Branyan

While Kevin Youkilis may be called the "Greek God of Walks", Mike Hargrove came first as the "Human Rain Delay". Hargrove was an incredibly patient hitter, to the point of distraction. His nickname stemmed from the fact that he would go through an entire routine between pitches, stepping out of the box and adjusting his equipment. The distraction to the pitcher along with his tremendous eye lead to him being ranked 8th all time in on base percentage despite having a career batting average under .300 (only Jim Thome had a higher OBP with a lower AVG). Hargrove won the Rookie of the Year award with Texas in 1974 and played for San Diego as well before coming to Cleveland in a deadline deal for outfielder Paul Dade. Of course, he would be only a borderline consideration as an All-Time Indian if he had just been a player.

In 1991 Grover took over an incredibly terrible Indians team from John McNamara after he went 25-52 through the first 77 games. The team Hargrove inherited included a lot of young players, like 1990 Rookie of the Year Sandy Alomar, rookie third baseman Jim Thome, second year starter Charles Nagy and new closer Steve Olin. With this group of youngsters and a few veterans (including Brook Jacoby and Albert Belle) Hargrove won his first game against Milwaukee and finished the year 32-53 pushing the team to the next level, just slightly above embarrassing.

General Manager John Hart then spent the next three seasons bringing in the finishing pieces to what was shaping up to be a great team. Trades for Kenny Lofton and Omar Vizquel made the Indians incredibly strong up the middle and a couple free agent signings brought in the veteran leadership of Eddie Murray and Dennis Martinez to polish things off. By 1994 the Indians were ready to compete for the playoffs for the first time since the 1950's. The players strike in 1994 ended that dream, but the Tribe picked things right back up in 1995.

1995 was possibly the best single season for a Cleveland Indians team with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers at almost every position and Hargrove at the helm. The Indians lost the World Series against Atlanta after winning their first ever Central Division Championship, but would return again in 1997 for a second chance. 

Under Hargrove, the Indians won five consecutive Central Division titles (1995-1999), before being dismissed after the 1999 season. The majority of the offense stayed consistent during those seasons with just Belle and Baerga leaving as far as the All-Stars go. This lead to the team being the most productive offensive juggernaut in Indians history and the best in Major League Baseball over that span. Although he never won a World Series, Hargrove was still the longest tenured Indians manager ever (tied with Lou Boudreau) and has to be considered one of the best Indians managers in history. His .550 winning percent is the best in Indians history and his 52 post season games managed and 27 play off wins are both team records.

For all his time and results with the team, Hargrove has been inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame (class of 2008). After retiring as a manager (he managed the Orioles and Mariners after leaving Cleveland) Mike returned to Cleveland as a special advisor to the team in 2011. Hargrove is still on staff and helps out the coaching staff in addition to his work in the front office.

Wambsganss was part of what was possibly the rarest play in the history of Major League Baseball. In 1920, he became the only player in the history of baseball to turn an unassisted triple play in the World Series. There have been just eight total in American League history and Indians players have made three of them, including the first ever (Neal Ball in 1909) and the last (Asdrubal Cabrera, 2008). Like most unassisted triple plays, Wamby caught a line drive with the runners going, touched second and tagged the runner coming from first.

Despite being only known for this one play, Wambsganss was actually one of the best second basemen in Indians history. He directly took over for one of the most popular Indians of all time, Napoleon Lajoie, and helped lead the Tribe to their first World Series appearance and win in 1920. He then played for Cleveland for a decade, producing some of the most impressive numbers as a second baseman over that time. After he was traded in 1924 to Boston, the Indians were out of a decent secondbaseman until 1933 and the appearance of Odell Hale. The trade sent him, as well as Steve O'Neill, Dan Boone and Joe Connelly to the Red Sox for George Burns (the Indians first MVP), Chick Fewster (Wambsganss immediate replacement) and Roxy Walters.

During the World Series that he is so famous for, Bill also lead the team in at bats, playing in all seven games and scoring 3 runs and knocking in one. This is made even more impressive seeing that he only got on base six times during the entire series. Bill Wambsganss died in 1985.

George Uhle played for the Cleveland Indians for more than a decade, starting in 1919, but wasn't a true starter for the Tribe until 1921, the year after he won his ring behind Tris Speaker and his championship Indians. In that World Series, Uhle pitched 3 innings in two games, striking out 3 in relief, showing a glimpse of what he was going to become.

In 1921 he started 28 games, although he spent a lot of time in the bullpen, relieving in 13 games as well. The next year he started 40 games (still pitching ten in relief) good enough for one of the top ten most starts in a single season. In 1923 Uhle became the Indians work horse, setting a single season record with 44 starts (again he pitched in 10 games in relief) and a record with 378 hits allowed. His 3.78 ERA was the best in his career to this point and the second best he would ever have. After a couple more average seasons, Uhle had his career year in 1926 setting career bests in wins, ERA, strike outs, K/9 and BAA.

Uhle is one of the 10 Indians pitchers to throw more than 2,000 innings in his career. He is also in the top ten in wins, starts and complete games. Despite being wild (Uhle holds the team record with 95 hit batters), Uhle allowed less home runs than all but two pitchers in the top ten in innings pitched. During the 1928 offseason, Uhle was traded to the Tigers for Ken Holloway and Jackie Tavener. He came back later (something the Indians have been fond of doing over the history of the franchise) and ended his career with the Tribe in 1936 as a relief pitcher after taking a year away from baseball.

Uhle was a Cleveland man through and through. He was born in Cleveland in 1898 and died in Lakewood in 1985.

The second installment of the Indians Top 10 Positional Leaders will feature the best Indians left fielders of all time.The Indians have had a lot of great outfielders over the history of the franchise and while most of them have been centerfielders, there have been a few good ones in left as well, including the second most prolific home run hitter in team history. For more information on any player click on the link on their name for their All-Time Indians Bio. Players will be linked as more bios are added.

10. Al Smith - Years Starting Left Fielder 1954, 1956

Smith only played two years as the Indians starting left fielder, but still accrued more than 1,000 total bases during his time in Cleveland. Smith also played right field and third base during his time with the Tribe, but the appearance of a young star right fielder (Rocky Colavito) kept him starting in left.

9. Mel Hall - 1984, 1986-1988

The 1980's weren't that bad of a time to be an Indians outfielder, with Cory Snyder, Brett Butler and Joe Carter all around by 1986. Hall was probably the worst of this group, but at least played long enough to be considered as one of the better left fielders in Indians history.

8. Jack Graney - 1910-1911, 1913-1917, 1919

Graney is what it looks like when a mediocre player plays an extremely long career (to see what it looks like when a good player plays a long career, check out Charlie Jamieson). Graney played in more games than any left fielder outside of Jamieson, but his .250 average was by far the worst on this list. He is one of the few speed outfielders on the list, stealing 148 bases or about 10 per season.

7. Leon Wagner - 1964-1967

Wagner showed a lot of power for the Tribe, hitting 97 home runs in just six seasons. Only one player ahead of him on the home run rankings did it in less games and most played 300 or more games than Wagner. Wagner did this despite playing in one of the hardest times for the Indians, the years between 1955 and 1994.

6. Tito Francona - 1960-1961, 1963

Francona is one of four players listed between the 1950's and 1960's compared to the single player from 1901-1920 and the zero players listed from 1969-1983. The Indians were lucky to have so many talented outfielders over this time, but they came at a cost. The cost for Francona was Larry Doby, one of the Indians all-time greats. 

5. Dale Mitchell - 1947-1953

Dale Mitchell was a member of the last two Indians World Series appearances prior to the 1990's. He was one of just five players to play on both the 1948 and 1954 teams, but he wasn't very successful in either. During the regular season, he did a lot to help the Tribe get to the postseason with a .312 career average and more than 550 runs scored.

4. Joe Vosmik - 1931-1936

Vosmik was one of the most consistant left-fielders in Indians history, taking over for Jamieson after a decade of great play. Vosmik played next to Earl Averill in center for six years, making this one of the best outfields in Indians history.

3. Charlie Jamieson - 1920-1930

Jamieson started two more seasons in left than any other player on this list and thus leads everyone in at bats, runs, doubles and total bases. He ranks as low as he does because he played in more than 500 more games than the two players ahead of him and still trailed in home runs, RBI, slugging percent and OPS.

2. Jeff Heath - 1938-1940, 1942-1943, 1945

Heath immediately preceeded Mitchell as the Indians starting left fielder and outplayed him in every offensive facet of the game despite a shorter career. Mitchell played in 150 more games, but Heath still had more doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, walks and steals. Heath is definitely one of the most underrated players in Indians history.

1. Albert Belle - 1991, 1993-1996

Belle was the most pure power hitter in the history of the Cleveland Indians. His 242 home runs are second all-time to Jim Thome and his .285 Isolated Power is the highest in team history. Belle spent some time as DH, but was a serviceable left fielder during the majority of his time in Cleveland. Despite a short career, Belle not only ranks as number one on this list, but should be considered highly on the list of top ten hitters in Indians history. Belle's inclusion with Manny Ramirez in right and Kenny Lofton in center makes the Indians outfield from 1994-1996 the best group in Indians history.

Borderline: Matt Lawton, John Lowenstein, Minnie Minoso, Gene Woodling, Bill Hinchman

O'Neill was the second longest tenured catcher in Indians history (after Jim Hegan), spending over a decade crouching behind the plate in Cleveland. In 1913 O'Neill took over the starting role from light hitting catcher Ted Easterly. He maintained as the starter through 1923, the longest string of consecutive seasons for an Indians catcher without missing a significant time due to injury. Among Indians catchers, O'Neill is first in career hits, doubles and walks and among the top five in runs, triples, total bases and steals.

Arguably the most important time of O'Neill's career came in 1920, when the Indians won their first World Series. In that seven game series, O'Neill played all seven games (one of five players to do so) and his seven hits were only second to player/manager Tris Speaker. Most impressive was the fact that he caught the entire series with back-up catcher Les Nunamaker only receiving two at bats during the series. While you can't give him too much credit, he did call the games for the entire pitching staff in that series that ended with a 0.88 ERA, strongly supported by Stan Coveleski's three complete game performance.

In the mid 1930's O'Neill returned to manage the Indians, running the Tribe for 373 games over three seasons. One of many former catchers to return to manage the Tribe, his .534 winning percent remains among the best by an Indian manager to control the team for more than a single season.

Steve O'Neill died in 1962. He was considered for the baseball Hall of Fame, one year getting 5% of the BWAA vote, but simply didn't have the credentials. He was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 1951.

Terry Turner won the award for longevity if there ever was one. Only catcher Jim Hegan had a longer career as a hitter with the Indians. From 1904-1910 Turner was the starting shortstop for the Naps, then started at third base for the majority of the time between 1911 and 1914. Turner stuck around as a utility infielder until 1918 and during that whole time, managed to play in more games than any other player in the history of the Cleveland Indians. That incredible amount of time, the equivalent of playing every single game in a modern (162 Game) season for a decade, allowed him to accrue some impressive stats, including being third all time in career at bats and steals. He is also in the top ten in hits and triples.

Turner played with Cleveland almost his entire career, excluding his first season after being signed by Pittsburgh in 1901 and his last season when he was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919 after being released by the Indians. In total, he played all but 40 games in his career for Cleveland. After his career was over, he stayed in Cleveland until his death in 1960.

Terry Turner was the first of a very long line of extraordinary Indians shortstops. When Turner was moved to third base, his replacement was a young short stop named Ray Chapman. Chapman played until his death in 1920 and was replaced by Hall of Famer, Joe Sewell. A few short term players took over during the 1930's when Sewell moved to third, until Lou Boudreau took over in 1940. This line of short stops is among the best in baseball history and Terry Turner was the forefather of them all.

As you may have noticed if you read the site regularly, I like to make lists. As a separate part of the All-Time Indians section of the site I will be adding position by position rankings of the top ten Indians of all time. Rather than writing individual bios for each player on this page, each name will be linked to the bio I have already written for them, assuming they have one. As I write more complete bios, I will link them to and from this page so you can navigate easily through the historical part of Burning River Baseball. There will be 17 overall lists (CP, LF, 3B, LHRP, DH, 2B, Managers, RHRP, RF, C, SP, SS, CF, 1B, Ace) and they will be released occasionally over the course of the next year. There will also be a top ten ranking for hitters and pitchers who played in Cleveland before they became an American League team.

The first ranking will be of the Indians best closers of all time. This was chosen as first mostly to put Chris Perez's career numbers in line with the rest of the Indians closers, but also because it is a relatively new position. The earliest member of the list was made closer first in 1954, so it is definitely slanted towards the modern age with the vast majority of the pitchers listed having pitched since the mid 1980's. This is not simply a top ten list of who has the most saves in Indians history, but is instead combining single season and career records to find out who actually was the best. There are very few closers who pitched more than one season missing from the list, but there is one conspicuous name missing. He was left off because being a closer is more than just recording saves.

10. Ernie Camacho - 44 (Saves) - 1984, 1986 (Years used as primary closing pitcher)

Camacho only closed two seasons for the Tribe, but did a fantastic job, especially in the first year when he had an ERA of 2.43 and 23 saves. He finished his time with the Tribe with 44 saves and a 3.67 ERA. 

9. Jim Kern - 46 - 1977-1978

Kern has the worst WHIP and second worst save completion percent of those pitchers in the list. He, along with Camacho and Olin are only listed as the Indians haven't had 10 really great closers yet. Only two closers in the top 10 in saves have been excluded from this list due to their absolute repulsiveness while pitching the ninth. Kern is just slightly better than those other closers.

8. Steve Olin - 48 - 1991-1992

Olin has the saddest story on the list. He was primed to take over for Doug Jones as the Indians closer in the early 1990's, but his life was cut short by a fatal boating accident with fellow reliever Tim Crews. During his short tenure as a closer, Olin racked up 48 saves in 62 opportunities with a 3.10 ERA.

7. Ray Narleski - 53 - 1954-1955,1957

Narleski is the oldest closer on this list and the only one who pitched before save opportunities were recorded. He is included on this list as the first good pitcher used exclusively as a closing pitcher. Until he was changed into a starting pitcher in 1957 (old habits die hard) he had started just 3 games in his previous three seasons. In over 100 games during his two main closing seasons ('54-'55) Narleski struck out more than 140 batters and earned a then team record 32 saves.

6. Doug Jones - 129 - 1987-1990

Jones was the Indians first long term closer, closing in parts of five separate seasons before being replaced at the end of his career with the young fire-baller ranked at #8. He had the most save opportunities of any Indians player ever and the second most total saves. While he wasn't the best at anything other than longevity, Jones was still an above average save artist for his entire time with the Indians and any team would be happy with the results he gave the Tribe. 

5. Jose Mesa - 104 - 1995-1997

In 1995 Mesa was amazing. He allowed only 8 runs in the entire season while setting the team record with 46 saves. Disappointingly, he allowed 52 runs over his next two seasons and was replaced by a pitcher who was more consistent (and not a psycho path) who is ranked higher than Mesa on this list.

4. Chris Perez - 96 - 2009-2012 (Active)

There is no future value reflected in this list. If something changes in the future, I will change the list, so you can know that Pure Rage has truly earned a place this high in the top ten in his three seasons as an Indian. Only two Indians have closed more seasons than Perez so it actually isn't that surprising. His career 3.08 ERA is third among the closers listed as is his .876 save success rate.

3. Dave LaRoche - 42 - 1975-1976

LaRoche was the first closer to be used in consecutive seasons after Narleski did the same in the 1950's. Major changes in closing philosophy started occurring around this time and are the reason this list is so slanted towards the present. LaRoche has the honor of holding the lowest ERA among Indians closers at 2.51. He also pitched during a particularly bad time in Indians history, so the fact that he was able to secure 42 saves over two seasons is actually spectacular.

2. Mike Jackson - 94 - 1998-1999

Here is a reason Jackson is listed ahead of Mesa. In their respective post season careers Jackson threw 20.1 innings, Mesa 28.1. In those innings Jackson gave up 4 runs and 14 hits, while Mesa allowed 11 runs and 36 hits. While Jackson was never given the chance to win a World Series, at least he didn't lose one. Jackson's 1998 season is undoubtedly the second best closer season in Indians history as he gave up less hits than Mesa did in 1995 and maintained an ERA of 1.55. His .895 save conversion rate is the best in Indians history.

1. Bob Wickman - 139 - 2001-2002, 2004-2006

Wickman was the longest tenured Indians closer and despite his rosy cheeks and tummy that shook like a bowl full of jelly, he was quite the pitcher. When measuring a closer, the first question asked should be, "did he get the job done." Bob Wickman did 89% of the time, better than all but one Indians closer in team history. He holds the record for most saves as an Indian and he did it in less chances than the second place Jones. He will certainly be unseated as more emphasis is placed on the closers role, but for now, this most unexpected of heroes is considered the best Indians closer of all time.

Borderline: Dan Spillner, Joe Heving, Danys Baez, Kerry Wood, Joe Borowski
 

Manny Ramirez had excellent timing. He arrived just at the moment the Indians were about to peak and provided the last missing piece to the Indians offense of the 1990's. He then left with what was perfect timing for him, jettisoning from a falling Indian team that would only make the playoffs one more time in the next six years to join a rising Red Sox team that would win the World Series twice during his tenure. Of course the timing of the departure was actually coincidental and had more to do with the 165 million reasons the Red Sox gave Manny to play with him during his time in Boston.

Despite his cancerous reputation, Ramirez has to be considered one of the best hitters in baseball history. Overall, he now ranks ninth over all Major League Baseball history in both slugging percent and OPS. Most famous for his power, Ramirez hit 555 home runs in his career, good for 15th all time and membership in the exclusive 500 home run club.

While Ramirez played 11 seasons after his time with the Indians and will likely enter the Hall of Fame as a Red Sox (if he is allowed to enter after his two steroid suspensions) his time with the Tribe ranks above all but the greatest Indian hitter of all time. Ramirez holds career team records in slugging percent and OPS, the single season record in RBI and the post season record in walks. His 236 home runs hit as an Indian rank second all time, while his career RBI and OBP are also in the top ten. He holds top ten single season marks in home runs (2 seasons), RBI (2), runs scored and slugging percent. 

Ramirez was part of the five players who made up the core of the Indians offense in the mid 1990's (along with Omar Vizquel, Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Jim Thome). Those five players hold every single career record for playoff performance. Falling in line with that, Ramirez is in the top five in career playoff seasons, games played, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, home runs (second), RBI, walks (first) and strike outs. He hit two home runs in six separate playoff series with the Tribe, a record for more series with multiple home runs and the second most homeruns in an individual series (behind Thome who hit four twice).

While the phrase Manny-Being-Manny was coined by Mike Hargrove while he was still playing in Cleveland, the vast majority of his hi-jinks and downfalls have come since his exit. All steroid allegations occurred after he left the Indians and while the major steroid scandals didn't start until after 2003, there have been no serious accusations of the Indians powerful 1990's offense with steroid use. This makes his time with the Indians the most legitimate part of his career.

Manny Ramirez definitely deserves more respect than he is given, due mostly from his last few seasons where he jumped from team to team as people who didn't know anything about him got to know his personality. Hopefully he will be given his due once enough time as passed and he will be enshrined in at least the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame and deservedly in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame as well. If each of those things happen, he also deserves to have his number 24 retired by the team. It will be interesting to see how things play out, but there is still a chance of Ramirez being one of six possible Hall of Fame players from the 1990's (including the already enshrined Eddie Murray and Roberto Alomar). If all those players are entered in the Hall of Fame, the rafters above the mezzanine section at Progressive Field could get very crowded very quickly.